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The opportunity

• Exciting postdoctoral role for an early career researcher with a PhD in GHG modelling, process-based modelling, model integration, environmental engineering, ecology, agricultural modelling.
• Play an integral role in positioning CSIRO at the forefront of Next-Generation GHG Modelling research.
• Join CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Sustainability Team.

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years of relevant postdoctoral work experience. These fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.

CSIRO Agriculture and Food Sustainability Program is seeking an CERC Fellow to develop and generate inputs for the next-generation greenhouse gas (GHG) modelling framework.  The CERC Fellow will lead cutting edge research in the development and integration of soil invertebrate module with this next-generation process-based model development and will closely work with other modellers. The focus for this role will be on the contribution of termites in soil ecosystems, exploring their involvement in the cycling of soil organic matter and nutrients within Australian ecosystems.

The CERC Fellow will collaborate with national and international project scientists and will have the opportunity to partner with other CSIRO initiatives such as the Towards Net Zero Emissions Mission and the Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform. 

Your duties will include:

• Participate and contribute to engagements with peers and key stakeholders to obtain feedback and guidance on the project and ensure outputs produced are not only scientifically sound, but also 'fit for purpose' and therefore impactful in terms of having large uptake.
• Undertake regular reviews of relevant literature and patents and carry out research investigations requiring originality, creativity and innovation.
• Use gathered mechanistic understanding and existing supporting datasets to develop key soil invertebrate sub-module to integrate into the 'next-generation process-based GHG model'.
• Design and conduct landscape-scale experiments to gather primary datasets to support the soil invertebrate sub-module development, including but not limited to gathering GHG datasets and analysis of other soil attributes, including quantifying measurable biological district forms of soil carbon fractions/pools to support model development.
• Co-design the integration of the invertebrate soil module with other research scientists.
• Conduction model testing, calibration, validation, true-up, and model uncertainty assessment.

Location: Canberra, ACT

Salary: AU$96,329 - AU$105,517 plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified term of 3 years

Reference: 96461

To be considered you will need:

Essential

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as GHG modelling, process-based modelling, and model integration, environmental engineering, ecology, agricultural modelling. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Demonstrated skills on GHG modelling (process-based) and nutrient biogeochemical cycling, model development and integration, calibration, validation, and uncertainty assessment.
• Demonstrated experience and excellent skills in programming, including (but not limited to) R, Python, and Fortran, including data manipulation, model development and integration, and the ability to use high-performance computer (HPC) facilities including spatial application of process-based models.
• Sound knowledge of modern data management practices to ensure reproducibility and traceability of research, such as the deposition of data in publicly available repositories and the use of version control systems.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team, plus the motivation and discipline to carry out autonomous research.

Desirable

• Experience and willingness to learn mechanistic understanding of soil invertebrates on GHG. 
• Experience and willingness to engage in design and lead field data collection campaigns.
• Experience and willingness to gather primary datasets to support model development, e.g., use of the GHG analysers (e.g., Picarro) and quantification of measurable forms of soil carbon and nitrogen fractions using physical fractionation, thermal and other soil organic matter characterisation approaches.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to all candidates - Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or international candidates (both offshore or onshore) who either hold, or be able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term (visa sponsorship and relocation assistance may be provided to the successful candidate if required).

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible working arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to apply

Please apply online and provide the following documents that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role:

• a detailed cover letter, including addressing both the essential and desirable selection criteria, and
• current CV.

Please respond to both the essential and desirable selection criteria in detail and include it in your cover letter as one document.

Applications close

24 July 2024, 11:00pm AEST