2023/301 – Aps 6 – El 1 – Research Scientist – Passive Acoustics

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

Duties, tasks, and responsibilities will include: 

•      developing survey designs and plans for data collection for autonomous long-term acoustic monitoring as well as synoptic in-situ acoustic surveys during marine science voyages

•      engaging with ecologists, statisticians, engineers, operations officers, permitting agencies, and policy officers to facilitate data collection and generation of knowledge from passive acoustic instruments deployed across East Antarctica

 •     preparing acoustic equipment and plan data collection for voyages in the Southern Ocean

 •     conducting acoustic data collection at sea, including field operation of sonobuoy systems, deployment and recovery of passive acoustic moorings, and use of off-the-shelf and bespoke hydrophone and recording systems

•      analysing acoustic data to measure underwater noise, and to detect, recognize, locate, and estimate abundance of underwater sounds produced by animals

•      providing technical expertise and advice to the Department and stakeholders on the effects of man-made underwater noise on marine mammals

•      writing research papers for peer-reviewed journals and scientific reports for international fora such as IWC

•      undertaking marine science voyages of up to ninety days in duration in two of every three years.

 

What we are looking for

Knowledge and experience

•      High-level skills in marine acoustic data collection and analysis (or similar) including a proven record of fieldwork and at-sea scientific data collection. 

•      Proficiency and experience with signal processing and data analysis in Matlab, R, Python, or similar programming language. 

•      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. 

•      Demonstrated skills and experience in project management.

 

Skills and capabilities

•      Considerable experience with acoustic data collection, data processing, quality control, and field maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment. 

•      Demonstrated analytical skills, including an ability to organize and conduct reproducible analyses of large, complex datasets. 

•      Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills, including authoring peer-reviewed scientific publications and presenting science outcomes at national and international fora. 

•      Demonstrated ability to lead teams to work effectively in challenging marine and/or remote areas. 

•      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. 

•      Being certified as fit for Antarctic service by the AAD’s Polar Medicine Unit. 

•      Demonstrated ability to work effectively at sea including the capacity to perform periods of continuous high work intensity shift work (e.g. 12 hours on, 12 hours off). 

•      Capacity to undertake manual handling and lifting (greater than 10Kg) particularly in relation to ship-board activities. 

 

Additional desirable skills for this position are: 

•      Demonstrated experience and knowledge of underwater acoustics including one or more topics such as acoustic instrumentation, physical acoustics, bioacoustics, and acoustic detection, classification, & localisation. 

•      Demonstrated skills and experience with a range of analytical techniques, including: machine learning, mapping and spatial analyses, statistical modelling (e.g. LM, GLM, GAM, etc), individual-based simulations, mark-recapture methods. 

•      Understanding of new and emerging technologies and platforms for passive acoustics, e.g. uncrewed vehicles (sail-drones, gliders, etc), vector sensors, AI, real-time monitoring. 

•      Understanding of non-acoustic methods of surveying marine mammals e.g. visual surveys, photographic surveys, photogrammetry, photo ID, infrared systems, combined visual and acoustic surveys, genetic sampling, tagging.

 

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

 

In order to undertake travel to the Antarctic & sub-Antarctic regions 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.

 

Mandatory qualifications

PhD in marine science, acoustics, ecology or equivalent PhD in marine science, acoustics, ecology or equivalent.

 

Flexible employment arrangements are available with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 

 

Job Reference: 2023/301