Family life in the wild: Linking genes, social behaviour, and population dynamics

About the research project

Why family life evolves, and how it is maintained in natural populations, remains one of the major questions in evolutionary biology. Social behaviours such as parental care, social tolerance, and delayed dispersal underpin the formation of family groups, yet the genetic mechanisms shaping these behaviours, and how they influence population persistence through time, remain poorly understood.

This PhD project will address these questions using White’s skink (Liopholis whitii), a family-living Australian lizard that has been the focus of more than two decades of ecological and behavioural research. Leveraging an exceptional long-term dataset spanning multiple generations, this project will integrate behavioural ecology, genomics, and population biology to investigate the genetic basis of social behaviour, quantify how social variation shapes life-history trajectories and demographic processes, and determine how environmental change influences social systems and population persistence. By integrating these complementary lines of evidence, the project will provide a rare opportunity to understand how genetic, ecological, and environmental processes interact to drive the evolution and maintenance of family life.

The project forms part of a broader research program investigating the molecular origins of family life and will embed the student within an internationally connected research environment, providing opportunities to work alongside world-leading researchers in animal behaviour, evolutionary theory, and evolutionary genomics, including Martin Whiting (Macquarie University), Tobias Uller (Lund University), Camilla Whittington (University of Sydney), and Nathalie Feiner (Max Planck Institute), with exceptional opportunities for training, collaboration, and professional development.

Primary supervisor

Meet Associate Professor Geoff While

Funding

The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by ARC 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 must be able to undertake the project on a full-time basis and on-campus.
• Applications are open to applicants from Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Behavioural Ecology, Quantitative Biology or a closely related discipline only.
• English language score must meet minimum entry requirements.

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:

• First Class Honours or an equivalent research Master’s degree in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Behavioural Ecology, Quantitative Biology, Genetics, Genomics, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated capacity for independent research, including completion of a substantial research thesis or equivalent data-intensive project, with evidence of analytical capability and contribution to scientific dissemination (e.g., presentations, reports, or publications).
• Strong quantitative and computational skills, including experience using R (or equivalent programming environments) for data wrangling, visualisation, reproducible workflows, and statistical analyses.
• Demonstrated interest in behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, population biology, genetics, or the integration of ecological and evolutionary approaches to biological questions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to communicate scientific concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, initiative, and capacity for independent work, including the ability to manage research activities and deliver high-quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
• Willingness and capacity to undertake fieldwork in remote environments, operating safely and effectively within established field and safety protocols.
• Experience with, or willingness to undertake, laboratory and field procedures associated with vertebrate research, including tissue collection and biological sampling conducted under approved animal ethics protocols. 

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Experience with genomic analyses, bioinformatic workflows, quantitative genetics, pedigree reconstruction, or genome-scale datasets.
• Experience analysing complex biological datasets, with familiarity with mixed-effects modelling, hierarchical approaches, Bayesian methods, quantitative genetics, or related analytical frameworks advantageous.
• Experience in spatial analyses, GIS workflows, network analyses, or ecological modelling approaches.
• Current unrestricted driver’s licence, with four-wheel-drive experience advantageous.
• Remote first-aid qualification, wilderness field experience, or willingness to undertake relevant training.
• Evidence of scholarly contribution, including publications, manuscripts in preparation or review, conference presentations, or other research outputs.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary research teams and contribute positively to a broader research environment. 

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Associate Professor Geoff While 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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