Senior Research Associate - Climate

Apply now Job no:522819
Work type:full time
Location:Sydney, NSW
Categories:Senior Research Associate

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work.

THIS ROLE IS LOCATED IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

The Senior Research Associate (Level B) will conduct research to better understand and model land surface processes within coupled climate models at very high resolution. The Senior Research Associate will drive the direction of research within this broad area and collaborate with others in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Weather of the 21st Century to enable a variety of research projects. Much of the research will be aimed at developing the land surface model to improve our ability to simulate the weather and climate of Australia, and globally, at high resolution. Possible research avenues include improving the model hydrology through the inclusion of lateral soil moisture flow, improving the representation of the urban environment and its impact on local climate, investigating the land surface impact on land-atmosphere coupling, storm initiation and development.

The associate will work at the UNSW Climate Change Research Centre, a centre focused on physical climate science including studies of the atmosphere, ocean and land system.

This position is fully funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century. The incumbent will contribute to and benefit from being a part of a supportive and vibrant Centre community which offers unparalleled networking and professional development opportunities.

The Centre is a major seven-year initiative funded by the Australian Research Council. It is a consortium of 24 partners led by Monash University in partnership with The University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales, The Australian National University, and the University of Tasmania.

The Centre’s team-based research is focused on how Australia’s weather is being reshaped by climate change. The Centre conducts blue-sky research with real-world applications for communities, industry and government. The research program is made up of six integrated Centre Projects: Weather System Dynamics; Sea Surface Temperatures, Modes of Variability and Weather Systems; Weather Systems in a Warmer World; Weather Resources; High-Impact Weather; and Model Development and Applications.

This position will provide land modelling and analysis capacity to all of the Centre’s Projects as required.

About the role

• Level B -$119k - $140k - plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• Fixed Term – 4 years (with the possibility of extension)
• Full-time (35 hours per week)

The role of Research Associate reports to Professor Jason Evans and has no direct reports.

Specific responsibilities for this role include:

• Engage in individual and collaborative research in a manner consistent with disciplinary practice.
• Create scholarly impact in the discipline which is recognised by peers in the advancement of disciplinary knowledge.
• Conduct research/scholarly activities under limited supervision, either independently or as a member of a team (as per the norms of the discipline).
• Work collaboratively with other researchers among 21st Century Weather universities and partner organisations including attendance at meetings associated with the research.
• Establish a personal research portfolio and start developing independent research proposals.
• Contribute to the development of applications for competitive funding under the guidance of senior colleagues.
• Participate as co-investigator or chief investigator in competitive grant applications or show evidence of active participation in research collaborations funded by competitive grants.
• Design research projects.
• Mentor and guide students and colleagues and develop the next generation of academics through involvement in supervision of HDRs (as per the norms of the discipline).
• Maintain a strong focus on communicating research findings by publishing in highly ranked journals and presenting to peers at local, national and global conferences.
• Contribute to the collegiate life of 21CW and the Climate Change Research Centre such as committee memberships and participating in workshops, etc.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the UNSW Values in Action: Our Behaviours and the UNSW Code of Conduct.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.

About the successful applicant:
(Selection Criteria)

• A PhD, held in climate/atmospheric/land surface science, physics or other relevant discipline.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated track record in research with outcomes of high quality and high impact with clear evidence of the desire and ability to continually achieve research excellence as well as the capacity for research leadership.
• Evidence of the use and development of climate/atmospheric/land surface models.
• A track record of significant involvement with the profession and/or industry.
• High level communication skills and ability to network effectively and interact with a diverse range of students and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines and build effective relationships.
• Evidence of highly developed interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Evidence of high level analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated programming skills in a Unix/Linux environment (e.g. Fortran, Python).
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

You should systematically address the selection criteria listed within the position description in your application.

Please apply online - applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed.

Contact:
Jason Evans
E: [email protected]

Applications close: March 21st , 2024

Find out more about working at UNSW at www.unsw.edu.au

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Advertised:22 Feb 2024 AUS Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:21 Mar 2024 AUS Eastern Daylight Time