Higher Degree by Research Application Portal

This project will consider how to improve the ways in which we address risks in benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of coastal hazard management or coastal climate-adaptation decisions.

Treatment of risk has implications for BCA in a number of ways, including that:

(i) How we categorise, measure and integrate the risks of a proposed project failing to deliver its expected benefits can be important for managing the tendency to under-estimate risks and the subsequent impact on BCA outcomes.

(ii) Outcomes of a BCA may be acted upon differently depending on the risk preferences of decision makers or their perceptions about risk preferences of other stakeholders affected by a proposed project.  

The research program will be designed with the successful candidate, aligning with their research strengths and interests. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods may be used (e.g. statistical analyses, econometric modelling, thematic analyses, data collection through interviews or surveys), covering potential topics such as:

• Categorising types of risk and risk-measurement associated with coastal hazard decision making, allowing inclusion of risk in a more robust way than standard BCA practice. 
• Identifying risk preferences of coastal stakeholders (e.g. communities, decision makers), and how these preferences might change depending on different types of coastal hazard risk. 
• Understanding how risk preferences of coastal stakeholders influence the value inputs for BCA of coastal hazard projects. 
• Exploring the relationship between risk preferences and the response to BCA outcomes by decision-makers, including implications for prioritising management options effectively.   

The candidate will join an active and growing team with a research emphasis on coastal ecosystems, marine protected areas, and their contributions to society (see: Resilient WAys). A/Prof. Abbie Rogers and Prof. Graeme Cumming will supervise, and provide access to supportive student networks and professional development opportunities, including through UWA’s Centre for Environmental Economics & Policy and Oceans Institute.

(1) Candidates must fulfil all admission requirements for the UWA PhD Program. These include, among others, sufficient background and experience in independent supervised research. This means that your Bachelor's or Master's degree must have included a research component, typically in the form of a thesis. See UWA HDR admission policy here. 

(2) Candidates must be willing to be based in Perth, WA, for the duration of the PhD project.

There are no specific requirements other than the eligibility criteria, but the candidate will benefit from having previous experience in environmental economics, benefit-cost analysis, non-market valuation, risk analysis or similar.

First, check UWA’s admission requirements carefully to confirm you are eligible to be considered for enrolment in the PhD Program.

Then, send an Expression of Interest via email to A/Prof. Abbie Rogers (abbie.rogers@uwa.edu.au).

Include the following attachments with the email:

(1)    A cover letter outlining your interest in this PhD project and why you are a suitable candidate. You may like to include a description of: relevant past experience in research or industry, ideas about research objectives or methods related to the project scope, what you hope to achieve through your PhD.

(2)    A CV, including hyperlinks to access any publicly-available journal papers, Masters/Honours research dissertation(s), or other relevant published materials.

(3)    Transcripts of your existing degree(s), showing coursework unit and dissertation grades. 

abbie.rogers@uwa.edu.au 

This scholarship is supported by a WA Premier's Early-to-Mid Career Fellowship project and will provided separately to regular scholarship rounds.