Postdoctoral Research Assistant - Soil Restoration

• Part-time (0.5FTE), 2-year fixed term position based at RMIT City and Bundoora campuses
• Join the Soil-Atmosphere-Anthroposphere Lab at RMIT University to quantify the soil water and carbon dynamics of tropical peat soils and Australian Alpine soils, working with a team of academic, government, industry and NGO partners across Australia and Indonesia
• Opportunity to contribute to 2 interdisciplinary research projects; “Chameleon Flux; Validating technologies for assessing and monitoring Indonesian peatland restoration using eddy covariance flux towers coupled with Chameleon Sensors” and “Mountain Champions; Building resilient alpine environments with less snow”, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Australian Research Council, respectively
• Applications welcome from highly motivated candidates with prior research experience working in peatlands, wetlands, alpine and/or tropical ecosystems
• The Soil-Atmosphere-Anthroposphere Lab has a strong culture of shared learning and career development. As part of this role, you will have the opportunity to further develop your research career through ongoing professional development and support to apply for external research funding
• Remuneration at Academic Level A ($68,983 - $93,569) + 17% superannuation

About us

RMIT is a multi-sector university of technology, design and enterprise with more than 91,000 students and 11,000 staff globally. RMIT offers postgraduate, undergraduate, vocational education and online programs to provide students with a variety of work-relevant pathways.

Our purpose is to offer life-changing experiences for our students, and to help shape the world with research, innovation, teaching and industry engagement. With strong industry connections forged over 130 years, collaboration with industry remains integral to RMIT’s leadership in education, applied and innovative research, and to the development of highly skilled, globally focused graduates.

Culture

Our Values inspire us, wherever we are in the world, and guide how we live and work together.

Imagination. Agility. Courage. Passion. Impact. Inclusion.

What unites us is our purpose and our values; they are at the heart of who we are, what we stand for, how we make decisions and connect with each other.

Our people make everything at the University possible. We encourage new approaches to work and learning, stimulating change to drive positive impact. RMIT exists to create transformative experiences for our students, getting them ready for life and work. You will be a part of a productive and collaborative team, who values working relationships and outcomes through open and inclusive planning, continuous information sharing and transparent work practices.

About the College

The STEM College holds a leading position and expertise in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health (STEM) fields.  We are uniquely positioned to influence and partner with industry, as never before.

STEM College is a community of exceptional STEM researchers, teachers, inventors, designers and game-changers, supported by talented professional staff.  We offer higher education programs across all STEM disciplines at the Bachelor, Master and PhD levels, and ensure our students experience an education that is work-aligned and life-changing.

Further information on STEM College in this link.

About You and the Role

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the data analysis and writing of 2 co-authored publications on the water and carbon fluxes of a degraded tropical peatland undergoing restoration;
• Carrying out field research activities in remote mountainous regions of Australia to quantify soil hydrology characteristics;
• Working independently as well as collaboratively with RMIT and partner researchers in Australia and Indonesia to contribute to innovative interdisciplinary research outputs and developing new research initiatives;
• Creating impactful science communication material to convey soil restoration results to a range of audiences including community, government, industry and funding bodies, as well as presentation of research findings at conferences and workshops;
• Mentoring postgraduate students and contributing to undergraduate teaching in Environmental Science complementary to the research projects.

Qualifications

Mandatory: PhD Qualification in a relevant discipline area (soil science, micrometeorology, environmental science). Candidate requires a valid Australian driving license as this role will involve travel to the Australian Alps to undertake field work.

Preferred:

• Expertise in data analysis relevant to micrometeorology and/or soil hydrology; competency in programming languages R or Python would be an advantage.
• Emerging publication record, as evidenced by publications in peer reviewed international journals.
• Ability to communicate in Bahasa Indonesia and First aid qualifications would be advantageous.

Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children check.

Bring your whole self to work

We are better for our diversity. When we listen to those who are different to us, or challenge us, we grow stronger together. When we feel like we belong, we can achieve so much more. We respect each other, embrace our differences and build a sense of belonging in our team and beyond.

We are proud that our dedication to diversity has been recognized by a broad spectrum of external organizations. Visit our Linkedin Life pages to learn more and see some of our most recent wins. 

RMIT has a strong dhumbali (commitment) to the employment, development and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within a culturally safe environment; we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

To Apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and achievements by clicking on the ‘Apply now’ link. Please note that a separate response to Key Selection Criteria as stated on the Position Description is required.  For any enquiries regarding this role, please contact Dr Samantha Grover, Lecturer, Environmental Chemistry (samantha.grover@rmit.edu.au)   

 PD - 594511 - Research Assistant (Level A) -Soil Restoration.pdf

RMIT is a Disability Confident Recruitment Team and we are happy to adjust the recruitment process for your accessibility requirements. Please contact us at TalentSupport@rmit.edu.au telling us your preferred type of communication and we will be in touch as soon as possible to discuss your requirements.

Applications close Wednesday 31st March 2021.

RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Please note that whilst we still accept applications from any persons interested in our roles, due to the impacts of COVID-19, we are currently prioritising applications from those with current working rights in Australia and who are not affected by travel restrictions. Please see the latest updates to Australia’s immigration and border arrangements during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/

Trans and Gender Diverse applicants

Inclusion is at the durrung (or heart) of who we are. We aim to create an environment where staff and students who identify as trans and gender diverse feel supported to succeed and belong.

We recognise the challenges faced by the trans and gender diverse community when applying for a new role.

At RMIT, we aim to support you from the start. Our Talent Acquisition team are active members of the RMIT Ally network.

For enquires or support through the application, recruitment and onboarding process, applicants who identify as trans or gender diverse are invited to contact Mat Lewis at mat.lewis@rmit.edu.au