Mangroves play a critical role in supporting coastal livelihoods, biodiversity, and food systems. In Fiji and across the Pacific, mud crabs are a high-value species that depend on healthy mangrove ecosystems. This PhD research will investigate how restored mangrove habitats can enhance mud crab productivity and contribute to food-security, sustainable fisheries, food provisioning, and community resilience.
This PhD position is an integral part Project Halo, a collaborative research initiative between the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and The University of the South Pacific (USP). The successful candidate will be based at UNSW, co-supervised between the two universities, and has the opportunity be enrolled in a cotutelle PhD programme while working as part of a multidisciplinary, international research team conducting fieldwork and applied research in Fiji and the Pacific.
Key research focus areas include:
- Quantifying mud crab and other food species abundance in restored mangrove systems
- Assessing and enhancing the food provisioning services of nature-based mangrove restoration activities in Fiji
- Evaluating societal impacts, economic opportunities, sustainability, and community benefits of nature-based mud crab cultivation.
Candidate background
Applicants should have a strong background in a relevant discipline such as aquaculture, environmental engineering, geography, or environmental science, and an interest in applied fieldwork, data analysis, and community-based research.
Application process and timelines
To ensure a high-quality and targeted selection process, interested candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) by 23:59 AEDT 28th February 2026. The EoI should include:
- Most recent curriculum vitae
- Academic transcripts
- A brief cover letter outlining interest and suitability
Please submit your EoI to the Project Halo Coordinator at anushka.maharaj@usp.ac.fj.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a formal PhD application to UNSW, see full application requirements here.
Full details of the PhD opportunity can be found here.
For further enquiries, please contact:
A/Prof. Andrew Dansie (UNSW)