• Support offshore fieldwork, equipment maintenance, and data analysis
• Full-time appointment on fixed-term basis for 18 months.
• Base salary range: $91,833 – $ 97,052 p.a. plus 17% superannuation.

About the area

The University of Western Australia (UWA) carries out fundamental research at an internationally recognised standard of excellence in physical oceanography. At UWA, Oceangraphy has consistently been among the most highly ranked subject areas, ranked No 3 in Australia and No. 45 in the world. This research excellence has strong collaborative links with a number of other top ocean universities and with a broad range of industry partners. Its breadth of expertise spans both offshore and coastal oceanography and has strong integration with other related scientific fields (e.g., marine engineering and hydrodynamics).

The Ocean Dynamics (OD) group sits within the UWA School of Earth and Oceans, and conducts fundamental research on ocean physics using maths, computing and observations. The OD group is one of the few facilities within Australia with the instrumentation to measure ocean currents, temperature, sea level and other properties in deep shelf waters and further offshore. The group conducts its own instrument and analysis software development, including novel remote sensing equipment. Housed within the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, the group has regular interactions with Australia’s national marine research agencies (CSIRO and AIMS on the UWA campus).

About the opportunity

• Provide logistical and operational support for offshore fieldwork, equipment maintenance, and coordination with contractors.
• Assist with data processing, analysis, and contributing to reports.
• Participate in marine fieldwork and assist with the management of workplace safety protocols.

About you

• Relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. oceanography, marine science, environmental science or environmental engineering) or demonstrated equivalent.
• Substantial relevant experience in environmental measurement.
• Proficiency in taking precise scientific measurements and familiarity with relevant ocean instrumentation or equivalent.
• Proficiency in a range of computing skills, including word processing, spreadsheets and databases. Experience with, or willingness to learn, advanced programming software (e.g., Python, Julia) and GIS (e.g., QGIS).
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and/or fabricating scientific equipment.
• Will hold, or be willing to obtain, relevant work licenses (e.g. rigging and dogging, forklift, etc.)
• Experience working at sea on commercial and/or research vessels, and;
• Understanding of appropriate health and safety practices, and experience applying these to environmental monitoring projects.

Position description: PD - Research Officer (519796).docx

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Matt Rayson at [email protected]

How to apply

Please apply online via the Apply Now button. The content of your Resume and Cover Letter should demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria.

Closing date: 11:55 PM AWST on Wednesday, 4 June 2025.

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

About the University

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world and a member of the prestigious Australian Group of Eight research intensive universities. With a strong research track record, vibrant campus and working environments, there is no better time to join Western Australia’s top university.

Learn more about us.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

UWA is committed to a diverse workforce and an equitable and inclusive workplace. We are committed to fostering a safe environment for all, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQA+ community, and people living with disability.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application. Alternatively, you can contact us for assistance during the recruitment process.

If you have queries relating to your application, please contact the individual named in the advertisement. Alternatively, please contact the Talent team at [email protected] with details of your query. To enable a quick response, please include the 6-digit job reference number.

[MR1]@Petrina Gomez can we just say 18 months duration instead of giving an end date?

[PG2]HI Matt, the approval is until Oct 2026. Unless you are comfortable that there is budget for 18 months from whenever the candidate starts.

[MR3]Yes, I am comfortable with the budget to put 18 months here.

[MT4]Noted Matt. I have updated the text.

[NJ5]I suggest we make this less specific so we can encourage a wider pool of applicants. Potentially even from overseas.

[MR6]@Petrina Gomez is this PDF link relevant/necessary given the position details are contained within the current document?

[PG7]Hi Matt, yes we do need to include the position description is more detailed. I will share the word version with you separately as there maybe changes.

[NJ8]@petrina: Can we expand the search to be international?

[PG9]For this level, I would recommend attracting candidates with working rights.

[MR10]Is this advice based on visa related issues for such roles? It is quite a technically-specific role so we're not confident that the Australian pool will be wide enough

[MR11]Following phone discussion, let’s leave this point in that applicants require rights to work in Australia.