• Based in the College of Engineering and Information Technology at the Mawson Lakes or Mount Gambier campus
• Full-time, 12 month fixed term contract
• Salary Range: $82,838 - $111,384 per annum (plus 17% superannuation)
• Contribute to the development of the next generation of operational forest inventory technologies

At Adelaide University, we create the opportunities you need to achieve your ambitions – because when you thrive, we thrive. 

We are transforming education for contemporary learners and global citizens. Building on a proud legacy and shaped by bold ambition, it’s a place of excellence and equity, where our vibrant community of staff are united by our purpose to inspire Australia’s future change-makers and create a better tomorrow.

Work that matters 

This multidisciplinary project will require a highly motivated postdoctoral research associate who will help to develop the next generation of operational forest inventory methods. The project combines unmanned aerial laser scanning (ULS), terrestrial and mobile laser scanning (TLS/MLS), statistical calibration-transfer, and machine learning technologies to improve the estimation of forest structural attributes across plantation forest environments.

Building on recently developed methods for LiDAR fusion and calibration-transfer, the successful applicant will investigate new approaches for transferring detailed structural information from limited ground-based LiDAR acquisitions to landscape-scale aerial datasets. The research will contribute to scalable forest inventory systems supporting timber valuation, carbon accounting, forest monitoring, and precision forest management.

Curious to learn more?

The team 

Located in the Green Triangle region, Mount Gambier sits at the heart of one of Australia's most important forestry centres, supplying approximately one-third of Australia's domestic structural timber market. This project has been developed in close collaboration with industry partners to ensure research outcomes directly address operational challenges and deliver practical solutions for the sector.

By working closely with leading forestry companies, government agencies and researchers, you will help create technologies that improve decision-making throughout the forest value chain and support Australia's future timber supply.

It would be an advantage for the preferred candidate to be located in Mount Gambier.

Visit the AU website to learn more about the Forestry Centre of Excellence. 

Our people  

Our people are guided by purpose, curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning. We embrace authenticity, innovation and collaboration, and harness diverse thinking in our pursuit of excellence.

The successful applicant will contribute to research including:

• development of next-generation calibration-transfer and domain adaptation methods for multi-platform LiDAR
• machine learning and statistical modelling of forest structural attributes (e.g., DBH, height, crown dimensions, biomass, and stem quality)
• uncertainty quantification and propagation in operational forest inventory
• development of transferable inventory models across species, sites, stand age, sensors, and geographic regions
• automated tree detection, segmentation, and structural reconstruction
• scalable processing pipelines for large point-cloud datasets
• integration of aerial, terrestrial, and mobile LiDAR with other sensing modalities
• publication of high-impact journal papers and collaboration with forestry industry partners

Within the University, this position will be identified as a Research Associate.

Learn more about our people, what we stand for and what we offer at Careers at AU.

Experience 

To join our community and thrive in this role, you will likely have the following skills and experience: 

• a PhD (or be close to completion) in Remote Sensing, Computer Vision, Forestry, Geomatics, Machine Learning, Spatial Statistics, or a closely related discipline
• demonstrated research experience in one or more of:
  • LiDAR processing
  • forest inventory
  • photogrammetry
  • machine learning
  • computer vision
  • geospatial analysis
• experience analysing large spatial datasets
• programming experience in Python, R, or MATLAB
• strong quantitative and statistical skills
• excellent written and oral communication skills

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity 

We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels respected and valued. Adelaide University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and people of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements and providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. 

Launch your future with Adelaide University now 

Simply click on the Apply Now button and upload: 

• your current CV 
• a cover letter
• a response to the selection criteria

The online application form will list the specific selection criteria that you need to address. 

Submit your application by 11:30pm Wednesday 12 August 2026

For further information about this opportunity, please contact (quoting reference number 493306): 

Emma Kelvin – Consultant, Talent Acquisition 
+61 8 8302 1700 | careers.adelaideuniversity@adelaide.edu.au  

Applications welcomed from Australian or NZ citizens, Australian permanent residents and those who have the legal right to work in Australia for the term of appointment.  

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