Postdoctoral Research Associate – Concrete Road Pavement Technologies

UTS; Broadway; On-site; AUD 98,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work practices

Generous parental leave

Salary packaging opportunities

Job summary

UTS is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to support a Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) and ARC NetZero Hub co-funded program on concrete road pavement technologies.

The successful candidate will help develop a practical predictive framework to estimate early-age cracking risks in rigid pavements, informing control-joint timing and reducing maintenance costs. A PhD in a related field is required, with strong modelling and lab experience.

Qualifications

• PhD (or near completion with evidence of submission date) in Civil Engineering, Pavement Engineering, or a closely related field
• Familiarity with Australian standards/specifications relevant to concrete and pavements, and/or experience working with road agencies (e.g., TfNSW or equivalents)
• Demonstrated research outputs consistent with Level A, including publications in refereed journals and/or equivalent scholarly outputs relevant to concrete materials, pavements, early-age behaviour, and modelling
• Ability to develop and apply quantitative models (mechanistic, statistical, or hybrid) and to conduct validation, uncertainty assessment, and sensitivity analyses
• Experience designing and running laboratory programs (e.g., shrinkage, restrained ring, temperature rise, maturity, strength/creep/elastic properties) and interpreting results for model calibration
• Prior experience of running projects autonomously as a Project Manager is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development of a practical predictive framework for estimating early-age cracking risks in rigid concrete pavements.
• Inform control-joint cutting timing and mitigating premature cracking, spalling, and associated maintenance costs.
• Plan and deliver research tasks to deadlines, including reporting, documentation, and stakeholder-facing deliverables.
• Collaborate with TfNSW and ARC NetZero Hub partners on the co-funded research program.
• Develop and apply quantitative models and validate them with experimental data.

Skills

Quantitative modeling

Project management

Laboratory program design

Stakeholder communication

Education

PhD in Civil Engineering, Pavement Engineering, or closely related field

Job description

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidjigal people and the Gamaygal people upon whose ancestral lands our University stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders past, present and emerging, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

Our vision is to be a leading public university of technology recognised for our global impact. We are a dynamic and innovative university, ranked by the Times Higher Education as Australia's top young university, and located on Gadigal land (Ultimo, NSW).

About the School

The UTS School of Civil, Environmental and Sociotechnical Engineering is recognised for its industry-connected education, impactful research and commitment to addressing complex global challenges. Bringing together expertise across civil and environmental engineering, project management, sustainability, infrastructure, and sociotechnical systems, the School offers a collaborative and inclusive environment where innovation thrives. As part of a dynamic university located in the heart of Sydney's innovation precinct, you will have opportunities to work with world-class researchers, industry partners, government stakeholders and talented students to deliver real-world impact through teaching, research and engagement.

Diversity and Inclusion

UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT warmly invites applications from underrepresented groups including women, Indigenous Australians, people with visible and non-visible disability, neurodiverse individuals, those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and applicants from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. UTS was one of the first Australian institutions to receive the Athena SWAN Bronze Accreditation for our commitment to action addressing gender equity in the STEM disciplines. We're actively creating a more inclusive and supportive community through initiatives like Flexible Working, Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy, LGBTQIA+ community support, Multicultural Women's Network and the UTS Access and Inclusion Plan.

About the Role

We are seeking a suitably qualified candidate for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) role to support a Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) and ARC NetZero Hub co-funded research program in concrete road pavement technologies. The successful appointee will contribute to the development of a practical predictive framework for estimating early-age (approximately 1-3 days) cracking risks in rigid concrete pavements, with particular emphasis on informing control-joint cutting timing and mitigating premature cracking, spalling, and associated maintenance costs.

About You

The incumbent is expected to have a strong understanding of concrete materials and early-age phenomena (e.g., hydration, thermal effects, shrinkage, heat evolution, restraint, cracking risks, etc.) and their relevance to pavement performance. You will have demonstrated ability to plan and deliver research tasks to deadlines, including reporting, documentation, and stakeholder-facing deliverables.

As the successful applicant, you will also have:

• PhD (or near completion with evidence of submission date) in Civil Engineering, Pavement Engineering, or a closely related field
• Familiarity with Australian standards/specifications relevant to concrete and pavements, and/or experience working with road agencies (e.g., TfNSW or equivalents)
• Demonstrated research outputs consistent with Level A, including publications in refereed journals and/or equivalent scholarly outputs relevant to concrete materials, pavements, early-age behaviour, and modelling
• Ability to develop and apply quantitative models (mechanistic, statistical, or hybrid) and to conduct validation, uncertainty assessment, and sensitivity analyses
• Experience designing and running laboratory programs (e.g., shrinkage, restrained ring, temperature rise, maturity, strength/creep/elastic properties) and interpreting results for model calibration
• Prior experience of running projects autonomously as a Project Manager is desirable.

Remuneration

Base Salary Range: $97,955 to $119,303 pa (Level A)

This role attracts 17% superannuation (pension) in addition to the base salary.

This position is full-time and an appointment will be made on a fixed term basis for two years.

UTS staff also benefit from a wide range of Employee Benefits, including flexible work practices, generous parental leave and salary packaging opportunities.

Closing Date: Tuesday 29 September 2026 at 11:59 PM (AEST)

Applicants must be an Australian Permanent Resident or an Australian Citizen (it is envisaged that this position will transition into other future project opportunities). Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

UTS prioritises safety, respect, and inclusion for every member of our community. In support of this, and in line with our statutory obligations under the National Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2026, all prospective employees must declare any past investigations relating to gender-based violence. Employment at UTS is contingent upon completion of this declaration, and, where necessary, assessment of any identified risk factors. We appreciate your role in upholding the standards and behaviour expected of our community.