About the Project
I am looking for a motivated PhD candidate to join my research group at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, to study how artificial light at night (ALAN) affects coastal marine life.
Artificial light is spreading into coastal seas from ports, shorelines, vessels, offshore aquaculture and other marine infrastructure. Many marine animals use natural light cues to migrate, feed, avoid predators and settle into adult habitats. Artificial light attracts some taxa and repels others, and these responses can change who eats whom after dark. We know surprisingly little about which organisms respond, how strongly, and what this means for coastal food webs.
I will co-develop the specific project with the successful candidate. Possible directions include how different taxa respond to light wavelength, intensity and depth, how artificial light alters predator and prey interactions, and how lighting could be designed to reduce ecological side effects. The work is likely to combine fieldwork with laboratory experiments and statistical modelling in R.
SCUBA diving experience in temperate (cold-water) settings and a current scientific diving qualification are essential. Examples include Scientific Diving New Zealand (SDNZ), American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Scientific Diver, Australian scientific diver certification (AS/NZS 2299.2, or ADAS), European Scientific Diver (ESD), or UK HSE Professional SCUBA, or an equivalent.
The ideal candidate will also have a strong background in marine or behavioural ecology, fieldwork experience (small boat handling is an advantage), good quantitative skills, and evidence of independent research.
Key dates
- 1 October 2026: Deadline to send me your application materials
- 7 October 2026: I will select one candidate to put forward
- 1 November 2026 (4.30 pm NZ time): Deadline for the selected candidate to submit a full Wellington Doctoral Scholarship application, including referee reports
* Additional applications may be considered for the 1 March 2027 Wellington Doctoral Scholarship application round (details of key dates will be advertised here after 7 October).
Application process
To apply, please send the following documents directly to Prof. Jeff Shima at jeffrey.shima@vuw.ac.nz, with "PhD ALAN" in the subject line:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Copies of academic transcripts
- Writing sample (for example, a first-author publication or an MSc thesis chapter)
- Names and contact details of two academic referees (including a thesis supervisor)
Note: Applicants must also meet the entry requirements for PhD study at Victoria University of Wellington. Please refer to the Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research (https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/fgr/apply).
Funding Notes
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL NEED TO APPLY FOR A VUW FUNDED DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIP. SEE: View Website
Wellington Doctoral Scholarships currently provide a stipend of NZ$32,000 per year plus tuition fees for up to three years, and are open to domestic and international applicants. The scholarships are extremely competitive. There is an absolute minimum requirement of a Masters or Honours degree with a GPA of 3.8 or better (on a 4.0 scale). Ideal candidates will also have one or more peer-reviewed articles, as this will increase their chances of obtaining a VUW scholarship. Applicants must have excellent written and verbal science communication skills.
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