Four fully funded PhD opportunities in freshwater ecology! Working in New Zealand’s iconic braided rivers!

We’re excited to be advertising four interconnected UC Connect PhD Scholarships, a collaborative research programme between the University of Canterbury and the Department of Conservation (DOC).

The four projects offer opportunities to tackle fundamental ecological questions while producing research with direct relevance to freshwater conservation and management in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Projects will explore:

• Invasive aquatic plants – understanding the drivers and impacts of plant invasions in high-country spring ecosystems and opportunities for restoration.
• Threatened freshwater fish – investigating how upland longjaw galaxias persist in dynamic braided river environments.
• Spring ecosystems – understanding how stable spring habitats contribute to the biodiversity, functioning and resilience of braided rivers.
• Braided river birds – investigating how flow regimes, aquatic food resources, predators and habitat interact to shape threatened bird populations and inform conservation management and monitoring.

Successful candidates will join the Freshwater Ecology Research Group (FERG) at the University of Canterbury and work alongside a cohort of PhD students, UC researchers and DOC scientists. The research contributes to DOC’s Ngā Awa River Restoration Programme and Critical Ecosystem Pressures research, with a strong focus on the Upper Rakitata catchment and will be co-supervised by Professor Angus McIntosh and Dr Helen Warburton:

Each project is full funded for three years: NZ$32,650 per year tax-free stipend + full university fees + research expenses.

Applications close 15 September 2026.

Applicants can apply for more than one of the four projects.