Research Officer - Field Ecology

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At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work.

The School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) has 160 academics, researchers and professional staff, and over 130 higher degree research students. BEES has research strengths in Ecology and evolutionary biology, Geography, Climate Science, Environmental change, sustainability and resources, and Paleo-environments and Earth History. Academic staff in BEES belong to one or more of six research centres: Centre for Ecosystem Science, Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, Climate Change Research Centre, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Palaeontology, Geo-biology and Earth Archives (PANGEA) and the Connected Waters Initiative. BEES staff are also strongly affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, a national centre led from UNSW.

The Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES) mission is to be a leader in research into environmental change, with global impact on real-world problems and its communication to the community. The Centre focuses on understanding how ecosystems work, as this is critical for ensuing their conservation, effective management and sustainable use in the short to long term.

This Research Officer will work on a collaborative project funded through an Australian Research Council Linkage grant that brings together a multidisciplinary team from UNSW, Arid Recovery, UCLA, and Bush Heritage Australia to research predator/prey interactions and prey naivety of native threatened mammal species with the aim of improving mammal reintroduction outcomes.

The position is to be based at the Arid Recovery research centre in Roxby Downs, South Australia (www.aridrecovery.org.au) and may require travel and periods of work to be conducted at Bush Heritage’s Bon Bon Station Reserve in South Australia. The project will further develop the research profile of the Centre for Ecosystem Science within the School of BEES, Bush Heritage Australia and Arid Recovery.

About the role

• $74K - $84K plus 9.5% superannuation and leave loading
• Fixed Term – 12 months
• Full-time (35 hours per week)

The role of the Research Assistant reports to Dr Katherine Moseby in the Centre for Ecosystem Science within the School of BEES.

Specific responsibilities for this role include:

• Contribute to the design, collection and recording of data on the research program which is aimed at reversing prey naivety in threatened mammals.
• Conduct a range of monitoring and field work including cage trapping, animal handing, radiotracking, track counts, camera trap monitoring and feral animal management.
• Maintenance of project equipment, including radio tracking units, camera traps, antennae, collars and tags as well as administration of databases.
• Assist volunteers and students on various relevant scientific projects as required.
• Cooperate and assist with research and monitoring conducted by project partners and students.
• Contribute to scientific publications as appropriate.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.

About the successful applicant

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Relevant tertiary or an equivalent level of knowledge gained through any combination of education, training and/or experience. A PhD or prior publication experience is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in trapping and handling of mammals and reptiles, including experience in, or willingness to undertake, feral control activities as required.
• A high level of fitness and the ability to undertake physically demanding fieldwork for extended periods including at night.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of databases and statistical analyses. Proficiency in the use of the R statistical package is highly desirable.
• Ability to carry out fieldwork independently, primarily in remote areas, collect field data and maintain accurate field data records.
• Good written and oral communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in working with a diverse group of stakeholders and partners.
• High level of computer literacy demonstrated experience with a broad range of software (e.g. mapping and GIS, databases, word processing etc).
• Willingness and capacity to implement required OHS policies and safe work practice; ability to implement equal opportunity and diversity policies and programs.
• Current manual drivers’ licence, including 4WD experience or willingness to undertake 4WD training.
• Ability and capacity to implement required UNSW health and safety policies and procedures.

You should systematically address the selection criteria listed within the position description in your application. Please apply online - applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed.

Contact:
Katherine Moseby
E: [email protected]
Applications close: March 5th, 2020

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