The Research Scientist (Marine Wildlife Surveys) will lead the design, implementation, management and analysis of marine wildlife surveys under the Australian Antarctic Science Krill and Krill Ecosystem project. They will lead observer teams, ensure the quality of observer methods and data, and contribute to Australia’s international commitments to monitor Antarctic and Southern Ocean marine wildlife.

Who we are 
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals.
These goals are to:

• maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it
• protect the Antarctic environment
• understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system
• undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands.

The AAD Science Branch leads, conducts and supports a world class program of scientific research and environmental management, consistent with national priorities through the Australian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan. The branch provides research and advice to support Australia’s Antarctic policy objectives, including participation in the Antarctic Treaty system and other international committees, commissions and intergovernmental panels. It manages and administers the Australian Antarctic Science Program (including project requests, assessment, and reporting) and provides scientific and research advice to support regulatory and management decisions. The branch provides scientific advice for Antarctic capability projects, conducts impact assessments and develops strategies to address environmental legacies, and undertakes targeted outreach promoting the value of Australian Antarctic science. The responsibilities of the Science Branch are diverse as we lead the Australian Government’s scientific program in Antarctica. Our research addresses critical issues including climate change, the human footprint in Antarctica, and the conservation of Antarctic and Southern Ocean wildlife. Our diverse research program covers physical and life sciences in the atmosphere, terrestrial and marine domains. Research themes include: understanding key high latitude processes; reconstructing past climate from ice cores; understanding the role of sea ice in climate and ecosystem processes; assessing the Antarctic ice sheet and its contribution to sea level rise; undertaking strategic and integrated monitoring of biological and physical variables; data processing and synthesis; performing environmental assessments and conservation planning to inform and drive management and policy; undertaking risk assessment and remediation of contaminated sites; ensuring sustainable and well managed Southern Ocean fisheries and understanding krill as the foundation of the Southern Ocean ecosystem.

The Southern Ocean Ecosystems Programme conducts research and development of innovative techniques towards ensuring sustainable and well managed Southern Ocean fisheries and understanding krill as the foundation of the Southern Ocean ecosystem.

The Job

• Lead the design of vessel-based surveys and sampling for Antarctic marine wildlife abundance, distribution and behaviour.
• Lead observer teams for vessel-based wildlife surveys.
• Engage with Technology & Innovation Branch and other programs at the AAD to organise and lead vessel-based wildlife survey effort.
• Develop infrared survey capabilities on vessel platforms.
• Maintain, analyse and archive data streams from wildlife surveys.
• Contribute and lead studies into distribution, abundance and behaviour of Antarctic marine wildlife. Write research papers for peer-reviewed journals and scientific reports for national and international fora.
• Undertaking marine science voyages of up to ninety days in duration in two of every three years.

Please note that the successful applicant will be required to travel to the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions therefore they will be expected to meet specific medical, adaptability and personal qualities requirements appropriate to working in those environments.
They will need to:

• demonstrate the range of personal qualities and interpersonal skills necessary to perform as a successful team member within isolated Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments
• demonstrate an ability to effectively adapt and respond to the demands of living and working in an isolated and confined environment as determined by a psychological (adaptability) assessment
• be certified as fit for Antarctic service by the AAD’s Polar Medicine Unit.

What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience

• Demonstrated high-level knowledge and experience in planning and undertaking of vessel-based surveys and sampling, or other remote-area fieldwork.
• Demonstrated high-level experience and knowledge of spatial sampling or abundance estimation techniques (e.g., distance sampling).
• Experience in the statistical analysis of large, complex survey, ecological and environmental datasets, preferably using R.
• High-level experience and knowledge in analyses of spatial data, preferably in R, QGIS or Esri
• Demonstrated understanding of new and emerging technologies for wildlife surveying, e.g., infrared cameras, image-based surveys and AI.
• A demonstrated track record of fostering collaboration towards effective science outcomes and contributing to a positive and inclusive team culture.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver a safe and equitable workplace

Skills and capabilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams to work effectively in surveying in challenging marine or remote areas.
• High-level skills in air-breathing marine species identification and observation.
• Demonstrated statistical skills, including an ability to collate and analyse large, complex datasets such as wildlife survey data.
• Demonstrated high-level proficiency in survey data collection, data processing and error detection, and reproducible analyses.
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills, including authoring peer-reviewed scientific publications and presenting science outcomes at national and international forums, and/or media engagement and science outreach activities.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a small team, and to engage widely and develop and sustain beneficial external collaborations and working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively at sea including the capacity to perform periods of continuous high intensity shift work (e.g. 12 hours, on 12 hours off).
• (Desirable) A working knowledge of sampling and analyses for mark-recapture studies
• (Desirable) Expertise configuring, operating, and maintaining field software for at-sea data collection and logging (e.g. IFAW Logger, PAMGuard, VADAR, or similar).
• (Desirable) Experience with at-sea collection of biopsy samples, including operation and safety of firearms and (tissue) sample preservation.
• (Desirable) Experience with deployment of wildlife biologging technology and analysis of tag derived data.
• (Desirable) Experience with photographic identification of wildlife.

Mandatory qualifications
A PhD in a relevant discipline from an Australian University or qualification of equivalent standard from an Australian or overseas university.

Eligibility and other requirements
Citizenship - To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.

Candidate Information Pack (PDF)

Candidate Information Pack (Docx)

Job Description

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