Advancing spectral imaging techniques to quantify sea-ice biogeochemical properties across scales

About the research project

Understanding the role of sea ice within the Earth system increasingly requires capturing fine-scale biophysical dynamics that lie beyond the reach of conventional remote sensing and sampling.

This PhD project will develop novel optical methods to measure these properties across scales, with a trajectory from laboratory and ice-tank simulation experiments through to shipborne observations in Antarctica. Building on hyperspectral imaging, a technique that captures detailed light spectra to identify materials, minerals and biological properties of organisms, the project will extend methods developed at IMAS, moving beyond biomass toward algal pigments, health, community composition, and mineral constituents such as gypsum that form as the ice freezes and are released as it melts.

At the new IMAS Taroona facility, controlled freezing experiments will calibrate and validate the technique against measured conditions, revealing how optical signals relate to biomass, pigments and minerals, and how these properties develop as ice forms and melts. This understanding will underpin robust, transferable algorithms, including machine learning, that turn optical measurements into meaningful biogeochemical and ecological information. The methods will then be applied at larger scale to natural Antarctic sea ice through shipborne and field observations, capturing spatial variability at regional scales. Connections to aerial and satellite remote sensing will allow findings to be scaled further. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and other Australian Antarctic Program partners.

Specific objectives include:

• Develop and test optical methods, including machine learning, to measure sea-ice biogeochemical properties, from algal pigments and health proxies to mineral constituents such as gypsum and any other organic or inorganic pollutants (e.g., microplastics or oil).
• Use ice-tank and laboratory experiments to calibrate and validate the methods against known conditions, building understanding of how optical signals relate to biogeochemical and contaminant properties.
• Apply the methods at larger scale through shipborne and field observations in the marginal ice zone, capturing spatial variability of measured properties in natural sea ice.
• Advance autonomous imaging technology for non-destructive measurement of sea-ice biogeochemical properties.
• Connect fine-scale measurements to broader sea-ice conditions and carbon cycling, supporting regional-scale understanding and modelling.

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Emiliano Cimoli

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 relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• 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:

•  Applications are open to Domestic and International
• English language score must be above the minimum entry requirements for this project.

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:

• An Honours or Master's degree in a science or engineering discipline — ideally, but not exclusively, a physical, environmental, marine or computational science or remote sensing.
• Interest with working with large, complex datasets — an understanding of data structures, analysis pipelines and automation.
• Interest and aptitude in optics, imaging, and remote sensing, and how light interacts with biological and physical media.
• Motivation for marine and Antarctic science and a genuine curiosity to understand how polar ecosystems work.
• Experience in scientific and technical writing, demonstrated by a thesis in submission or a published manuscript.

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Background in marine, Antarctic or polar science, or biogeochemical oceanography.
• Familiarity with big-data handling, automation, and reproducible analysis workflows.
• Understanding of optical instrumentation, imaging spectroscopy, radiative transfer, or sensor / payload concepts.
• Exposure to machine learning or advanced statistical analysis applied to environmental or ecological data.
• Prior field or laboratory experience in cold, remote marine environments, including sea time.
• Knowledge of algal pigments, photophysiology, and methods such as PAM fluorometry.
• Conceptual thinking and the ability to reason about complex, coupled environmental systems.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Emiliano Cimoli 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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