Graduate position:Otago_New_Zealand.ClimateChangeImpactVertebrates

PhD position: The impact of climate change on the New Zealand vertebrate
fauna

One fully funded PhD scholarship is available to study the impact of
climate warming on the New Zealand vertebrate fauna. The project is
an international collaboration between the University of Otago in New
Zealand, where the PhD candidate will be based, the Museum of New Zealand
Te Papa Tongarewa, and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

Recently, Aotearoa New Zealand has been identified as a global hotspot of
predicted climate driven extinctions. But are these predicted extinctions
really driven purely by climate change or can its effects be mitigated
by controlling drivers that act in concert with climate change such as
introduced predators and anthropogenic habitat destruction? And which
species are most susceptible to extinction? For a small Pacific Island
such as New Zealand, these questions are of fundamental importance. They
determine where best to apply limited conservation resources and can
make the difference between survival and extinction of threatened species.

The candidate will investigate these questions by integrating genomic and
niche modelling tools. In the process, the candidate will contribute
to developing a climate extinction risk atlas for the New Zealand
vertebrate fauna.

The ideal candidate will have a qualifying degree such as a BSc (Hons)
or a Masters and experience in molecular ecology, genomics, bioinformatics
or ecological niche modelling.

Please apply by email with a cover letter and your CV (including
grade point average or comparable measure from your qualifying
degree) to A/Prof. Michael Knapp (michael.knapp@otago.ac.nz) by
27/April/2026. Starting dates are flexible, with an ideal start date
before the end of 2026.

About Otago: The University of Otago is one of the most research-intensive
universities in New Zealand with a world-class reputation in the life
sciences. It provides an environment that allows its students to undertake
internationally recognized research, in a diverse and vibrant postgraduate
environment and has been ranked as one of the most beautiful campuses
in the world.

For any questions prior to application, please contact

¨A/Prof. Michael Knapp¨
Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology
¨Department of Anatomy¨
University of Otago
¨Dunedin, New Zealand ¨

Email: michael.knapp@otago.ac.nz

michael.knapp@otago.ac.nz

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