Research Fellow position
Closing date: Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Position Title Research Fellow (Level B) in Geographic Information Science
School School of Architecture and Building
Faculty Faculty of Science and Technology
Location of Work The University conducts its business at the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, the Geelong Waterfront Campus, the Melbourne Burwood Campus and the Warrnambool Campus. The primary location for this position is Geelong Waterfront Campus, however the University may require staff to work at other Campuses.
Classification Level B fixed-term until 31 December 2012
Responsible to Head of the School of Architecture and Building
Date Prepared December 2011
WORKING AT DEAKIN
Deakin University is proud to be recognised as an organisation that offers a friendly and supportive working environment in which our staff are committed to making a difference by contributing to excellence in education. Our professionally diverse staff are afforded a great deal of variety in their work, and enjoy the physical location and natural surrounds of our working environments.
POSITION PURPOSE
Urbanisation has been accompanied by an extraordinary rate of conversion o land and resource consumption, alteration of habitats, disruption of hydrological processes, and modification of energy flow and nutrient cycles. The productive area required to support current urban life style can be 100 to 300 times larger than the urban regions. Sustainability is a concept pursued worldwide. However, not enough is known about how human and ecological patterns emerge from the interactions between socioeconomic and biophysical processes. In response, in 2010 Deakin University created VALUE, the Victoria Laboratory for Urban Ecologies. VALUE is aimed to study coupled human-natural systems; it is focused on a broad critical analysis of the contemporary architectural, social, economic and ecological challenges that shape built environment and consider various strategies for forming new or regenerating existing urban forms and relationships. It integrates architecture to biotic forms, urban patterns to ecological principles, and urban landscape to natural habitat. Within a multidisciplinary approach, VALUE researchers develop and apply theories and methods from environmental and social science, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques and spatial computation.
The Research Fellow position is located within the School of Architecture and Building in the Faculty of Science and Technology of Deakin University. The appointee will join the VALUE research group, and will be actively involved in research projects under development or initiated by VALUE.
POSITION DIMENSION
The appointee will work with support and direction from research only staff
classified at Senior Research Fellow (Level C) and above and with an
increasing degree of autonomy as the researcher gains greater skills and
experience.
ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The Research Fellow in Geographic Information Science reports to the Head of
School through the relevant Research Supervisor.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Research Fellow in Geographic Information Science is expected to contribute towards the research effort of the University and conduct research independently and / or team research within the field of urban ecologies. It is important that the Research Fellow will contribute to the profile and research reputation of the School of Architecture and Building, by means including public lectures, seminars, contributing to public debate and policy formation on key research issues. The Research Fellow will carry out activities to develop his or her research expertise relevant to the particular field of research.
Initiate and conduct research under limited supervision either as a member of a team, or independently (where appropriate), to achieve the objectives of the projects under development in VALUE/School of Architecture and Building.
Personally and through active participation in teams, prepare and develop grant applications relating to the project(s), and contribute to the preparation, or where appropriate, individual preparation of research proposal submissions to external funding bodies.
Conduct research and engage in scholarly publication, personally and in research teams and prepare findings/results for oral and written communication, producing or contributing to the production of conference and seminar papers and publications from that research.
Constructively contribute to a vibrant research team by guiding the research effort of junior colleagues.
Promote the activities of the University, particularly those relating to research and research training, within academic and professional communities in Australia.
DUTIES
Effectively conduct data, maintain data protocols and enter data into the geographic databases. Conduct preliminary data cleaning, screening and analysis.
Undertake experimental design and operation of advanced laboratory and technical equipment or conduct of advanced research procedures.
Remain up to date with current literature and methods relevant to the area of responsibilities
Contribute to teaching in relation to his/her research project(s).
Develop research-related material for teaching, or other purposes with appropriate guidance from other staff.
Be involved in professional activities, including (subject to availability of funds) attendance at conferences and seminars in his/her field of expertise.
Undertake administrative functions primarily connected with his/her area of research.
Attend meetings associated with the research project(s) and attend other meetings as appropriate, such as Institute / School meetings and / or membership of a limited number of Committees.
Develop team research within the broad topic of urban ecology and built environment, and play a major role in introducing geographical information science theories and methodologies in the projects by developing innovative tools for spatial analysis and decision support.
LEVEL OF SUPERVISION AND INDEPENDENCE
Research is conducted independently in the context of frequent consultation with other team members and with the responsible research investigators.
PROBLEM SOLVING AND JUDGEMENT
The Research Fellow in Geographic Information Science is expected to exercise judgement on work methods and task sequences within standard practices and procedures and to seek expert advice for work methods that fall outside the standard practices. Capacity to work independently, to use initiative and to work well within a team setting is expected.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Research Fellow will be responsible for:
Following safe work procedures and instructions.
Taking reasonable care for the safety of self and others.
Seeking guidance for all new or modified work procedures.
Ensuring that any hazardous conditions, near misses and injuries are reported immediately to a supervisor.
Participating in meetings, training and other health and safety activities.
Using equipment in compliance with relevant guidelines, without wilful interference or misuse.
Must cooperate with the University in relation to actions taken by the University in order to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental legislation.
In addition, research only academic staff are responsible for ensuring that an equivalent standard of environment, health and safety is afforded to their students as is afforded to University staff generally. Research only academic staff are deemed to have principal supervisory duty for undergraduate and postgraduate research student activities.
SELECTION CRITERIA — ESSENTIAL
Qualifications
A relevant doctoral qualification or equivalent qualification.
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Post-doctoral research experience, which has resulted in publications, conference papers, reports, or professional or technical contributions, which give evidence of research ability.
Proficiency in GIS. Demonstrated experience and skills in GIS data management (collection, storage, editing, retrieval, etc), GIS analysis (advanced use of GIS analytical functionalities), GIS modelling (modelling spatial dynamics, creation of automated models, scenarios generation, 3D spatial modelling, etc) and GIS development (script programming, customised interface, plug-in development, etc).
Experience with ArcMap.
Experience with or ability to use GIS theories, methods and technologies to different urban or environmental processes.
Ability to develop collaborative work teams and to work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
A research track record in geographic information science and a demonstrated ability to plan initiate and conduct high quality research.
A record of peer review publications and/or conference publications.
Experience in contributing to the supervision of undergraduate honours and / or research higher degree students.
Demonstrated ability to meet competing deadlines.
Demonstrated organisational skills including the demonstrated ability to maintain a high standard of laboratory and data record keeping.
Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact well with research and technical staff and students.
Demonstrated excellent oral, written communication and presentation skills.
SELECTION CRITERIA — DESIRABLE
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Demonstrated skills in the publication of research journal articles.
Demonstrated skills in the preparation of research manuscripts.
Demonstrated organisational and project management skills, including the ability to work in diverse and complex environment in a multi-disciplinary team with limited supervision.
Experience with Web-GIS.
Proficiency in GIS, especially in GIS modelling and development.
Applications are submitted to
http://www.deakin.edu.au/careers-at-deakin/employment/academic.php