Lemuroid Ringtail Possum, picture courtesy of Wet Tropics Management Authority

The Skyrail Rainforest Foundation is providing students the opportunity to access up to $5,000 for PhD and masters projects, and up to $2,000 for honours projects.

The funding will favour projects with a focus on research with outcomes that add to environmental management and consequent protection of rare, threatened and vulnerable species and biodiversity.

Max Shepherd, a director of the Skyrail Rainforest Foundation, said the Foundation was pleased to make this funding available for student research projects.

"The Foundation looks forward to providing students with the means and opportunity to contribute to rainforest research, and ultimately improve community understanding and appreciation of the world's tropical rainforests," Mr Shepherd said.

To be considered for funding, projects must be compatible with the Foundation's vision: 'the protection of tropical rainforests worldwide through sound management, understanding and appreciation through research and education'.

Organisations or individuals are invited to submit applications to be considered for this funding opportunity. The closing date for submissions is Friday 5th June 2009.

This is the third time the Foundation has provided student funding opportunities. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $140,000 to support several research projects involving student researchers.

One of the 2008 funding recipients, Phd student Brooke Bateman, who is working towards her Doctorate of Philosophy Zoology, highlighted the importance of Foundation funding.

"My project focuses on the conservation of the Northern Bettong. Support from the Skyrail Rainforest Foundation not only means having the resources available to complete my PhD, but also for the conservation of the Northern Bettong, which is one of the most endangered species of marsupial in the Wet Tropics Bioregion."

To assist with the preparation of submissions, a downloadable version of the Skyrail Rainforest Foundation (SRF) 'Guidelines: Applications for Funding Students' document is available on this website.

Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the SRF's Public Fund Management Committee, which has representatives from Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, James Cook University, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and Conservation International.

For more information, please contact the Skyrail Rainforest Foundation on email info@skyrailfoundation.org or phone (07) 4038 1999.