Research Officer

Classification: ANU Officer 5/6 (Research)
Salary package: $83,351 - $97,929 per annum plus 17% superannuation (pro-rata)
Terms: Part time (0.5 FTE, 17.5 hours per week), Continuing Contingent Funding

This position is continuing contingent funded. The funding that supports this project has an expected end date of 31 December 2027.

The Research Officer will help identify and propose conservation responses to pollutants flowing from rivers to catalyse conservation actions for the Indian Ocean. This position offers:

• The ability to undertake cutting edge research;
• An opportunity to make a difference to address a conservation problem of global importance;
• Travel and networking with experts in the in Indian Ocean region;
• Excellent and flexible working conditions.

About the College

The ANU by 2025 Strategic Plan calls for the University to serve society through transformational research and education. As one of the great universities of the world, ANU is driven by a culture of excellence in everything we do. Our lived experience is increasingly one of large-scale systems of people, whose actions and interactions are influenced by our digital, physical and biological environment. The ANU College of Systems and Society (CSS) hosts three of the key disciplines necessary to help us design, build, regulate and secure the future.

CSS brings together expertise in social, technical, computational, ecological and scientific systems to build a new approach to systems design and build new national capabilities in data-driven policy and business development. The work we do in the College directly supports one of the four pillars of ANU by 2025: to strengthen our national mission and meet our unique responsibilities as Australia’s national university. We will deliver on our mission by building a strong community, providing transformative educational experiences, conducting high-impact research, seeking meaningful engagement, and becoming a resilient organisation post COVID-19.

We welcome and openly acknowledge differences in expertise, research / education / professional focus, experience and perspective.

CSS is a vibrant and diverse community of more than three thousand students, staff, and visitors. Our College is comprised of the School of Computing, School of Cybernetics, School of Engineering, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Mathematical Sciences Institute, and the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, supported by the Professional Services Group.

The Fenner School of Environment & Society is a world-leading centre for cross-disciplinary environmental and sustainability research, education and policy-relevant advice. Through cutting-edge research and insightful analysis, our academic experts create social, economic and environmental impact and deliver real-world solutions to address complex environmental challenges. Our mission is to encourage sound environmental policy and governance outcomes that support sustainability. The Fenner School is nationally and internationally recognised for its excellence in research and education. ANU is ranked 7th worldwide and 1st in Australia for geography, 5th and 1st for development studies, 34th and 3rd for environmental sciences, and 39th and 2nd for agriculture and forestry (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021).

This project is also undertaken in collaboration with the Research School of Biology in the College of Science.

About the opportunity

This position is a fixed term appointment for a period of 2.5 years to contribute to the Management of Rivers Discharging into Ocean Realms (MORDOR) program focuses on land-based pollutants, runoff and their impacts in the Indian Ocean. Water quality has declined globally across freshwater and marine ecosystems. Multiple anthropogenic pollutants have resulted in significant declines in ecosystem health with complex social and ecological problems. Pollutants include sediments, salt, nutrients, anthropogenic chemicals and plastic waste. River catchments, freshwater ecosystems are connected to the ocean and there is a clear need to consider these systems collectively.

The MORDOR program is pioneering a new holistic, pollution management concept of “ocean catchments” using the Indian Ocean as the initial pilot program. The project is a collaboration among Prof. Jamie Pittock at the Fenner School of Environment and Society and Dr Jennie Mallela at the Research School of Biology and other experts.

The Research Officer will help with cutting edge research into identifying and managing pollutants flowing from rivers to catalyse conservation actions for the Indian Ocean, including:

• Working with experts and governments from countries around the Indian Ocean;
• Assembling data on pollutants and assessing options for priority actions to reduce pollution;
• Organising workshops in the region to discuss the results with researchers and decision makers;
• Meeting with governmental decision makers to assist them to decide on response measures;
• Communicating research findings and academic literature and publicly.

Applications are particularly invited from researchers who undertake high impact collaborative and cross-disciplinary research, and whose interests and expertise can contribute to the Australian National University

Longer term and/or ongoing appointment may be offered in exceptional cases subject to performance and budget availability as well the candidate’s demonstrated capability and desire to complement the College’s strategic agendas in teaching, research and broader engagement within the University and community.

To enquire about this role, please contact Professor Jamie Pittock, via 0407 265 131 or at Jamie.pittock@anu.edu.au

ANU is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, and particularly welcomes applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, it is practice in the ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics to actively seek a gender mix of shortlisted candidates for interview. For more information about staff equity at ANU, visit https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/respect-inclusion

We welcome and develop diversity of backgrounds, experiences and ideas and encourage applications from individuals who may have had non-traditional career paths, who may have taken a career break, had career disruptions or who have achieved excellence in careers outside of the higher education sector. We support applicants who require flexible arrangements in their work environments or patterns. If your experience looks a little different to what we’ve described, but you’re passionate and motivated by this position, we welcome your enquiry and application.

What we offer

The ANU provides attractive benefits and excellent support to maintain a healthy work/life balance and offers generous remuneration benefits, including four weeks paid vacation per year, assistance with relocation expenses and 17% employer contribution to superannuation. We also offer generous parental leave, the possibility of flexible and part time working arrangements, a parental and aged care support program, dual career hire programs, staff and family tuition fee discounts, ANU school holiday programs, and childcare facilities on campus. For more information, visit: https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources

How to apply

Applicants must apply online via the ANU recruitment portal and should upload the following separate documents:

• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including a full publication list and the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees, you can complete these online when prompted in the application form.
• A one page statement addressing the selection criteria.

Please note: The successful candidate must have rights to live and work in this country and will be required to undergo a background check during the recruitment process. An offer of employment is conditional on satisfactory results.