- 1 Year Fixed Term Appointment / Full Time with Part Time option for suitable candidates
- Role can be located at La Trobe University’s Bundoora Campus or Albury-Wodonga Campus
- Research Fellow/Level B/Research Academic
About the position
The social science/interdisciplinary Research Fellow role will contribute to a collaboration between La Trobe’s Climate Change Adaptation Lab within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (based in Bundoora, Melbourne) and the Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems within the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment (based in Albury-Wodonga).
The aim of the funded River Communities project is to explore what river and floodplain communities know and monitor about the rivers they live with in order to help generate and apply new information sources. The project involves identifying and engaging community members and landholders who have an interest in rivers and floodplains to explore their data and knowledge around river flows, floodplain inundation and ecological conditions. It will design a framework for capturing and managing community information and developing citizen science monitoring options. Working with others, the Research Fellow role will involve on-ground field visits in the mid-Murray region to conduct interviews and work with communities to explore river data and develop and trial community monitoring approaches. It will likely involve engaging with Traditional Owners and First Nations groups in the region.
The role is suited to someone with a background in applying social science and/or citizen science to water, environmental and natural resource management problems. It requires a mixture of strong qualitative and quantitative social research capabilities and at least a degree of literacy in environmental sciences. The work will involve working closely with others and independently to help deliver the project.
Some of your duties will include:
- Building relationships with community.
- Conducting and writing up literature reviews.
- Helping design, organise and conduct the data collection and analysis.
- Contributing to writing up research findings for high quality publications.
- Working with the project team and industry partners to disseminate research findings.
Skills & Experience
- Completion of a PhD or equivalent qualifications in a relevant area of social science (e.g. Human Geography, Environmental Sociology).
- A record of publications of various sorts that provide evidence of sound analytical skills and strong research potential.
- Demonstrated capacity to conduct high quality social science methods.
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly both orally and in writing.
- High level organisational skills and the demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and productively with staff, students, collaborators and industry partners from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Please refer to the Position Description for other duties, skills and experience required for this position.
Welcome to Bundoora campus – Please click on the video link below:
https://f.io/KDo0ceng
Welcome Video - Victorian Regional campuses – Please click on the video link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NZBy693Go
Benefits
- 17% employer contributed superannuation
- On site childcare facilities
- Flexible work arrangements
- Discounts for staff and their family members to study a range of La Trobe courses
How to apply
Closing date: Sunday 9th February, 2025 @ 11:55pm
Position Enquiries: Lauren Rickards, Professor of Climate Change Adaptation, Sociology, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Email: l.rickards@latrobe.edu.au
Recruitment Enquiries: Vicki Stavrou, Senior Talent Acquisition Business Partner, Email: v.stavrou@latrobe.edu.au, Phone: (03) 9479 5191
Position Description below:
PD-Research Fellow.pdf
Please submit an online application ONLY and include the following documents:
- A Cover letter;
- An up-to-date resume and;
- Response to Key Selection Criteria located in the position description.
Why La Trobe:
- Develop your career at an innovative, global university where you’ll collaborate with community and industry to create impact.
- Enjoy working on our inspiring and stunning campuses – the perfect hub for industry, students and academics
- Help transform the lives of students, partners and communities now and in future
All La Trobe University employees are bound by the Working with Children Act 2005. If you are successful, you will be required to hold a valid Victorian Employee Working with Children Check prior to commencement.
