Post doc

Position Information
 
Position Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Virtual fencing and livestock behaviour)
Position Level
Level A / Level B, depending on qualifications and experience
School
Precision Agriculture Research Group, School of Environmental and Rural Science
Reports to
Lecturer – Livestock Production
Nature of Employment
3 years fixed-term, full-time
Salary Range
$80,328 to $86,141 per annum (Level A at PhD level) / $90,618 to $107,397 per annum (Level B)
Salary packaging is available.
Employer Superannuation Contribution
17%
Employee Superannuation Contribution
7% (flexible contributions are available).
Staff Collective Agreement
UNE Academic and ELC Teaching Staff Collective Agreement 2014 - 2017
Position Purpose
A Level A research-only academic is expected to contribute towards the research effort of the institution and to develop his/her research expertise through the pursuit of defined projects relevant to the particular field of research.
A Level B research-only academic is expected to carry out independent and/or team research within the field in which he/she is appointed and to carry out activities to develop his/her research expertise relevant to the particular field of research.
Position Context
The University of New England in Armidale, Australia is a unique university, in the enviable position of boasting an excellent international reputation as well as being a leader in research and academic innovation. We aim to foster a constructive and engaged culture where creative ideas and innovation thrive.
The University’s Precision Agriculture Research Group (UNE-PARG) is a multi-disciplinary group of research technical and academic staff engaged in all aspects of precision agriculture research, technology development and education. UNE-PARG engages in developing spatially-enabled tools for improving water and fertiliser use efficiency in crops and pastures, managing health and productivity of tree crops, for livestock management and managing/monitoring carbon and biomass in ‘farmscapes’.
About the Role
This position will be a key appointment in the Precision Livestock Management Theme. The appointee will undertake dedicated R&D in direct support of the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water-funded project titled "Enhancing the profitability and productivity of livestock
faring through virtual herding technology”. This project concerns the virtual fencing of livestock, and the appointee will specifically focus on the behaviour, learning and welfare of sheep in response to virtual fencing, as well as the application of virtual fencing on-farm. The appointee will manage and undertake field work, process and analyse acquired data, design and implement novel analytical tools and processes, critically evaluate project results and report on project milestones. The position may be extended subject to available funding and performance.
Duties
1. Be involved in planning and facilitate and coordinate experimental studies.
2. Facilitate the development of new methodologies for virtual fencing in sheep.
3. Facilitate the application of new technologies to record behaviour patterns and welfare in sheep.
4. Work with a team of scientists and technicians to achieve the project milestones associated with the project.
5. Conduct data analyses and prepare reports for the project.
6. Prepare research papers arising from the project data.
7. Assist in communicating of the outcomes of relevant research and development activities to the funding bodies as well as external stakeholders, potential new funding bodies and members of the general public; and
8. Contribute to supervision of honours and postgraduate research students undertaking projects in related areas.
Level A Duties
Specific duties required of a Level A research-only academic may include:
 The conduct of research under limited supervision either as a member of a team or, where appropriate, independently, and the production or contribution to the production of conference and seminar papers and publications from that research.
 Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise.
 Limited administrative functions primarily connected with the area of research of the academic.
 Development of a limited amount of research-related material for teaching or other purposes with appropriate guidance from other staff.
 Occasional contributions to teaching in relation to his/her research project(s).
 Experimental design and operation of advanced laboratory and technical equipment or conduct of advanced research procedures.
 Attendance at meetings associated with research or the work of the organisational unit to which the research is connected and/or at departmental and/or Faculty meetings and/or membership of a limited number of committees.
 Advice within the field of the staff member's research to postgraduate students.
A Level A research-only academic will work with support, guidance and/or direction from staff classified at Level B and above and with an increasing degree of autonomy as the research academic gains in skill and experience.
Level B Duties
Specific duties required of a Level B research-only academic may include:
 The conduct of research as a member of a team or independently, and the production of conference and seminar papers and publications from that research.
 Supervision of research-support staff involved in the staff member's research.
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 Guidance in the research effort of junior members of research-only academic staff in his/her research area.
 Contribution to the preparation, or where appropriate individual preparation, of research proposal submissions to external funding bodies.
 Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise.
 Administrative functions primarily concerned with his/her areas of research.
 Occasional contributions in the teaching program within the field of the staff member's research.
 Co-supervision, or where appropriate supervision, of major honours or postgraduate research projects within the field of the staff member's area of research.
 Attendance at meetings associated with research or the work of the organisational unit to which the research is connected and/or at departmental and/or Faculty meetings and/or membership of a limited number of committees.
Skill Base
A Level A research-only academic will normally have completed four years of tertiary study in the relevant discipline or have equivalent qualifications or research experience. In many cases a position at this level will require an honours degree or higher qualifications or equivalent research experience. Research experience may have contributed to or resulted in publications, conference papers, reports or professional or technical contributions which give evidence of research potential.
A Level B research-only academic will normally have completed a relevant doctoral qualification or have equivalent qualifications or research experience. In addition he/she may be expected to have had post-doctoral research experience which has resulted in publications, conference papers, reports or professional or technical contributions which give evidence of research ability.
Selection Criteria
Please submit a statement addressing each of the essential criteria with your application, as well as any desirable criteria that you meet.
Essential
1. A PhD or equivalent in an animal or veterinary science such as physiology, behaviour and animal welfare, or in an area demonstrably related to virtual fence technologies;
2. Demonstrated ability to develop and apply new experimental methods in the area of animal behaviour and learning and /or welfare and contribute to research concepts in this area;
3. Experience in design, conduct and analysis of experiments with animals;
4. An emerging research track record, evidenced by publications in quality peer reviewed journals;
5. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative research team.
6. Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
Desirable
1. Demonstrated experience with electronic technologies for remote monitoring of livestock.
2. Understanding of animal learning and training concepts.