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The Opportunity

• Do you have a PhD in farming systems science, crop and pasture science, plant genetics or livestock science?
• Research the role of multi-purpose legume crops in enhancing the resilience and profitability of cropping and livestock enterprises
• Join the CSIRO Agriculture and Food group to explore options to change the way that lupins are used within farming systems

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years of relevant postdoctoral work experience. These fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.
 
We are thrilled to be able to deliver on the commitment we made in our strategy to invest in frontier science with the new CSIRO Agriculture & Food Winanga-y Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme. The word Winanga-y (pronounced win-na-gnay) is a cultural asset gifted by the Gomeroi Nation in Myall Vale to CSIRO's Agriculture and Food Business Unit to name the Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme. Winanga-y means to understand, know, remember, and think.
 
The CERC Fellow will investigate innovative uses of legume crops in Australian farming systems to improve farm enterprise resilience, sustainability and profitability. Lupins are an important legume crop in southern Australia. They support the profitability and sustainability of farming enterprises through grain production, biological nitrogen fixation, high quality livestock feed, and providing a weed and disease break within crop rotations. Historically lupin breeding has focused on high grain yields with little selection for traits associated with broader farming system benefits. 
 
The CERC Fellow will take a Genotype X Environment X Management approach to quantify opportunities to boost farm profitability through applying a range of scenarios such as early season grazing, forage conservation, late season grazing, intercropping with other species and traditional grain production. Grain yield, feeding value to sheep, nitrogen fixation and carbon balance will be considered using farming systems models. The outcome of the project will be an understanding of how flexible management practices for novel lupin germplasm could drive farm resilience and sustainability.

Your duties will include:

• Working with the available germplasm, genetic and genomic resources, experienced growers and technicians, agronomists, plant physiologists, livestock nutritionists, soil scientists and crop/livestock modellers to assess the characteristics of lupin that underpin alternative drivers of value from the crop.
• Designing and assessing innovative management practices for grain legumes to make better use of seasonal resources and provide flexible and profitable options for legume integration into climate-ready farming systems, particularly in the <500mm rainfall mixed farming zones.
• Evaluating novel lupin genetics x environment x management combinations to identify options to increase consistency of profitability, resilience, and sustainability at the farm scale.
• Producing scientific papers suitable for publication in high-quality international journals and presentation at national/international conferences.

Location: Floreat, Perth, Western Australia

Salary: AU$92k - AU$101k plus up to 15.4% superannuation

Tenure: Specified term of 3 years

Reference: 94779

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as farming systems science, crop and pasture science, plant genetics or livestock science. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Demonstrated experience in critically evaluating opportunities to improve farming system productivity and the design of effective research plans.
• Demonstrated experience in combining multi-disciplinary approaches to drive innovative research creating new solutions to existing problems.
• High level written and oral communication skills with the ability to represent the research team effectively internally and externally, including the presentation of research outcomes at national and international conferences.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or you must either hold, or be able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs, whether we are undertaking research, engaging with the public or nurturing future scientists in person or online. Source – CSIRO Child Safe policy 2023

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply on-line and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.

Applications Close

7 January 2024, 11:00pm AEDT