Role highlights
- Develop and utilise digital technologies to drive livestock research forward
- Tackle industry challenges in sustainability and animal health, nutrition, & reproductive efficiency
- Advance your career with us- Australia's National Science and Innovation Agency!
The opportunity
Our agency's Agriculture and Food (A&F) brings together cutting-edge science, technology, and deep industry knowledge to improve the sustainability, productivity, and resilience of Australia's food and fibre industries. Within our Livestock and Aquaculture research program, the 'Digital Livestock' team is advancing next-generation livestock farming through the integration of sensor technologies, data science, and systems modelling.
We are seeking a motivated and experienced Digital Livestock Scientist to join this dynamic team! You will play a key role in designing and delivering research that applies data analytics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, sensor technologies, and systems modelling to real-world challenges in livestock production. Some of this work is based at , where we're connecting digital data flows with livestock systems models to support evidence-based decision-making for farmers. Recent initiatives such as and highlight the kinds of digital approaches being used to explore feed intake, behaviour, and productivity outcomes. As part of this team, you will contribute to a key capability, and play a vital role in widening our portfolio of digital livestock approaches.
This is a transdisciplinary role suited to experienced data scientists with a proven interest in livestock production systems, or animal scientists with advanced skills in coding or informatics. You'll collaborate across our company's Agriculture and Food business unit, with opportunities to contribute towards shaping new research directions, lead project initiatives, and deliver real-world solutions that support productive and responsible livestock farming in a changing environment. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!
Applications are assessed across two capability levels, and the successful candidate will be appointed at the level commensurate with their skills and experience. Please refer to the Position Description for more details.
Your high-level duties will include:
- Incorporating novel approaches to scientific investigations by adapting and/or developing original concepts and ideas for new, existing, and further research, with a focus on boundary spanning, trans-disciplinary approaches.
- Working closely with colleagues and industry to develop impact-focused digital technologies.
- Developing data flows to augment the annotation, integration, and analysis of diverse data, in collaboration with Data61 data scientists.
- Applying advanced data science workflows for integration of multi-modal data streams.
- Utilising data science strategies to analyse and evaluate data, and managing data curation, storage, and data sharing in accordance with best practise guidelines.
- Producing high quality scientific and/or engineering papers suitable for publication in quality journals and for presentation at national and international conferences.
- At the higher CSOF6 capability level, additional duties would also include leading & taking responsibility for research projects, and providing leadership to technical staff and students.
Role particulars
Location and office arrangements: Armidale NSW (preferred), or Brisbane QLD may be considered
Salary: AU$114K - AU$153K pa + up to 15.4% superannuation (across two capability levels)
Tenure & work schedule: Specified Term of 3 years; Full-time (flexible work options may be considered, based on needs of the role and individual circumstances)
As the successful candidate, you will bring:
Applications would be assessed according to the Selection Criteria listed below and the level they're met, and the successful candidate will be considered/appointed at the capability level commensurate with their skills and experience, as assessed by the Selection Panel.
- A PhD (or an equivalent combination of qualifications and research experience) in a relevant animal science or data science field.
- Demonstrated understanding of animal production and/or livestock farming systems.
- Broad understanding of agri-food systems and an interest in deepening knowledge of current global and national issues.
- Demonstrated ability to initiate and undertake original, creative, and innovative research by generating and pursuing novel ideas and solutions to scientific research problems.
- Demonstrated experience in the development of digital workflows, including data annotation.
- Demonstrated experience in data science and statistical analysis, coding and/or related analytical methods, and expert usage of statistical software packages, such as R, Matlab, Python, C.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific content clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.
- A demonstrated publication history of authorship on scientific papers in peer reviewed journals and/or reports, grant applications or inventorship on patent applications.
Eligibility
Applications for this position are open to all candidates - Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, or candidates who either hold, or are able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term (visa sponsorship and relocation assistance may be provided to the successful candidate if required).
