Postdoctoral Research Associate in Coastal Groundwater and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Coastal Groundwater

About Flinders

Our bold vision, captured in our Strategic Plan: making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, is to be internationally recognised as a world leader in research, an innovator in contemporary education, and the source of Australia’s most enterprising graduates.

To realise this ambition, we recently made a significant organisation change to a six College structure with a professional staff and services alignment.

We recognise the key to our success is exceptional people and we’re seeking an outstanding individual to join the team of our transformed university.

Employment Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Position Summary

Availability:
2 x positions available
Fixed-Term until March 2025 | Full-Time
Compensation Grade:
Academic Level A or Academic Level B
Salary Range:
Academic Level A: $78,340 - $94,938 p.a.
Academic Level B: $99,827 - $118,135 p.a.
Reporting to:
Professor of Hydrogeology
This position, Postdoctoral Researcher in Coastal Groundwater, will be part of a research team working on an ARC-funded project: ‘Sustaining intensive agriculture through droughts and floods’. This is a collaborative project between Flinders University, Monash University, Charles Darwin University, Queensland University of Technology and Lower Burdekin Water (LBW).
The Postdoctoral Researcher will investigate recharge, surface water-groundwater interactions, freshwater-saltwater dynamics and water management practices within a coastal aquifer in north Queensland (the Lower Burdekin Delta; LBD), using various hydrogeological techniques. For example, saltwater dynamics will be explored using numerical groundwater models and laboratory sand-tank experiments, supported by extensive field data from the field site, where agricultural water demand draws extensively on the coastal aquifers of the region. The long-term behaviour of the groundwater systems of the LBD in response to natural and human-induced variations in climate, land use, river regulation and groundwater pumping will be explored.

Key Position Responsibilities

The Postdoctoral Research Associate (Level A) is accountable for:

• Providing support for hydrogeological research on mixed-density groundwater systems, including within the coastal aquifer of the Lower Burdekin Delta. The research will incorporate numerical modelling, field activities, report writing, data analysis, and possibly sand tank experimentation.

• Applying numerical variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport models to explore mixed-density groundwater systems related to seawater intrusion, under various conditions, including episodic flooding, and tidal boundary condition effects.

• Communicating and collaborating successfully with project staff from other disciplines and institutions;

• Contributing to physical experimentation of mixed-density groundwater processes.

• Contributing to any field work associated with the project.

• Drafting clear scientific written material and presenting results to group meeting and other scientific fora.

• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the University.

• There may be a need to travel to field sites and/or interstate to attend meetings with project partners.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Level B) is accountable for:

• Providing support for hydrogeological research on mixed-density groundwater systems, including within the coastal aquifer of the Lower Burdekin Delta. The research will incorporate numerical modelling, field activities, report writing, data analysis, and possibly sand tank experimentation.

• Applying numerical variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport models to explore mixed-density groundwater systems related to seawater intrusion, under various conditions, including episodic flooding, and tidal boundary condition effects.

• Communicating and collaborating successfully with project staff from other disciplines and institutions;

• Leading activities involving physical experimentation of mixed-density groundwater processes.

• Contributing to any field work associated with the project.

• Producing clear scientific written material and presenting results to group meeting and other scientific fora.

• Any other responsibilities in line with the level of the position as assigned by the Supervisor and/or the University.

• there may be a need to travel to field sites and/or interstate to attend meetings with project partners.

Key Position Capabilities

Postdoctoral Research Associate (Level A):

• A PhD in hydrogeology or related field (or near completion of a PhD) or equivalent experience.

• Expertise in groundwater numerical modelling and ability to develop variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport models.

• Knowledge of relationships between surface processes and groundwater systems, including surface water-groundwater interaction and soil-groundwater processes.

• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and to work with minimal supervision.

• Demonstrated ability to innovate and commitment to research publication.

• High-level interpersonal and written and oral communication skills in English.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Level B):

• A PhD in hydrogeology or related field.

• Expertise in groundwater numerical modelling and demonstrated ability to develop variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport models.

• Demonstrated knowledge of relationships between surface processes and groundwater systems, including surface water-groundwater interaction and soil-groundwater processes.

• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and to work with minimal supervision.

• Demonstrated ability to innovate and commitment to research publication.

• High-level interpersonal and written and oral communication skills in English.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.

For application enquiries please contact: Professor Adrian Werner

Please note that the appointments will made at either Postdoctoral Research Associate (Level A) or Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Level B). Please indicate in your suitability statement the level for which you wish to be considered.

Prescribed Conditions for Employment

Flinders University has introduced a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy that requires all new staff members to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, subject to medical exemptions and limited exemptions.

Information for Applicants:

You are required to provide a suitability statement of no more than three pages, addressing the key capabilities of the position as outlined above. In addition, you are required to upload your CV.

A valid National Police Certificate which is satisfactory to the University will also be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

We are seeking to increase the diversity to improve equal opportunity outcomes for employees, and therefore we encourage female applicants, people with a disability and/or from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders descent to apply.

Please note, late applications and applications sent via agencies will not be accepted.

Applications Close 11:59pm:

18 May 2022