Upscaling seagrass restoration in Victoria

Project supervisor

A/Prof Craig Sherman

Additional supervision

Dr Mary Young

Rhys Coleman (Melbourne Water)

Prof Emma Jackson (CQUniversity)

Deakin institute and faculty

Deakin Centre for Marine Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences;
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

Location

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Both scholarships are available over three years (possible six-month extension) and offers:

• a stipend of $45,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)
• a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
• contribution to research purposes including travel of $1,500 per annum for three years.

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

Are you passionate about coastal ecosystems and ready to make a meaningful contribution to climate action? This exciting PhD opportunity offers the chance for two candidates to join a well-supported, interdisciplinary research program focused on seagrass restoration in Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay.

The two projects available are:

• Developing tools and knowledge for seagrass restoration in Port Phillip Bay.
• Upscaling seagrass restoration in Victoria

Seagrass meadows are critical to the health of coastal environments. They provide essential habitat, improve water quality, and play a key role in capturing and storing carbon dioxide, making them vital natural allies in the fight against climate change. However, many of these ecosystems have experienced dramatic declines due to urbanisation and changes in land use, particularly in Port Phillip, where extensive seagrass beds once thrived.

There is an urgent need to assess the current extent and condition of seagrass meadows and develop targeted strategies for their restoration. This industry supported PhD project will undertake the development of the knowledge and tools required for effective, large-scale seagrass restoration—an important step toward helping Australia meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050. The scholarship stipend includes an industry funded top-up.

These PhD projects are in collaboration with experienced scientists, Melbourne Water as the industry partner and Traditional Owners and offer the opportunity to undertake impactful, applied research within a supportive academic setting.

If you're ready to contribute to the recovery of a critical marine habitat and make a real difference for climate resilience, we encourage you to apply.

To be eligible you must:

• meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
• enrol full time
• hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard masters degree with substantial research component.

Additional desirable criteria:

• a passion for marine and coastal ecosystem conservation and restoration, especially with seagrass habitats
  
• a strong interest in marine ecology and biology, with foundational knowledge in ecological theory and seagrass ecosystems
• comfort working in marine and estuarine environments, setting up and conducting restoration trials, seed collection, ecological surveys, and mesocosm or lab-based experiments
• mapping and identifying restoration priority areas, species distribution modelling, and geospatial data interpretation
• understanding genetic diversity, population structure, donor selection, connectivity mapping, and the role of genomics in restoration planning
• quantitative analysis, scientific writing, and data interpretation capabilities
  

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.