Closing 30 September 2025

Are you interested in contributing to threatened species conservation, wildlife management in fragmented landscapes and sustainable agricultural systems? We’re seeking motivated Honours or MSc graduates to contribute to an on-going industry partnership to drive real-world outcomes.

Overview

The cropping landscape of the Darling Downs supports the endemic Condamine earless dragon. This project investigates habitat use by the Condamine earless dragon by comparing grassland systems with adjacent cropping systems. The aim is to identify key ecological differences between these land uses that can inform benchmarks for population monitoring. Monitoring methods include artificial refuges, radio-tracking, population genetics and diet analysis. This project aims to develop evidence-based monitoring criteria to assess the recovery of grassland dragons within native grassland restoration.

Value

Operational funding is available for this project to cover the costs of field work and sampling. This PhD project is part of a larger biodiversity project, and we have team members operating out of our Springfield, Ipswich and Toowoomba campuses.

Eligibility

• Domestic students with an Honours or MSc degree in ecology, wildlife science, environmental science, or related fields;
• Available to commence full-time in late 2025/early 2026.

To be eligible applicants must

• Have a strong academic record and ideally a publication to support a scholarship application;
• Have demonstrated field survey skills and experience, ideally with wildlife capture, restraint and handling;
• Be self-directed and motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level;
• Have enthusiasm for fieldwork- there will be a lot of this!

How to apply

To express your interest, please send your CV and academic transcript to

Full details and how to apply: https://www.unisq.edu.au/research/graduate-research-school/future-hdr-students/application