Research Fellow, Geologist

• Exciting opportunity for a passionate geologist to be part of a multi-disciplinary team, underpinned by state-of-the-art deep-sea technology
• Fixed term appointment for three years with an immediate start
• Salary range: Level B $100,374 - $118,776 p.a. plus 17% superannuation

School of Biological Sciences

Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre

The University of Western Australia and Minderoo Foundation joined forces in 2021 to establish a world leading deep-ocean research centre, to increase understanding about the deepest parts of the ocean. This collaboration aims to comprehensively explore the deepest areas of the Indian Ocean – mapping the ocean floor, characterising and discovering new species, assessing marine biodiversity and charting deep-sea habitats, with a focus on abyssal plains and hadal subduction trenches. The Minderoo UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre is supported with a major five-year grant from Minderoo Foundation’s Flourishing Oceans initiative.

The new Deep Sea Research Centre is housed within the School of Biological Sciences – a large, multidisciplinary School with research and teaching focused on understanding and conserving life on Earth. Understanding and communicating the vulnerabilities, adaptability and resilience of plants and animals on land and in our rivers and oceans helps to better value and protect the biodiversity around us. The School of Biological Sciences is a large, multidisciplinary School with over 80 high-caliber staff delivering world-class education and research programs to approximately 600 undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students and is responsible for the supervision of ~100 PhD students. The School is research-intensive with expertise in the disciplines of Computational Biology, Ecology & Conservation, Evolutionary Biology, Neuroscience and Science Communication.

About the opportunity

As the appointee, you will implement a research program to understand the geomorphology and habitat structure of hadal and abyssal depths in the Indian Ocean, and elsewhere, including abyssal plains, hadal subduction zones and fracture zones. Additionally, this Fellow will set these research findings in a global context to understand how the Indian Ocean compares, contrasts, and connects with hadal and abyssal communities worldwide.

You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of ecologists, biologists and geneticists, underpinned by state-of-the-art deep-sea technology. In this role you will identify and engage with opportunities for collaborative research within MUDSRC, and other academic institutions, nationally and internationally, to improve our knowledge of deep-sea environments worldwide. You will work with internal and external collaborators across multiple disciplines to identify research needs and funding opportunities to deliver world-class scientific discovery and exploration. You will be co-supervised, guided and mentored by UWA supervisors to ensure research productivity is maximised and milestones are met.

To be considered for this role, you will demonstrate:

• An earned PhD and preferably postdoctoral experience demonstrating substantive work on the mapping and interpretation of subsea features using both acoustic and visual methods
• Knowledge and skills to lead and implement a research program to understand the geological setting of hadal and abyssal features at multiple scales
• Extensive experience planning and implementing scientific expeditions including post-voyage reporting and effective data archiving
• Knowledge, skills, and experience operating subsea equipment and operating multibeam echo sounders, with appropriate acquisition, processing and interpretation software
• Established or emerging reputation for research excellence and academic achievement relative to career stage and opportunity as evidenced by publication history
• Being a team player with exceptional interpersonal skills able to foster an atmosphere of innovation, creativity, and excellence among others
• Ability to engage, communicate, build relationships, and negotiate with a diverse group of people, including local and international scientists, ship crew and students
• Superior written and oral communication skills
• Experience with interpretation statistics and modelling
• Preferably have a track-record in a variety of communication and outreach activities including but not restricted to social media and radio, TV and news, public and school presentations

Full details of the position's responsibilities and the selection criteria are outlined in the position description. Please see the position description prior to applying.

You are required to address the selection criteria in your submission in a separate document. For information to assist you with compiling statements to answer the selection criteria, please visit Addressing the selection criteria

Closing date: Monday, 11 October 2021

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

Application Details: Please apply online via the Apply Now button.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

UWA is committed to a diverse workforce. We celebrate inclusion and diversity and believe gender equity is fundamental to achieving our goal of being a top 50 university by 2050.

• We have child friendly areas on campus, including childcare facilities. Flexible work arrangements, part-time hours and job sharing will all be considered. 
• UWA has been awarded Bronze Employer Status for being a Top Ten Employer for LGBTI Inclusion by the Australian Workplace Equity Index (AWEI -2021). 
• UWA has also been awarded Athena Swan Bronze Accreditation in 2020.