Please note: If we have any vacancies for funded positions, they will be advertised here.
Postdoc applicants
Anybody interested in carrying out postdoctoral research in our group should contact Jason Tylianakis in the first instance with an outline of their proposed research topic. I am happy to consider any potential idea that falls within my general expertise. Postdoctoral funding in New Zealand is very difficult to obtain, so it is necessary in most cases to secure funding from the researcher's home country. If we have any funded positions available, these will be advertised on the vacancies page of this website.
postgraduate students
What topics could you work on?
We have a range of possible postgraduate degrees available, such as BSc Hons, MSc and PhD (details here). From time to time we have positions available on certain funded projects, but otherwise the topic you could work on is entirely up to you. It would be preferable to work on topics within our current research themes, but I am always happy to discuss different topics and whether I would be interested and capable of acting as a supervisor. Generally speaking, I am more interested in broader ecological questions than something focused on a specific taxon or region.
We conduct field work at a range of locations (normally in New Zealand, though we also have collaborative projects elsewhere), and not all of the students in our group have projects that involve a field and/or lab component. We also have faculty in the department that could act as co-supervisors for projects with a heavy emphasis on modeling or genetics for example. In the first instance, please contact me with an outline of the questions you would like to address with your research. When first making contact, please also supply a CV and names (with contact details) of people who could act as potential referees. For anyone interested in graduate studies, Spencer Hall has helpfully collated advice from lots of people on his page.
How to get funding for studies, research, and living costs?
Research costs vary depending on the project, with some requiring little funding (e.g. for petrol to visit field sites) and others requiring more (large-scale DNA sequencing, elaborate field experiments, etc). If a postgraduate research project does not fall within a larger funded project, then it may be necessary to apply for further funding before you begin. In addition, it is not usually feasible to work in paid employment outside of the university (nor do we have enough TA work within the university to support postgraduate students), so you would need some kind of scholarship to cover your living costs for the duration of your study.
Some information on potential scholarships in biology can be found here, and it is also worth looking for funding opportunities in your home country.
We have a range of possible postgraduate degrees available, such as BSc Hons, MSc and PhD (details here). From time to time we have positions available on certain funded projects, but otherwise the topic you could work on is entirely up to you. It would be preferable to work on topics within our current research themes, but I am always happy to discuss different topics and whether I would be interested and capable of acting as a supervisor. Generally speaking, I am more interested in broader ecological questions than something focused on a specific taxon or region.
We conduct field work at a range of locations (normally in New Zealand, though we also have collaborative projects elsewhere), and not all of the students in our group have projects that involve a field and/or lab component. We also have faculty in the department that could act as co-supervisors for projects with a heavy emphasis on modeling or genetics for example. In the first instance, please contact me with an outline of the questions you would like to address with your research. When first making contact, please also supply a CV and names (with contact details) of people who could act as potential referees. For anyone interested in graduate studies, Spencer Hall has helpfully collated advice from lots of people on his page.
How to get funding for studies, research, and living costs?
Research costs vary depending on the project, with some requiring little funding (e.g. for petrol to visit field sites) and others requiring more (large-scale DNA sequencing, elaborate field experiments, etc). If a postgraduate research project does not fall within a larger funded project, then it may be necessary to apply for further funding before you begin. In addition, it is not usually feasible to work in paid employment outside of the university (nor do we have enough TA work within the university to support postgraduate students), so you would need some kind of scholarship to cover your living costs for the duration of your study.
Some information on potential scholarships in biology can be found here, and it is also worth looking for funding opportunities in your home country.
Life in New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world, with a comparatively low crime rate, no dangerous animals, etc. Christchurch is located on the east coast of the South Island, so there is ready access to the beach. It is also possible to drive to the mountains within about 2 hours, and there are ample opportunities for hiking, skiing and climbing.