Postdoctoral Fellow / Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society

Classification: Academic Level A / B
Salary package: $76,271 - $117,736 per annum plus 17% superannuation
Term: Full time, Fixed Term appointment for 36 months
Position Description: PD & PEWER_ Level A&B.pdf

Working at ANU

This is an opportunity to work with a world class University that undertakes cutting edge research and has a strong tradition in research-led teaching excellence.

We offer:

• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid arrangements working both on our beautiful, green campus and working remotely,
• Generous paid parental leave entitlements of up to 32 weeks. We are one of the leading employers in Australia for parental leave entitlements,
• Designated parent rooms, quiet spaces and childcare facilities on campus,
• Career support, training, mentoring & upskilling opportunities .

For more information on a range of lifestyle, financial and non-financial rewards and programs, please click here .

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A Diverse and Inclusive Team

ANU is introducing measures to support the recruitment, inclusion and retention of employees with disability. To find out more, please click here .

ANU is a large, diverse employer with staff working across numerous professions (see the full list of available roles here . We are a recipient of the bronze award through the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program and a platinum member of the Australian Network on Disability. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities and from individuals who may have had a non-linear career path, career gaps or career breaks.

The Position

We offer a unique Postdoctoral/Research Fellow opportunity to work with world-renowned scientists in ANU as well as in Australia’s Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Together you will bring about a step change in the monitoring of vegetation based on very-high-resolution (i.e., one metre or less resolution) satellite imagery and develop: (a) regular, automated monitoring of the total number of trees and shrubs across the Australian continent, including their height distribution, height-density relationship, and other fundamental vegetation structural allometric relationships; (b) a methodology and demonstration of how continental scale vegetation structural attributes are controlled by climate; and how have major disturbances (fire, drought, human activity) impacts these relationships. This partnership will develop the science to answer the following questions: How many trees and shrubs are there in Australia’s north and interior?; What is their height distribution?; What is their height-density relationship? How are these relationships controlled by climate; and How have major disturbances (e.g., fire drought, human activity) impacted these relationships.

This is a key role in a friendly, motivated team providing world-leading understanding of water and vegetation dynamics through integrated data analysis of remote sensing and ecosystem modelling outputs.

With no two days being the same, this role is integral to an exciting multi-partner research project that wants to revolutionise our ability to monitor Australia’s trees from space. You will train super computers to analyse tonnes of imagery, but also undertake fieldwork in the Northern Territory savanna, spend time at NASA and attend scientific conferences and workshop.

Learn more about the ground-breaking research and work class facilities of the Fenner School of Environment and society here .

The Person

For this cutting-edge research project, we are looking for a qualified environmental scientist or engineer with a background in natural science, remote sensing, informatics, mathematics, or similar, with a track record of independent research as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.

You have experience in automated analysis of large environmental datasets and specific research experience in environmental remote sensing and high-performance computing. Experience with Australia’s semi-arid and arid ecosystems, terrestrial or airborne LIDAR, and sub-one-metre resolution imagery would be an advantage but are not essential.

You love finding solutions to challenging data analysis problems, and you are a strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the capacity to quickly develop productive, professional relationships with colleagues. Organisational skills and effective self-management are key.

For more information about the position please contact Professor Albert Van Dijk on T: +61 2 6125 2197 E: [email protected] .

To Apply

To be considered for this position, please upload the following documents:

• A current curriculum vitae (CV), and
• No more than a two page summary addressing your suitability against the selection criteria.

The committee will consider candidates that do not meet one or more aspects of the selection criteria.

If shortlisted, candidates will be asked to complete a:

• 50-minute interview, including giving a short presentation on your own research and discussing your scientific experience, knowledge and workplace skills and expectations.

If you require adjustments to participate in any of the above assessments, please contact our HR team at E: [email protected] or T: +61 2 6125 8045. Any adjustment request or the disclosure of disability will not be communicated to the selection committee without the candidates consent and it will not having any bearing on hiring decisions.

For examples of common reasonable adjustments please click here .

Please note: The successful candidate will be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process. An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.

Closing date: 4 September 2022