Fully funded PhD studentship
Dendrimer Synthesis
Monash University, Australia

We seek an outstanding PhD candidate with a background in synthetic organic chemistry to develop a new class of dendritic molecules, and to study their applications. The position is fully funded, both fees and stipend, for four years.

Project description

The successful candidate will investigate a new method for the synthesis of a library of dendrimers with variations in the sizes and shapes of the monomers, and of the strength and character of the forces between them. One aim of the project is to make dendrimers carrying a variety of functionality, and with the flexibility of the synthetic strategy, engineer the molecules for solubility, surface activity, and assembly into larger structures.

Measurement of the conformations of the dendrimers using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) is part of the project, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain experience with this method at the Australian Synchrotron, collocated with Monash University. Computer models for the dendrimer conformations will be tested by the SAXS methods.

Monash University

Monash University has Australia's leading chemistry school, ranking 64th in Shanghai's Jiao Tong Index. Monash is one of only three Australian universities ranked in the global top 100 for Chemistry, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The ARWU annually grades over 1000 institutes on six objective indicators including the number of highly cited researchers, the number of articles published in the journals Nature and Science and the per capita performance with respect to the size of the institution.

Applications

Interested candidates should send a CV, a short description of research interests, and the names of two or more referees to the email addresses below.

Enquiries should be directed to:

Dr. David Lupton,

david.lupton@monash.edu,

http://users.monash.edu.au/~dwlupton/index.html.

or

Dr. Angus Gray-Weale,

angus.gray-weale@monash.edu,

http://www.gusgw.info.

Doctoral Scholarship
Children's mobility and physical activity in higher density urban neighbourhoods
Auckland University of Technology - Health Research

Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals for a Health Research Council of New Zealand funded PhD scholarship. The successful applicant will join an established team of researchers from Massey University, University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), in Auckland, New Zealand. The student will be based at the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition at AUT. The scholarship is valued at NZ $25,000 p.a. (tax exempt) for three years. A full or partial tuition fee waiver may also apply.

Study overview

This research will be located in Auckland, New Zealand and is concerned with understanding how neighbourhood environments can foster children's independent mobility- outdoor play and active transport (e.g. walking/cycling) - to increase physical activity and participation in urban life. At issue is the recursive relationship between place and wellbeing, with everyday practices affected by both the nature of urban spaces and perceptions of them as safe and desirable, or otherwise. The study aims to understand how urban design factors influence children's wellbeing by investigating the neighbourhood experiences, independent mobility, and physical activity of children 8-11 years living in higher deprivation Auckland neighbourhoods of differing dwelling density.

The successful candidate will work with children aged 8-11 years and their parents, to understand how urban design factors influence children's physical activity and independent mobility. It is envisaged the area of PhD study will focus on independent mobility and physical activity and the relationships between these variables and children's social and/or built environments. The successful applicant will share responsibility for the collection and analysis of data, including fieldwork and the use of accelerometry and global positioning systems.

Applying for the Scholarship

It is expected the candidate will hold an Honours or Masters degree in human movement science, exercise science, health promotion, epidemiology, geography or a related area and be able to demonstrate previous research experience.

Applicants must meet the University's selection criteria for entry into the PhD. Advice on these can be found at: http://www.aut.ac.nz/study-at-aut/apply-to-aut/postgraduate-students/entry-requirements/doctoral-degrees http://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/116337/2010PostgraduateHandbook.pdf

Information for international students can be found at: http://www.aut.ac.nz/study-at-aut/international-students

Curriculum vitae and covering letters are to be received no later than Friday 27 August 2010, 5pm NZT and should be sent to Dr Melody Oliver either by email (melody.oliver@aut.ac.nz) , or post:

Dr Melody Oliver Mail #A-24, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Auckland University of Technology Private Bag 92006 Auckland 1142 New Zealand

Queries related to the project and the position can be addressed to Dr Melody Oliver by email (melody.oliver@aut.ac.nz)

Children's mobility and physical activity in higher density urban neighbourhoods

Erasmus Mundus - IMRD Scholarships
The joint International Master in Rural Development (IMRD), part of the European Erasmus Mundus program, offers the opportunity to study the European vision on rural development in its diversity of approaches and applications.

The objective is to train specialists in integrated rural development, focussed on socio-economic and institutional aspects, not only from the European Union but also from developed, developing and transition countries outside the European Union through a 2 year master program (120 ECTS) jointly organised by seven European leading institutes in agricultural economics and rural development.

The Master program is offered by Ghent University (Belgium), Agrocampus Ouest (France), Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), the University of Cordoba (Spain), in collaboration with Wageningen University (The Netherlands), the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia) and the University of Pisa (Italy). these will be joined by universities in China, Ecuador, India and South Africa.

The methodology consists of a combination of basic and specialised training in technical, economic and social sciences, a case study of one month, an individual master thesis and a high extent of student and scholar mobility.

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

1. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years with good overall scores (at least a second class or equivalent, preferably higher) from a university or recognized equivalent. Candidates are expected to have basic science training (demonstrable in the transcripts) in the following fields: (1) mathematics and/or statistics, (2) agronomy and/or biology and/or environmental sciences and (3) social sciences and/or rural development. Candidates who cannot present a combined training of these fields will be evaluated on their aptitude, based on experience and knowledge of these fields, as demonstrated by CV or other evidence.
2. Sufficient language knowledge proven by language certificates. The applicant must be proficient in the language of the course or training programme, i.e. English. Command of the English language is a very important criterion for admission. With the exception of those who have a diploma (Secondary Education, Academic Bachelor Degree, Master Degree) issued by an institution officially recognized by the Flemish Government, applicants must be able to prove their proficiency in English. See the language section on the left.

Applicants generally have a Bachelor's degree or a recognized equivalent academic degree of minimum 3 years study in bioscience engineering or agricultural sciences (preferably agricultural economics), in combination with knowledge in environmental sciences, economics, sociology and rural development studies.

Admission decisions are based on a combination of factors, including academic degrees and records, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, language skills and relevant work experience, if any. We also consider the appropriateness of your goals to the IMRD programme. In addition, consideration may be given to how your background and life experience would contribute significantly to an educationally beneficial mix of students.

NON-EUROPEAN STUDENTS :

The first step of the application procedure is an on-line registration and application form. Register in the IMRD database, complete the application form and submit it to the central IMRD secretariat electronically. Make sure you fill in at least all the obligatory fields, add as much additional information as possible and load electronic copies of your documents.


The second step is a hard copy application file, composed of the printed application form and all requested documents (secondary school leaving certificate, higher education diploma(s), including all transcripts of records, language certificate(s), curriculum vita, passport pictures, copy of passport, recommendation letters) by regular or express mail to the IMRD secretariat before the deadline. Download the recommendation letter/reference letter here: Word document.

CLICK HERE TO START THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Contact detail: imrd@ugent.be
Moreinfo: http://www.imrd.ugent.be