CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Innovation for Northern Beef Systems

CSIRO; Darwin; On-site; AUD 101,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO invites applications for a three-year CERC Postdoctoral Fellow role focused on advancing sustainable beef production in Northern Australia. You will investigate how emerging on-farm sensor technologies, especially virtual fencing, can support precise livestock and landscape management decisions.

Based in Darwin with possible Brisbane-based applications, the role requires field research and data analysis to evaluate productivity, environmental value, and system performance.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., Livestock Science, Rangeland Science, Agricultural Science, Agroecology) with ≤3 years of relevant research experience.
• Experience with on-farm sensors or technologies to explore questions relevant to agriculture.
• Theoretical knowledge of vegetation or pasture assessment principles.
• Experience managing and using data pipelines for data integration and interpretation.
• Excellent written and oral communication for internal and external presentations.
• Strong publication history in peer‑reviewed journals or related outputs.

Responsibilities

• Record, manage, and analyse data for Northern livestock systems.
• Explore indicators of systems performance and the impact of virtual fencing.
• Assess management and ecological value of virtual fencing in a systems context.
• Identify constraints and risks in Northern livestock systems, focusing on ecologically sensitive areas.
• Carry out innovative research of strategic importance leading to scientific outcomes.

Skills

Data analysis

Scientific writing

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Doctorate (PhD)

Tools

Sensor technologies

Data pipelines

Job description

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 .

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 .

Role highlights

• Investigate how virtual fencing influences productivity, land condition and environmental outcomes.
• Assess the value of virtual fencing in northern beef systems.
• Accelerate your research career through CSIRO’s CERC Fellowship program.

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

The opportunity

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Fellowshipsprovide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years relevant research experience. These Fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.

Join CSIRO as a CERC Postdoctoral Fellow and help shape the future of sustainable beef production in Northern Australia. In this role, you will investigate how emerging on-farm sensor technologies, particularly virtual fencing, can support more precise and informed livestock, grazing and landscape management decisions.

Working within a multidisciplinary research team, you will use field research and data generated by sensor technologies to assess the productivity, management and environmental value of virtual fencing across northern beef systems. Your research will explore applications including grazing management, stocking strategies and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

This role will suit someone who enjoys working at the intersection of livestock systems, field research and digital agriculture, and who is excited by turning complex datasets into practical management solutions.

This three-year fellowship offers the opportunity to deliver innovative, industry-relevant research while developing the capabilities, networks and experience needed to become an independent researcher.

Darwin is the preferred location for this role, but we’re also open to applications from Brisbane-based candidates. If based in Brisbane, you’ll travel regularly to Darwin and remote field sites, typically once a month for up to one week at a time.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Recording, managing, and analysing data/information relevant to Northern livestock systems.
• Exploring indicators of systems performance, moving beyond simple indicators of productivity, and how virtual fencing technology impact these indicators.
• Assessing the management and ecological value of virtual fencing in a systems context.
• Identifying different constraints and risks in Northern livestock systems, particularly around ecologically & environmentally sensitive areas of a farm system, which can inform management practices or the design of novel systems interventions, with a specific emphasis on strategic use of virtual fencing technology as an intervention option.
• Carrying out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes.

Role particulars

Location and office arrangements:

Darwin, NT preferred; Brisbane, QLD and other locations may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Regular travel would be required.

Salary:

AU$101k – AU$113k per annum (pro rata for part-time), plus 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule:

Full time; specified term of 3 years

Reference:

104023

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD). The doctorate must be in a relevant discipline area, such as Livestock Science, Rangeland Science or Management, Agricultural Science, Agroecology. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (or full-time equivalent) of relevant research experience.
• Experience with on-farm sensors or technologies to explore scientific questions relevant to agriculture or similar scientific fields (e.g. ecology, agronomy).
• Theoretical knowledge of vegetation or pasture assessment principles and methodologies.
• Experience managing and utilising data pipelines for data integration and interpretation.
• 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.

For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description .

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact [e-mail] and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO , offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO .

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

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 .