Biological Invasions Student Bursaries for 2022

Projects relevant to one of SANBI’s focus areas will be considered (status report and monitoring; incursion detection and response planning; eradication planning and co-ordination; risk analysis; and taxonomy). For more details see the following resources:

• Wilson et al 2013 South African Journal of Science
• Special Issue of Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation on the status report
• Wilson et al 2018 Journal of Applied Ecology
• The Status of Biological Invasions and their Management in South Africa Reporting Process

For potential projects see below

Hons

• An assessment of the invasiveness of Ludwigia peruviana in South Africa
• An assessment of the invasiveness of Ipomoea quamoclit in South Africa

MSc

• Invasive potential and management of the genus Callitris (Cupressaceae) in South Africa
• An assessment of the invasiveness of Equisetum hyemale in South Africa
• Estimating the introduction rates for alien species in South Africa
• The invasion ecology of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) in South Africa with a special focus on viminalis
• Assessment of the invasive potential and management of four Melaleuca species in South Africa
• Serotinous alien plant species: traits favourable for extirpation?

MSc or PhD

• Testing sterility in cultivars and hybrids of ornamental alien plant species
• The status of pampas grasses in South Africa
• Getting the measure of invasions and their control
• Updating and prioritisation South Africa's invasive species watch list
• Pro-active planning to manage biological invasions—alien amphibians in South Africa as a case study

PhD

• Integrating impacts of biological invasions into monitoring and prioritisation
• Understanding where and when species were introduced to South Africa and became invasive as background to projecting risk
• Understanding variation in the risks posed by classical biological control—implications for policy

For other projects, please contact us before submitting an application to check if your proposal is suitable.

Bursary values: Bursaries values will be awarded in line with SANBI and DFFE policies regarding post-graduate student bursaries.  Applicants for Masters or Doctoral bursaries can be considered for a one-year project development internship should the applicant be unlikely to finish their studies within the prescribed period of time. In such cases, a candidate may be offered an internship interview.  A project development intern is expected to re-apply for a bursary the following year.

Requirements and Running costs: Candidates must be pro-active, enthusiastic, and interested in doing excellent research that will help improve our understanding and management of biological invasions. Bursaries are only available to South African citizens registered at universities in South Africa and will be awarded in line with national equity targets and the need to diversify the research landscape (students to be based at historically disadvanataged or new public higher education institutions are encouraged to apply). All students need to apply to a university themselves and the bursary is conditional upon them securing their position in such a programme. Project running expenses are covered separately to the bursaries and vary depending on the project.

Application procedure: All applications must be accompanied by a cover-sheet available with this advert.

Applications must also include a one-page project outline for Honours applications or a two-page project outline for Masters and Doctoral applications; a full CV; a certified copy of academic record; letters of reference from two academic supervisors; an agreement from a prospective academic supervisor; and a certified copy of ID.

Send all documents to: students@sanbi.org.za; sanbi.dbi.bursaries@gmail.com

Subject: SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary application

E-mails must be <20MB.

For academic queries please contact Prof John Wilson (jrwilson@sun.ac.za)

For questions about the application process please contact Ms René du Toit (r.dutoit@sanbi.org.za)

SANBI reserves the right not to fill these bursaries. If no response has been received within 28 working days of the closing date, candidates may assume that their applications were unsuccessful.