Second‑Order Fire Effects on Soil Development and Function in Fire‑Prone Geoconservation Landscapes

About the research project

This PhD project investigates the ongoing and second‑order impacts of fire on soil properties. While the immediate effects of fire on soils is known, this project moves beyond immediate post‑fire changes to examine how singular, intense, or repeated burning alters soil development, functionality, and long‑term geomorphic and ecological trajectories. While fire is well known to influence soil structure, chemistry, and hydrology in the short term, its cumulative effects on soil evolution, particularly under increasing wildfire risk, remain poorly understood.

In this study, you will conduct in situ soil sampling and observational studies across sites exposed to prescribed management burns and affected by past wildfires.The research will combine Before–After–Control–Impact (BACI) field designs pre- and post- management burn with space‑for‑time substitution approaches in places with known past fire history to examine soil functional and structural changes. Fieldwork will quantify medium‑to‑longer‑term changes in soil structure, aggregation, hydrophobicity, and horizon expression following fire, allowing comparison across burn severities, frequencies, and recovery times.

Complementary laboratory simulations will expose representative soils to controlled thermal regimes spanning key experimental flammability thresholds. These experiments will examine fire‑induced decomposition of soil structure and clay morphology, including fragmentation, friability, hydrophobicity development, flocculation behaviour, and post‑fire pedogenic morphogenesis. Integrating laboratory and field observations will enable attribution of observed soil changes to specific thermal and combustion processes.

The overarching aim of the project is to infer how altered fire regimes will reshape soil development pathways and functional capacity (e.g. water retention, stability, and biogeochemical cycling) in Tasmania. Tasmania is a highly geodiverse location with a range of soil types and landscapes and is facing increasing wildfire risk , especially while protecting more than half of Australia’s rare soil geoconservation inventory within its reserve estate. The outcomes of this study will inform fire management, conservation planning, and long‑term landscape management strategy under a warming climate.

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Melinda McHenry

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• Applicants should have experience with conducting environmental sampling in remote areas or in challenging terrain

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Graduate level or equivalent training or experience with GIS and statistical analysis software

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Past experience laboratory soil analysis
• Knowledge of reserve system fire management
• Familiarity with geoconservation initiatives in reserves and protected areas

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Melinda McHenry to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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