Research Fellow

**Minderoo UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre (MUDSRC)**
- Exciting opportunity for a passionate scientist to be part of a multi-disciplinary team, underpinned by state-of-the-art deep-sea technology
- Level B, full-time appointments on a fixed term basis for 3 years
- Base salary range: $105,043 - $124,301 p.a. plus 17% superannuation

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is ranked amongst the top 100 universities in the world and a member of the prestigious Australian Group of Eight research-intensive universities. With an enviable research track record, vibrant campus and working environments, supported by the freedom to ‘innovate and inspire’ there is no better time to join Western Australia’s top university.

**About the team**

The University of Western Australia and Minderoo Foundation joined forces in 2021 to establish a world leading deep-ocean research centre, to increase understanding about the deepest parts of the ocean - The Minderoo UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre - that is supported with a major five-year grant from Minderoo Foundation’s Flourishing Oceans initiative. This collaboration aims to comprehensively explore the deepest areas; mapping the ocean floor, characterising and discovering new species, assessing marine biodiversity and charting deep-sea habitats, with a focus on abyssal plains and hadal subduction trenches.

**About the opportunity**

As the appointee, you will implement a research program centred around the biodiversity, habitats, and biological adaptations at abyssal depths (3000-6000 m) and hadal depths (>6000 m), including plains, trenches and fracture zones. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, integrative taxonomy, phylogenetics, population dynamics, depth distribution, abotiic interactions, and functional ecology. Additionally, this Fellow will set these research findings in a global context to understand how the deep biodiversity compares, contrasts, and connects with hadal and abyssal communities worldwide.

You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of ecologists, biologists and geologists, underpinned by state-of-the-art deep-sea technology. In this role you will identify and engage with opportunities for collaborative research within MUDSRC, and other academic institutions, nationally and internationally, to improve our knowledge of deep-sea environments worldwide. You will work with internal and external collaborators across multiple disciplines to identify research needs and funding opportunities to deliver world-class scientific discovery and exploration. You will be co-supervised, guided and mentored by UWA supervisors to ensure research productivity is maximised and milestones are met.

**To be considered for this role, you will demonstrate**:

- PhD and preferably postdoctoral experience demonstrating substantive work on marine and deep-sea biology.
- Knowledge and skills to lead and implement a biological-based research program to understand the connectivity and environments of hadal and abyssal features at multiple scales
- Experience planning and implementing scientific field work including reporting and effective data archiving
- Knowledge, skills, and experience operating marine equipment and data collection in the field
- Established or emerging reputation for research excellence and academic achievement relative to career stage and opportunity as evidenced by publication history
- Team player with exceptional interpersonal skills able to foster an atmosphere of innovation, creativity, and excellence among others
- Ability to engage, communicate, build relationships, and negotiate with a diverse group of people, including local and international scientists, ship crew and students
- Superior written and oral communication skills
- Demonstrative experience with interpretation analysis and modelling

Full details of the position's responsibilities and the selection criteria are outlined in the position description: Research Fellow - Deep Sea Biology 510316.docx

You are required to address the selection criteria in your submission in a separate document. For information to assist you with compiling statements to answer the selection criteria, please visit Addressing the selection criteria

**Closing date: 11:55pm on 7th September 2023**

This position is open to international applicants.

**Our commitment to inclusion and diversity**

UWA is committed to a diverse workforce. We celebrate inclusion and diversity and believe gender equity is fundamental to achieving our goals.
- We have child friendly areas on campus, including childcare facilities. Flexible work arrangements, part-time hours and job sharing will all be considered
- UWA has been awarded Bronze Employer Status for being a Top Ten Employer for LGBTI Inclusion by the Australian Workplace Equity Index (AWEI -2021)
- UWA has also been awarded Athena Swan Bronze Accreditation in 2020