The Fauna Artificial Habitat Project is led by Dr Holly Bradley at Curtin University (under an ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship) and has been established to deliver national guidelines for the creation of artificial habitat for fauna in mine site restoration, to support both proponents and government regulators to align on best practice. To support the creation of the guidelines, we are offering 3 Master’s of Philosophy student projects (starting in Semester 1, 2026) on artificial habitat optimisation for (1) vertebrate fauna, and (2 & 3) northern quolls, fully funded by industry partners with a Trailblazer top up scholarship.
Aim
1. Northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) artificial habitat optimisation.
This project will focus on refining the knowledge and characterisation of northern quoll habitat, in particular habitat critical to survival, within a wider landscape context.
Aim 1: Determine the relative activity of northern quolls at artificial habitat sites in response to: (i) age, (ii) distance to active mining, (iii) proximity to secondary impacts of mining and associated infrastructure, and (iv) proximity to intact vegetation of restored mine sites.
Aim 2: Determine how vegetation structure influences the relative activity of northern quolls at artificial habitat sites.
- Northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) movement ecology and habitat optimisation
This project will focus on the knowledge gap surrounding the optimisation of artificial refuge design at a landscape scale context. Understanding of movement ecology and population dynamics is important in determining if members of natural populations of northern quolls can disperse to and use rock piles constructed during restoration activity, and if their movement through the landscape increases the likelihood of encountering an artificial habitat site.
Aim 1: Determine how northern quolls use drainage lines preferentially to open landscape to travel.
Aim 2: Determine the demographic characteristics of northern quolls which do encounter artificial habitat structures.
- Vertebrate fauna usage of artificial habitat.
The inclusion of artificial habitat structures such as rock piles and coarse woody debris, while not standardised in ecological restoration, has been trialled at some mine restoration sites across Australia. While it is assumed that these structures will be beneficial to fauna, particularly smaller species, a clear understanding of what species use the structures and how this varies temporally and according to microhabitat structure, will help inform design and monitoring optimisation for the future. To better understand how vertebrate fauna utilise in situ habitat structures, this project will have the following aims:
Aim 1: Determine the types of fauna habitats that are available in areas of mine site restoration in the Pilbara.
Aim 2: Determine the influence of mine site rehabilitation characteristics: (i) age, (ii) vegetation structure, (iii) distance to active mining, (iv) proximity to secondary impacts of mining and associated infrastructure, (v) size of rehabilitated area, and (vi) proximity to intact vegetation, to the vertebrate species composition of artificial habitats.
Aim 3: Determine how artificial habitat characteristics influence vertebrate fauna species composition and presence. Aim 4: Determine how artificial habitat characteristics influence the presence of invasive vertebrate predators.S
Significance
Australia’s legacy of numerous unclosed mines provides a huge opportunity for habitat rehabilitation and providing positive outcomes for fauna. Decades of research now show that restoring vegetation alone is not sufficient to ensure recolonisation by key fauna. If rehabilitation aims to establish healthy, resilient ecosystems, with reinstated ecological processes and functions, then mine closure requires consideration of both flora and fauna. The three Master’s of Philosophy projects offered will contribute to a better understanding of best practice for artificial habitat creation in mining.
Eligibility criteria:
- Must be able to commence study at the beginning of Semester 1, 2026
- Must meet minimum entry standards for admission into the Curtin University Master’s of Philosophy program in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. This includes qualified for the award of the Bachelor degree (preferably ecology, biological sciences, conservation or ecological restoration) from Curtin University or equivalent institution, with First or Second Class Honours or relevant work experience.
- Must be willing to work remotely in the hot and humid conditions of the Western Australian Pilbara region, and complete the induction requirements to enter mine site tenure
Preferred criteria:
- Previous fauna handling experience preferred
- Flexible to changes in project design priorities dependent upon external factors (e.g. extreme weather events, site access changes)
- Demonstrated workplace experience in at least one of the following: biodiversity, ecology, ecological restoration
- Ability to demonstrate strong time management, self-motivation, problem-solving skills, and potential to work independently and as part of a team
These projects are open to International and domestic applicants.
Scholarships
Scholarships are funded by industry partners (BHP, Mineral Resources, Fortescue, Roy Hill and Rio Tinto), with the top up provided by the Curtin University – Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer program.
Three scholarships are available to support 3 successful candidates with a living stipend valued at $43,000pa for a maximum of two years of a Master’s of Philosophy program based on full time enrolment.
Applications closing date: 28th November 2025
Enquiries
For enquires please contact Dr Holly Bradley at h.bradley@curtin.edu.au
To apply please submit an Expression of Interest to Dr Holly Bradley.