Research Associate Level A/b: Southern Ocean Physical Oceanography

Research Associate Level A/B: Southern Ocean Physical Oceanography

Fixed-term position until December 2024.

Full time, but part time would be considered.

Based in Hobart with relocation assistance considered.

Explore the impacts of Southern Ocean meanders on regional carbon and heat subduction.

This position is fully funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEX). The CLEX interconnected research programs focus on Weather and Climate Interactions, Drought, Attribution and Risk, and Ocean Extremes. CLEX is a major seven-year initiative funded by the Australian Research Council. Climate extremes are the confluence of high impact weather and climate variability. This position will collaborate with senior and postdoctoral researchers in the CLEX Ocean Extremes research team and other CLEX programs.

The Opportunity

We seek a candidate with expertise and interest to explore the impacts of Southern Ocean meanders on regional carbon and heat subduction. Standing meanders are dynamical hotspots of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system with enhance eddy activity, momentum transport, subduction, upwelling, and tracer transport. They are sites of increased interactions between surface and deep waters, impacting local air-sea interactions and biochemical cycles. This work can include but will not be limited to (1) trends in Southern Ocean meanders over the satellite record; (2) current and future meander trends in climate models (e.g., using ACCESS-OM2 with BGC); (3) impacts of meander trends on regional carbon and heat subduction rates; and (4) impacts of meander trends on nutrient fluxes. This position will commence in the first quarter of 2023 and is open to physical oceanographers used to working with large observational datasets or with high resolution global model outputs.

Key Accountabilities:

Work in the CLEX Ocean Extremes Research Program to further our understanding of Southern Ocean dynamics and impacts on the climate system with an initial focus on standing meanders.

Visit and work collaboratively with staff at other CLEX nodes (universities) and CLEX partner organisations to achieve key performance indicators of the ARC funding.

Contribute to the research excellence of CLEX and UTAS, through publication in high-impact international journals and the co-supervision of higher degree research students.

Communicate research to stakeholders outside academia, through briefing notes or meetings with government or industry with the support of the CLEX Knowledge Brokerage Team.

Contribute to the CLEX culture through committee membership, early career researcher representation, and contributing to and leading workshops.

Your Application

To be successful in the role, your application will need to demonstrate:

PhD or equivalent in Physical Oceanography, Biogeochemistry, or an equivalent field.

A strong understanding of Southern Ocean dynamics.

Excellent written and oral communication skills including a track record of publishing in quality, peer reviewed journals, relative to opportunity.

Strong quantitative skills in the analysis and interpretation of complex ocean observational data or numerical simulations (e.g., using python, MATLAB, or similar programming languages).

Ability to work efficiently with minimum supervision and capacity to work well with colleagues at other CLEX nodes and partner organisations.

Commitment to equity and diversity behaviours that contribute to an inclusive culture in the workplace.

Additionally for Level B

Ability to carry out independent research and develop innovative concepts to further advance scientific understanding.

Experience to engage with stakeholders outside academia (e.g., government, industry, and schools).

Ability in successfully supervising postgraduate students.

Remuneration

Appointment to this role will be at Academic Level A or B and will have a total remuneration package of up to $110,239 for Level A and $136,519 for Level B comprising base salary within the range of $72,861 to $94,221 for level A and $100,508 to $116,683 for level B plus 17% superannuation. We are happy to consider a part time appointment, in which case the salary rates are pro-rata.

Considering a move to Tasmania to take up this opportunity?

Offering a breath of fresh air, our island State’s wild landscapes, unique towns and fascinating history have something for everyone. Tasmania has crafted a unique brand of creativity and adventure; case in point: world-famous MONA and the exceptional mountain bike tracks of Derby. Our world-famous food and wine provide an abundance of fresh seafood, family-run wineries and distilleries, and culinary experiences celebrating farm-fresh produce. From our island shores, our research extends to the great Southern Ocean and down to the Antarctic.

COVID-19 Update:

The University of Tasmania recognises that this is critical for the workforce at the University to protect the safety of our workforce and vulnerable Tasmanians.

Applicants for this role must be prepared to provide evidence of Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.