Research Associate

This role is based in Sydney, Australia, within the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences—a large, collaborative, and multidisciplinary school in the Faculty of Science at UNSW. The school encompasses disciplines such as Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physical Geography, Climate Science, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Marine Science and Oceanography. In 2025, the school secured $22M in research funding and produced over 800 scientific publications, consistently ranking among the top at UNSW for student experience.

About the role

This is a full-time (35 hours per week), fixed-term position for approximately 28 months, concluding on 31 December 2028. The role will contribute to an ARC Discovery Project studying marine nitrous oxide production.

Responsibilities

• Contribute independently or as a team member in collaborative research to enhance the quality of research outcomes in the discipline area.
• Conduct research (as per the norms of the discipline) and/or enable research teams to create scholarly output recognized by peers.
• Undertake specific research project(s) under the guidance of a research leader and contribute to the development of research activities.
• Support the dissemination of research outcomes through appropriate channels and outlets.
• Undertake discipline-appropriate research activities, such as surveys, literature reviews, data gathering, and/or recording of results using suitable research methods.
• Participate in and/or present at conferences and/or workshops relevant to the project as required.
• Assist with the supervision of research students in the research area where required.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the UNSW Code of Conduct and Values.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take reasonable care to ensure actions do not impact the health and safety of yourself or others.

Requirements

• PhD in microbiology or marine biology, and/or relevant work experience.
• Experience in maintaining and manipulating marine invertebrates.
• Fieldwork experience, including advanced SCUBA diving qualifications (Rescue plus).
• Experience with gas chromatography and isotope analysis.
• Microbiology knowledge and technical skills in microbiome analysis, including metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake high-quality academic research and conduct independent research with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines, and build effective relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with a diverse range of stakeholders and students.
• Understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives, and values in action, along with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

Pay

Level A ($113k - $121k) plus 17% superannuation and annual leave loading.