Job Description

• Sustainable Minerals Institute

• Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50

• Collaborate with highly awarded, world-class colleagues

• Access state-of-the-art facilities to further your research endeavours

• Based at our vibrant and picturesque St Lucia Campus

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged.

As part of our commitment to research excellence, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and post-fellowship contracts via our UQ Amplify initiative.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. Not only do we have one of the largest PhD enrolments in Australia, but we have also made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

About This Opportunity 

We are looking for a highly motivated research-focused early career academic to develop their expertise and research profile through an ARC-funded project focusing on the sustainability of resource-led development in Australia and worldwide. The researcher will be based at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute) and will be part of a broader project team of interdisciplinary researchers (economic geography, regional studies, urban planning) from leading universities in Australia, Chile and Zambia.

About Sustainable Minerals Institute

The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) develops the people, technologies and approaches necessary to address the challenges facing the world on the path to sustainability. SMI’s vision is to provide knowledge leadership for a sustainable world. To achieve this, SMI adopts a multidisciplinary approach that integrates expertise in geoscience, mining, mineral processing, workplace health, safety and risk, environmental management, social responsibility, and organisational improvement.

Since it was established in 2001, SMI has been the only research institute in the world where this breadth and depth of knowledge can be found in one place.

SMI consists of an International Centre of Excellence in Chile, the Technology Transfer company JKTech and 6 research centres, each nurturing specific disciplinary strengths. The Institute also leads a set of multidisciplinary strategic research programs which focus on priority challenges in, and relating to, the minerals industry. The researchers and specialists in each of these centres and programs work with industry, governments, civil society, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, intergovernmental organisations, research institutions and foundations.

In addition to research, SMI delivers professional development, higher degrees by research and formal teaching programs to train the next generation of industry and community leaders.

About Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM)

CSRM is committed to improving the social performance of the global resource industry. Through independent research, teaching and multi-stakeholder dialogue processes, the Centre is helping to resolve some of the industry’s most pressing social and political challenges, including land use competition, business and human rights, mining-related conflict, resettlement and displacement, cultural heritage, governance and geopolitics. For more information, please see the CSRM website.

Key responsibilities will include:

1. Research

• Produces quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing or exhibiting in high quality outlets.

• Participate in applications for competitive research funding to support projects and activities.

• Work with colleagues in the development of joint research projects and applications for competitive research funding support.

• Contribute to progressing towards transfer of knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.

• Develop a coherent research program and an emerging research profile.

• Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies.

2. Supervision and Researcher Development

• Contribute to the effective supervision of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students (as appropriate).

• Demonstrates personal effectiveness in supervision and the management of researcher development.

• Effective lead and develop supervisee performance and conduct by providing feedback, coaching, and professional development.

• As appropriate, manage research support staff effectively throughout the employee lifecycle in accordance with University policy and procedures.

• Working to promptly resolve conflict and grievances when they arise in accordance with University policy and procedures.

3. Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

• Shows leadership of self through collaboration and active participation in priority activities for the unit

• Provide support to other academic positions and unit operations as needed during other team members absences.

• Contribute to internal service roles and administrative processes as required, including participation in decision-making and service on relevant committees.

• Collaborate in service activities external to the immediate organisation unit.

• Begin to develop external links and partnerships by cultivating relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

This is a fixed-term position at Academic level A for approximately 7 months (at 100% FTE). A fractional appointment (40% to 100% FTE) may be negotiable and will extend the contract.

At Academic level A. The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $74,308.68 - $99,426.59, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $86,941.16 - $116,329.11 annually.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad:  from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You  

• Completion or near-completion of a PhD in human and economic geography, regional studies, resource economics, development studies, or a related discipline

• Evidence of publications in reputable refereed journals and/or conference presentations

• Experience with research in mining and other resource-dependent regions and First Nations communities in Australia, Africa and/or South America will be an advantage

• Experience with large datasets, GIS, network analysis and visualisations will be an advantage

• Experience with ethnographic fieldwork and stakeholder engagement will be an advantage

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits. 

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Julia Loginova (j.loginova@uq.edu.au)

For application queries, please contact recruitment@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 
 

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

Other Information 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion.  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to recruitment@uq.edu.au 

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close Friday 3 November 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (R-30769).