Research Fellow: Fire Politics & Climate Adaptation

UOM University of Melbourne; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 87,000 - 118,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Flexible work arrangements

Career development programs

Parental leave and cultural leave

Job summary

The University of Melbourne invites applications for a part-time Research Fellow in the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science. This fixed-term 12-month role supports pioneering research on fire politics and climate adaptation, with immersive fieldwork alongside Indigenous communities in the Philippines and Timor-Leste.

Applicants should have or be near completing a PhD in related fields, and demonstrate strong ethnographic methods and commitment to Indigenous collaborations.

Qualifications

• Hold, or near completing, a PhD in human geography, anthropology, development studies or related fields.
• Apply advanced ethnographic methods and political ecology frameworks to analyse agrarian change and fire-related practices.
• Demonstrate respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and experience working with rural communities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-quality ethnographic research on fire politics, gendered livelihoods and climate adaptation in Southeast Asia.
• Produce scholarly publications, reports and presentations that advance political ecology and agrarian studies in the region.
• Contribute to collaborative research proposals, seminars and conferences to enhance the School’s profile.

Skills

Ethnographic research

Political ecology

Indigenous engagement

Scientific writing

Education

PhD in human geography, anthropology, development studies or related fields

Job description

The University of Melbourne invites applications for a part-time Research Fellow in the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science. This fixed-term 12-month role supports pioneering research on fire politics and climate adaptation, with immersive fieldwork alongside Indigenous communities in the Philippines and Timor-Leste.

Applicants should have or be near completing a PhD in related fields, and demonstrate strong ethnographic methods and commitment to Indigenous collaborations.