Job no: 0062919
Location: Parkville
Role type: Full-time 1.0 FTE, Fixed-term for 3 years
Faculty: Melbourne Law School
Salary: $105,518 – $113,262 p.a + 17% super

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society seeks a highly motivated individual to contribute to our work including the development of the ADM+Ecosystem Playbook. This collaborative project involves engaging with partners and communities to create a comprehensive policy and practice toolkit exploring the potential for a robust environmental impact assessment framework within Australia's ADM landscape.

To learn more about our exciting initiatives, please watch this short video 

• Work with Australia's leading researchers in the humanities, social sciences, and technology fields to develop the knowledge and strategies essential for responsible, ethical, and inclusive automated decision-making (ADM).
• Make an innovative and transformational contribution to advancing knowledge about the impacts and interconnections of ADM with ecosystems.
• Gain access to the ADM+S Centre’s research training and professional development opportunities, international visiting fellowships and exchanges.

About the Role

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S Centre) is a national research initiative spanning multiple disciplines, dedicated to advancing knowledge and developing strategies for responsible, ethical, and inclusive automated decision-making. Established with funding from the Australian Research Council, the ADM+S Centre unites leading researchers within a global network involving research, industry, and civil society. Its research is organised into four key programs: Institutions, Data, People, and Machines. Focusing on engaging the public in critical domains such as news and media, transport, social services, and health.

This role will see you actively collaborate with the ADM+S Centre’s national and international network of participants, including those at RMIT University, QUT, University of Queensland, UNSW, and University of Sydney. You will also gain access to the ADM+S Centre’s research training and professional development opportunities, international visiting fellowships and exchanges, and the ADM+S Centre’s network of industry partners.

The Projects

Automated Decision Making, Ecosystems and Multispecies Relationships

Conduct thorough research and analyse the legal and regulatory policy implications of the ecological impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and other automated digital technologies. This analysis will cover the entire supply chain, from the mining of critical minerals to data centres, device applications, the Internet of Things, and the end-of-life phase of hardware.

In partnership with key stakeholders and community groups, we will develop the ADM+Ecosystem Playbook. This comprehensive policy and practice framework will investigate the feasibility of integrating a robust environmental impact assessment regime into Australia's ADM legislative, policy, and standards landscape.

Engage in ongoing debates about 'safe and responsible AI,' critically examining the ecosystem impacts of ADM/AI and prioritising sustainable futures that benefit society and more-than-human ecologies alike.

You can read more about this project here.

The Regulatory Project

Contribute to the process of establishing governance, technical standards, and the regulatory frameworks necessary for the expanding use of AI. Examine the fundamental questions these technologies pose for regulatory techniques and engaging research and researchers from the Centre and its partners to inform and respond to regulatory initiatives and challenges.

Participate in policy-oriented research and the drafting of submissions related to the regulation of AI and automated media platforms. This role will have particular responsibility for regulation, governance and policy in relation to ecological issues (overlapping with the ADM, Eco Systems and Multi Species Relationships project) and regulation of online advertising on social media and other digital platforms (in collaboration with the Ad Observatory Project).

You can see more about the Regulatory Project here.

You can see more about the Ad Observatory here. 

Responsibilities will include:

• Conducting high-quality research relevant to the projects outlined above, both independently and collaboratively under the direction of ADM+S Centre investigators.
• Preparing and publishing research outcomes in relevant high-quality refereed journals, reports, books, and/or online publications, presenting these outcomes at seminars, conferences, and industry meetings, engaging with external stakeholders, and contributing to public understanding and debate through media, industry, and/or policy engagement.
• Administering and organising projects, including coordinating across Investigators and organising conferences and workshops as directed by the Centre Investigators.

Who We Are Looking For

You will bring exceptional analytical and academic writing skills, a commitment to interdisciplinary research, and a demonstrated ability to engage in relevant policy debates. You should be capable of working both independently and collaboratively with fellow researchers, effectively communicating with government, community, and industry stakeholders.

You also have:

• A completed PhD in Law or a related field pertinent to the project, such as Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Science and Technology Studies, Anthropology, Political Science, or Public Policy/Administration.
• Proven scholarly interest and capability in the areas of automated decision making, as well as law and regulation, specifically related to at least two of the three projects described above.
• The capacity to produce high-quality peer-reviewed academic publications in line with available opportunities
• Experience or demonstrated interest in engaging in relevant policy debates

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please Note

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

The appointee may not hold additional appointments or remuneration that impose commitments that conflict with the commitment of the Fellowship

Your New Team – Melbourne Law School

Melbourne Law School is Australia's first all-graduate law faculty. Melbourne Law School was the first faculty in Australia to teach law, and awarded this country's first law degrees. The Law School is now fully graduate with its Juris Doctor for admission to practice recognised as a high level qualification in Australia and beyond. Coupled with the unrivalled excellence of the Melbourne Law Masters and its excellent Research Higher Degree programs, the Law School offers a unique opportunity for the integration of scholarship and teaching. Its faculty is a vibrant community of creative scholars, committed to a highly collegial, research-intensive institutional life. The Law School has particular strengths in comparative analysis. It aims to integrate teaching with research and engagement activities and to engage with local, national and global communities. The Law School is deeply committed to Indigenous recognition and the embedding of Indigenous perspectives in its teaching and learning, its research, and engagement with public life.

What We Offer You!

In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits page!

About the University of Melbourne

We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.

Be Yourself

The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact Kim Groizard at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants

We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!

If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents: 

• Resume
• Cover Letter that outlines your interest and demonstrates how your experience aligns with the points listed in the Selection Criteria^ (found in the Position Description)
• A recent piece of writing or short writing sample

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Petra Newton via email at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au, ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.

Position Description

Applications close: 04 Sep 2024 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time