Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Peatland Soils (RMIT University)

Job title: Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Peatland Soils

Generate new soil science knowledge to support government and community stakeholders to reduce unwanted peatland fires, applying your experience with peat soil chemistry & physics to solve globally significant climate change problems.
Work on an international multidisciplinary research-for-development project “Improving Community Fire Management and Peatland Restoration in Indonesia”
Be part of a team of researchers from academia, government and NGOs funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Flexible working opportunities, 2-year contract based at the University of Palangka Raya in Indonesia and RMIT University City Campus, Melbourne Australia
Remuneration at Academic Level A ($67,630 – $91,734) + 17% superannuation
Report directly to Dr Samantha Grover, Lecturer in Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science

Position Summary

As an experienced Research Assistant/ Research Fellow, you will:

Conduct research to quantify the effect of peatland restoration practices on peat characteristics, water dynamics, and production system options, utilising your experience in solid state spectroscopy (¹³C NMR, FTIR) and soil physics
Analyse and integrate multi-parameter datasets to predict peat soil hydrologic properties from spectroscopy
Develop a Peatland Soil and Water Condition Indicator to communicate soil science knowledge generated in a format accessible to government and community stakeholders

Roles and Responsibilities

Perform research/ scholarly activities under limited supervision independently and as a member of a team, including publishing research outputs in Q1 journals and presenting research outputs at conferences and research forums to varied audiences in relation to soil chemistry and physics results
Work collaboratively with RMIT researchers and Project partners in Indonesia and Australia to ensure Project milestones are met in accordance with the ACIAR Project agreement
Conduct varied administrative duties as required
Contribute 10% of your time to supervise and mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students to contribute to RMIT’s teaching activities

Skills and Experience Required

PhD in Soil Science, Environmental Science or a related discipline
Proven track record of published research in high impact peer reviewed international journals
Excellent technical report writing and science communication skills
Field and laboratory research experience
In-depth understanding of soil chemistry/soil physics/peat soils and/or tropical peats
Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills to build relationships across cultures, disciplines and institutions
Strong organisational and time-management skills
Ability to converse in Bahasa Indonesian would be an added advantage
Passion and energy to make a difference to ecosystem restoration and climate change mitigation through research excellence and strategic science communication

Culture

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.

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.

When you join our team, you’ll be able to access a range of benefits. From travel to fitness, there’s something for everyone

Our Organisation

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.

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’re proud to share with you some of our wins:

RMIT University is an Athena SWAN member and the College of Science, Engineering and Health is central to driving improvements in gender equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines.

RMIT has placed 10th in the 2019 Randstad Employer Brand Research Awards, up five spots from 2018.
We were named as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency in 2019.
We achieved Gold Employer status for LGBTIQ inclusion in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) in 2018 and again in 2019.
We were recognised as a top five employer in 2018 for workplace accessibility with the Australian Network on Disability.
Exceeding our targets in our Reconciliation Action Plan for Bundyi Girri – an important step in our reconciliation journey

The School of Science provides over 45 bachelor and postgraduate programs, and undertakes world class research across the disciplines of physical sciences, mathematical sciences and computer science.

One of RMIT’s top-performing research schools, we deliver research that addresses the ‘real life questions’ essential to Australia’s innovation agenda. Our high-quality teaching programs inspire students to pursue careers in a range of industries including health, materials technology, food, geospatial and surveying, environmental analysis, banking and commerce, as well as computing and IT roles and research and development across a wide range of areas.

Details relating to the School can be found at www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/academic-schools/science/

To Apply

To view the position description, please click on the attachment below:

PD – 582759 – Research Assistant – Peatland Soils

For further information, please contact Dr Samantha Grover +61 3 9925 1982 or Samantha.grover@rmit.edu.au .

Applications close on Thursday 31st October.

Applicants will need to attach their updated resume and a cover letter expressing their suitability for this position. Applicants are requested to separately address the key selection criteria as outlined in the Position Description.

This role will require satisfactory confirmation of a Working with Children Check and completion of the Essentials in Tertiary Teaching Practice program or equivalent is required. However, if the appointed candidate did not meet this requirement at the time of appointment, they will be supported to complete this as part of the requirement to fulfil their probation.

RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to be 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.

RMIT was named as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) in 2018 based on significant progress made in 2017, and Gold Employer status in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) in recognition of our commitment to celebrating the diverse genders, sexes and sexualities (DGSS) of our community.