RESEARCH ASSOCIATE – UNDER ICE MAPPING

• Full time, fixed term (2 years) position
• Based in Hobart
• Be part of an exciting project that utilises new technologies

This position is part of the ARC-funded Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), a national-scale, University-led, international centre focused on helping the world community prepare for climate risks emerging from East Antarctica and the Southern Ocean by integrating knowledge of the ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere and ecosystems, and their interplay. ACEAS will grow to support the activities of around 150 researchers, administrative staff, and students, with exciting opportunities to collaborate across disciplinary and institutional boundaries. Further information is available on the ACEAS website www.antarctic.org.au

The Opportunity

As the successful candidate you will contribute primarily to ACEAS Program 2. This Program addresses the overarching question: “What are the causal linkages between atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and their consequent effects on open water and under ice biogeochemistry and ecology in the East Antarctic under past, present and future conditions? Specifically, the successful candidate will contribute to collecting in-situ data and work together with the team to use this as both validation data and prediction data to model future scenarios. This is an exciting project that utilises new technologies to capture fine scale remote sensing data to address questions with climate-level significance. The Postdoctoral Research Associate in Under Ice Mapping will co-design and co-lead the underwater and aerial imaging spectroscopy and photogrammetric campaign for the first ACEAS survey in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) in September 2023. They will be responsible for the collection of bio-physical sea-ice data sets using a suite of novel technologies. Working across the other programs to ensure that data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is cognisant with data collected in those teams. They will perform the analysis of the new data and assimilate this with known information in the region, providing support to those working on process modelling and response to sea ice changes under a changing climate.

Key Accountabilities:

• Participate in Antarctic fieldwork to deploy imaging spectroscopy equipment that records fine-scale data on sea-ice properties, both in situ (mapping) and in ice cores processed at sea.
• Participate in a field campaign to Cape Evans Antarctica (October/November 2022) to refine data collection capabilities in preparation for 2023 voyage.
• Analyse spectroscopy data on sea-ice properties in relation to ocean processes and ecological facets.
• Produce models describing the linkages between remote sensing and bio-physical data to predict future status of sea-ice ecology in East Antarctica in collaboration with postdocs working on process studies and those synthesising observations from other remote sensing platforms (i.e. satellites).
• Develop an under-ice positioning and machine vision camera system for high-frequency spectroscopy and RGB imaging to be used within the MIZ process study.

Your Application

To be successful in the role, your application will need to demonstrate;

• A PhD, or equivalent postdoctoral experience, in a relevant area (e.g., marine remote sensing, field based remote sensing and sensor development or similar).
• A record of contributing to building and maintaining effective and productive relationships nationally and internationally within the discipline, profession, industry (where relevant) and the wider community.
• Expertise and experience using image processing software for remote sensing and techniques in spatial analysis.
• Ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision, with a capacity to set and prioritise strategic research directions, and to design and engage in collaborative research projects to achieve scientific goals, allocate resources and report against project milestones.
• Experience in field work in remote environments and the ability to participate in remote fieldwork which will include extended periods of time in the field in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Remuneration

Appointment to this role will be at Academic Level A or Level B and will be determined based on the successful candidate’s level of skills, qualifications, and experience. The role will have a total remuneration package of up to $136,519 comprising base salary within the range of $72,861 to $116,683 plus 17% superannuation.

COVID-19 Update:

The University of Tasmania recognises that this is critical for the workforce at the University to protect the safety of our workforce and vulnerable Tasmanians.

Applicants for this role must be prepared to provide evidence of Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.

How to Apply

• To apply online, please provide the following supporting documentation:
• Resume;
• Cover letter outlining your suitability and motivation for the role;
• Your responses to the success criteria.

• For further information about this position, please contact Vanessa Lucieer, Centre Head/Senior Lecturer in Spatial Analysis & Maritime Engineering, Vanessa.Lucieer@utas.edu.au or (03) 6226 6931
• Please visit https://www.utas.edu.au/jobs/applying for our guide to applying and details on the recruitment process.

Applications close Wednesday, 22nd June 2022, 11.55pm

 PD - Postdoctoral Research Associate - Under Ice Mapping.pdf