The Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) is a major $25M Special Research Initiative of the Australian Research Council.
The goal of ACEAS is to help 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 is a national-scale, University-led centre for excellence in Antarctic science focused on this goal.
ACEAS is led by the University of Tasmania with a range of Australian and International Partners (http://antarctic.org.au/).
The Opportunity
The Research Associate – Ecological Modelling will contribute to ACEAS Program 3 — Sub-regional and Regional Antarctic Margin, which addresses the overarching question: “What is the risk of ice mass loss from key subglacial basins over the next decades to centuries, and what are the consequences for the local oceans and ecosystems?”, and Program 2 – Regional East Antarctica and its provinces, which 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 East Antarctica for past, present and future conditions?”
Responsible for developing size-and trait-based modelling approaches for the Southern Ocean, the successful candidate will gather and work with existing data required to couple biogeochemical and lower trophic level processes and data into a size and trait-based model of the Southern Ocean, evaluate initial model performance, and to carry out initial numerical simulations, at the regional scale, to inform ecosystem impacts of climate change.
Key Accountabilities:
- Work on the development of new modelling approaches.
- Collect field-based data for functional groups of organisms in the Southern Ocean.
- Develop and apply tools for statistically fitting size spectrum models across spatial and temporal scales observational data.
- Participate in research group meetings and interactions with students.
- Develop methods for improved representation of multiple drivers under climate change.
- Analyse and carry out improved model projections and skills reassessment.
- Organise workshops and meetings as part of the ACEAS and AAPP communities.
- Contribute to the University in achieving strategic objectives and fulfilling operational responsibilities.
- Undertake high quality research of national and increasingly international standing.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of productive and effective links.
Your Application
To be successful in the role, your application will need to demonstrate;
- A PhD or equivalent in the field of marine ecology with a strong component and knowledge of Southern Ocean marine ecosystems.
- A good record of, and commitment to research that has achieved national recognition.
- Skills in the R, with familiarity of the ‘mizer’ R package.
- Knowledge of and experience in developing or applying size spectrum models.
- Understanding of ways to link physical/biological oceanographic data in size spectrum models.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a research team.
- Strong statistical skills in data manipulation and visualisation.
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.
How to Apply
- To apply online, please provide your resume, cover letter outlining your suitability and motivation for the role, and your responses to the success criteria.
- For further information about this position, please contact Professor Julia Blanchard, Julia.blanchard@utas.edu.au or 03 6226 6932
- Please visit this website for our guide to applying and details on the recruitment process.
Applications close Monday, 20 December 2021, 11.55pm
