Benthic marine cyanobacterial blooms are an emerging and increasingly prominent issue in coastal environments worldwide, including Aotearoa New Zealand. These blooms form dense mats on the seafloor, smothering reefs, seagrass beds, and intertidal habitats. During storm events or natural detachment processes, large quantities of biomass can wash ashore, where toxin-producing species pose significant risks to human health, companion animals, wildlife, and coastal livelihoods.
This PhD project will investigate the ecology, drivers, and toxin dynamics of benthic marine cyanobacterial blooms, with a particular focus on coastal systems around Waiheke Island and the wider Auckland region. The project will integrate field surveys and laboratory experiments to explore how and why benthic marine cyanobacterial blooms form, persist, detach, and produce toxins.
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A Bachelor (Honours) degree or Master degree in a relevant field.
- A background in marine ecology, algal culturing, environmental science.
- An interest in field based coastal research and laboratory experimentation.
- Experience with molecular and/or chemical analytical techniques.
- Confidence with quantitative data analysis (e.g. R)
- Proficiency in English, with excellent written and oral communication skills.
Ability to work both independently and within interdisciplinary teams.
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Supervision
This project will be supervised by researchers at the Cawthron Institute (Dr’s Laura Biessy and Kirsty Smith) and Lincoln University (Prof. Susie Wood), with close links to Auckland Council. The student will be primarily based at the Cawthron Institute (Nelson, New Zealand).
Stipend
NZ$35,000 per annum plus full tuition fees. International applicants with a strong academic record are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must meet Lincoln University PhD entry requirements. Please check before applying.
Submit your application for this position via the Cawthron Careers page by clicking 'Apply' below.
Please submit (1) a short statement outlining your skills, research interests, and motivation for the project, (2) your CV, (3) Academic transcripts, and (4) the names and contact details of two academic referees. Applications that do not include all the above materials will not be considered.
Applications close: 16 August 2026 at 5pm (NZ time)
Expected start date: 1 December 2026.
For any questions, please email [email protected].
