Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

Child Safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

The Opportunity

• Do you have a PhD (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as economics, applied mathematics, engineering or sustainability science/circular economy?
• Conduct research to enable the transition from fossil-fuels to a bio-enabled economy
• Join the Advanced Engineering Biology (AEB) Future Science Platform at CSIRO! 

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.

This Fellowship is funded by the Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform (AEB FSP), where we’re working to catalyse a step change in biotechnology development in Australia while ensuring engineering biology makes a positive difference in the lives of all Australians. Engineering biology creates solutions from nature’s building blocks, to solve our greatest challenges. It can underpin transformative innovations across health, agriculture, energy, and other key sectors. But to harness its full potential, we need to make it faster, more affordable and scalable.  Our research is working to overcome the obstacles that are holding engineering biology back from delivering benefits for society, industry and the environment. We take an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach, partnering with government, research institutions and industry to foster innovation and build capabilities.

Sustainability transition from fossil-fuels to a bio-enabled economy (use of biological resources) calls for a deep transformation of the economy, the society, and the technological systems. However, the economic drivers for the transition to a bio-enabled economy are not well understood. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be part of the AEB FSP Interdisciplinary Decision Making Theme and will contribute to the understanding of the economic and institutional complexities associated with sustainability transitions in a circular bioeconomy. The CERC Fellow will be core to delivering a Horizon 3 research agenda, supporting decision making and uptake of advanced engineering biology technologies by incorporating a focus on technoeconomics, life cycle analysis, frameworks and policy, and engagement with key industry stakeholders. The goal is to improve tools for modelling future feedstocks to help de-risk investments and better incorporate circularity of reusing waste as inputs into the creation of high value products and materials in biomanufacturing.

Your duties will include:

• Performing cutting-edge science to position CSIRO as a scientific thought leader in the emergent bioeconomy context within Australia, and extend research in both environmental-social assessments and technoeconomics. 
• Develop new theoretical approaches to measure economic and or environmental factors related to biomanufacturing transitions. 
• Explore key aspects of the problem, incorporating engineering biology, circular economy, food waste, agricultural waste/byproducts, sustainability, food security, and bioeconomy principles from a social and economic sciences perspective.
• Build strategic relationships with relevant scientific, industrial, and government stakeholders.

Location:  Brisbane, QLD or Canberra, ACT

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

Tenure:  Specified term of 3 years

Reference:  95725

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as economics, applied mathematics, engineering or sustainability science/circular economy. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• A current driver’s licence.
• 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.
• A sound history of publication in peer reviewed journals and/or authorship of scientific papers, reports, grant applications or patents.
• A record of science innovation and creativity, including the ability & willingness to incorporate novel ideas and approaches into scientific investigations.

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.

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

11 March 2024, 11:00pm AEDT