General
PhD: Characteristics, Drivers, and Mechanisms of Recent Marine Heatwaves to
Improve Predictability
Step into the growing field of climate extremes and their predictability to increase climate resilience of ecosystems and marine businesses.
We have a fully funded PhD position to research drivers and mechanisms of marine heatwaves, which have intensified and become more frequent worldwide over recent decades, impacting fisheries, aquaculture, biodiversity and coastal communities.
One way to reduce this growing risk is through improved predictability and the establishment of early warning systems.
A three-year project has been initiated to improve the predictability of these extremes over the southwest Pacific using advanced data science techniques. The project brings together researchers from Australia, New Caledonia, USA, and New Zealand.
This PhD will contribute to this international project by:
- Characterising recent MHWs and diagnosing their drivers and mechanisms
- Improving our ability to predict these events on subseasonal to seasonal timescales
- Utilising and evaluating MHW forecasting products
The successful applicant will work at the interface of climate dynamics, oceanography, and data science—linking process understanding with practical prediction tools for stakeholders (fisheries, aquaculture, conservation).
The successful candidate will start early 2026.
Applications close 12 October.
For more information and conditions [140KB]
Contact Erik Behrens for more information
Fisheries New Zealand
2026 Masters Scholarships in Quantitative Fisheries Science
2026 Masters Scholarships in Quantitative Fisheries Science
$20,000 per year for up to 2 years.
Scholarships are available for Masters students in the field of quantitative marine science, particularly stock assessment modelling or ecosystem modelling.
We encourage you to apply if you have a major or minor in mathematics, statistics, computing, or biology. Applicants with a strong quantitative (particularly applied statistics) or computer programming background, combined with marine biology, will be favoured.
To apply, you must:
- have been eligible to do a Master of Science (MSc) at any New Zealand university
- have a suitable university supervisor and research provider or Fisheries New Zealand technical advisor before stage 2 (a potential university supervisor is desirable but not necessary for stage 1)
- be starting study within 6 months of getting a scholarship
- have completed at least two 200-level papers in mathematics, statistics or computer science, and at least one 300-level paper in mathematics, statistics or computer science during your undergraduate study
- be studying full-time
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
How to apply
Before you start, read the Masters scholarship information sheet [PDF, 148 KB]
Stage 1: send us information about you
Prepare the following information and send to science.officer@mpi.govt.nz
- A current CV.
- A cover letter outlining why you are interested in this opportunity.
- A copy of your academic transcript.
- A list of courses taken with a 10-word to 50-word description of each.
Stage 2: complete an application, if requested
If you are successful in stage 1, we'll invite you to complete part 2 of the application form. You'll need to include a full project proposal.
Masters scholarship application form – part 2 [PDF, 459 KB]
Applications close on October 31.
2026 Undergraduate scholarships in Quantitative Marine Biology
$5,000 for your final year of undergraduate study.
Scholarships are available for undergraduate students interested in an Honours year or doing a double-major in:
- biology or marine biology, with
- mathematics, computing, or statistics.
Applications with a strong quantitative background (such as statistics) will be favoured.
To apply, you must:
- have completed a minimum of 2 statistics, computer programming or mathematics course at 200-level
- have planned to take or have completed one statistics, computer programming, or mathematics courses, as well as a marine biology course at 300-level.
How to apply
Before you start, read the undergraduate scholarship information sheet [PDF, 198 KB]
Prepare a cover letter including:
- a short description of courses taken
- proposed courses for the next year
- your future goals.
Send your cover letter and CV to science.officer@mpi.govt.nz
Note, there is no application form for undergraduate scholarships.
Applications close on October 31.
