Ref 1642/24 Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Stingless Bee Health, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

• Western Sydney University Internal Applicants Only
• Full-time, fixed-term position for 2 years | Based at Westerns Hawkesbury Campus
• Remuneration: $106,765 to $128,989 p.a Inclusive of Super + Leave Loading

Western Sydney University Internal Applicants Only.
To be eligible to apply for this position you must be employed by Western Sydney University on an ongoing, fixed term or casual basis at the time of this advertisement. 

In accordance with section 45.4 of the Academic Staff Agreement 2022, Casual academic staff are eligible to apply for appointment if they have been employed at Western Sydney University as a casual employee for at least two teaching sessions in the last 24 months.

About the Role
The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Stingless Bee Health to join the dynamic HIE Pollination Research Team in a position supported by the Hort Frontiers project " Supporting the health and expansion of the Australian stingless bee industry ".
The successful candidate will conduct research on how pesticides and pests and diseases influence the health of stingless bees used for pollination services in horticultural cropping environments. The wider stingless bee project involves research on stingless bee diets, hive propagation methods, deployment strategies in orchards, and stingless bee management in protected cropping. In addition, we are testing the efficiency of managed stingless bees in pollinating a range of established and emerging horticultural crops. Pollination is a key aspect of food security and the research will improve understanding of how to manage native stingless bee hives effectively in horticultural settings. 

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will undertake experimental research to investigate how stingless bees are impacted by the main agrochemicals used in orchards and glasshouses where managed stingless bees provide pollination services (Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management). In addition, they will conduct research on the hygienic behaviour of stingless bees and the extent to which this may defend colonies against pests and diseases. The data generated will also assist developing appropriate pesticide and pest and disease mitigation strategies for the stingless bee industry and horticultural producers using pollination services. 

The wider project involves collaboration with other researchers at Griffith University, commercial stingless beekeepers and crop growers. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will also interact with beekeepers and crop growers to collect information on farm chemical use and pest and disease issues of managed stingless bee colonies. 

The Fellow will communicate findings at scientific meetings and publish research in high-impact international journals, as well as provide research updates for funders and industry stakeholders. A career mentoring plan will be developed and will include opportunities to contribute to teaching and supervising students, as well as leadership and engagement. 

This is a full-time, fixed-term position for 2 years predominantly based at the Hawkesbury Campus of WSU in Richmond. Some field work will take place in rural cropping regions in New South Wales and other States, involving driving a motor car. 

For information about The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, please visit our webpage www.westernsydney.edu.au/hie.  

If this sounds like an opportunity for you, we want to hear from you! Apply now ensuring you carefully address each of the selection criteria in your application.

Remuneration Package: Academic Level A $106,765 to $128,989 p.a. (comprising Salary of $90,218 to $108,997 p.a., plus Superannuation and Leave Loading)

Position Enquiries: Please direct enquires about the role to Professor James Cook via email at [email protected]

Recruitment Enquiries: Specific enquiries or issues with your application may be directed to the Recruitment Team at [email protected]

Closing Date: 8:30pm, Wednesday 17 April 2024

Working Rights in Australia - Eligibility 
You must provide evidence of your full-time working rights in Australia for the full term of the appointment at time of application.

Please note, only those applications submitted via the WSU online recruitment system will be accepted.

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Western Sydney University is committed to diversity and social inclusion. Applications from people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; equity target groups including women, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTIQ, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are encouraged.

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