Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

The Opportunity

• Do you have a PhD in co-developed Indigenous research or digital research?
• Contribute to the co-design of approaches to develop digital tools that account for Traditional Owner priorities for COTS control.
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

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.

The Reef Trust Partnership and the Reef 2050 Plan brings together researchers, government managers, Traditional Owners as First Nations peoples, farmers, fishers, and other stakeholders to generate novel and effective recovery pathways for the Great Barrier Reef. Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) are a key environmental threatening process on the iconic GBR, and ~$20m/year is spent culling COTS to protect key reef assets within the GBR. To decide where these investments will be targeted, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority annually identifies “high priority locations” for COTS control using advanced digital decision-support tools balancing a range of environmental, economic and social values. 

As part of this project, the successful candidate will co-develop methods to improve the way Traditional Owner values are included in this process. Addressing this social-technological gap will require knowledge collaboration that facilitates the mobilisation of cultural resources for sustainable conservation outcomes and digital tools to enable adaptive decision-making processes and CARE-based data practices
 

Your duties will include:

• Using participatory methods and co-design approaches to develop digital tools that account for Traditional Owner priorities for COTS control in ways that maintain their ownership and security of their data and knowledge and enable cross institutional processes for inclusive digital transformation in COTS prioritisation.
• Carrying out innovative research to co-design data governance innovations and digital socio-technical tools to generate collective benefit and equitable outcomes, manage risks and protect Indigenous rights in sharing data.
• Based on these co-designed processes and governance arrangements, designing and, with colleagues, implementing digital tools that can securely represent Traditional Owner values and priorities within the digital prioritisation process of a national environmental management program.
• Actively engaging with Traditional Owners, Reef Restoration Adaptation Program researchers and key actors of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to consider governance innovations in environmental management systems and policy.

Location:   Townsville, QLD

Salary:  AU$89k - AU$98k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure:  Specified term of 3 years

Reference:  87141

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as co-developed Indigenous research or digital research field such as information technology, or similar. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience in working with diverse stakeholders, rightsholders and multiple knowledge systems to identify collaborative solutions to complex, dynamic sustainability problems e.g., biodiversity loss, climate change.
• High-level cultural competency and abilities to work effectively in relationships of trust and respect with Traditional Owners as First Nations People.
• Understanding of environmental management models in sustainability science, and their applications to co-generate policy and solutions.

As part of our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment outcomes, preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates who meet the role criteria.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or Australian temporary residents currently residing in Australia and be able to commence in the role by 31 January 2023.

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. 

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

26 September 2022, 11:00pm AEST