World Science Jobs

Job Role: Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Environment, Engineering, Physics

This year, CSIRO is offering Postgraduate Scholarships to provide prospective students with the opportunity to undertake postgraduate research aligned with National Research Priorities in partnership with CSIRO. Top-up scholarships are available to PhD students who have gained (or expect to gain) an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or equivalent. In certain circumstances, full scholarships are also available.

There are two programs under which you can apply for a scholarship.

The Corporate Postgraduate Scholarship program is offering 20 scholarships in the following areas:

• Cell Attachment and Growth on Surface Nano/Micro Engineered PFPE Thin Films (2008/1034)

• Fabrication and Characterisation of Boron Nitride Nanotube Structures (2008/1044)

• Numerical Modelling of Particulate Multiphase Flow (2008/1035)

• Star Formation and Magnetic Fields in Nearby Galaxies (2008/1045)

• Climate Change Impact on Infrastructure and Building Design (2008/1036)

• Cognitive Radio Techniques in Multi-hop Wireless Broadband Services (2008/1046)

• Mapping Genes Associated with the NIR Spectra Related to Wheat Quality (2008/1037)

• Grapevine Carbohydrate Dynamics – Implications for Irrigation Management (2008/1008)

• Novel Microalgal Transformation for Biofuels and Lipid Biochemistry Applications (2008/1038)

• Novel Strategies for the Over Expression of Transgenes in Plants (2008/1047)

• Investigation of Interfacial Effects in Ionic Liquid Based Lithium Batteries (2008/1039)

• Gas sorption by Coals and Related Materials (2008/1048)

• Pulsed Electric Field Modulation of Protein Behaviour (2008/1040)

• Multiobjective Optimisation for Building Comfort and Energy (2008/1049)

• Strategies for Alzheimer Disease Prevention (2008/1041)

• Microstructural and Rheological Analysis of NIS Ore Remobilization (2008/1050)

• Multiscale Modelling of Corrosion of Zinc for Self-Repairing Oxides (2008/1042)

• Pathogenesis Study of Two Deadly Bat-borne Zoonotic Viruses (2008/1051)

• Electroactive Fibres and Fabrics for Sensing and Energy Harvesting (2008/1043)

• Genomic Analysis of Novel Anaerobic Respiration in Synergisters Bacteria (2008/1052)

For further information, selection documentation and details on how to apply, visit www.csiro.au/careers

The Flagship Collaboration Fund is offering around 30 new scholarships for research in areas relevant to the work of the nine National Research Flagships:

• Climate Adaptation
• Energy Transformed
• Food Futures
• Light Metals
• Minerals Down Under
• Niche Manufacturing
• Preventative Health
• Water for a Healthy Country
• Wealth from Oceans

Flagships have nominated priority research areas against which applications will be accepted – these can be found on the web, along with further information about the Flagships, the guidelines for Flagship Collaboration Fund scholarships and details on how to apply, at www.csiro.au/org/FlagshipPostgradScholarships.html
For further information, selection documentation and details on how to apply, visit www.csiro.au/careers
Alternatively contact CSIRO on 1300 301 509

Job Role: Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences

Contaminated land specialist required to join innovative Brisbane-based consultancy

Our client is an industry leader in providing integrated Risk Management Services in the areas of Environmental Management, OHS, Property Risk, Fire and Essential Services and Business Risk. They provide a comprehensive range of environmental services ensuring their clients make informed decisions about environmental risks. For the ongoing review of risks associated with compliance, waste management and site contamination they require a suitably qualified and experienced Contaminated Land Specialist to join their small, yet innovative Brisbane based team.

The responsibilities of this role include conducting contaminated land assessments, reporting and developing comprehensive remediation programs. Suitable candidates for the position will have completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering (or similar), and have approximately 3-5 years consultancy-based experience, along with practice in conducting Phase 1 and 2 Assessments. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are crucial for this role.

In return for your education and experience, the company offers an attractive remuneration package and a friendly yet professional team environment.

If this sound like the right challenge for you please apply now!

To apply, please click on the appropriate link below or for confidential enquiries, contact Tyson McNeilly on 07 3347 7600 quoting ref TSQLD0909KB. Techstaff – Queensland often has similar jobs available. Visit www.techstaff.com.au to view available jobs or to register with us.

Job Role: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering

Salary range: A$66,451 (plus superannuation)

ANSTO is one of Australia’s foremost scientific research and development organisations, focused on delivering the benefits of nuclear science to the Australian community.

We are looking for recent PhD graduates to work on specific research projects across our research portfolio:
• Structural biology
• Structure/dynamics-function relationship in new energy-related materials
• Stable isotopes and biomarkers as new tools in human impact studies
• Structural integrity (2)

We are seeking candidates with a strong innovation focus, good communication skills and a proven publication record, as well as experience and skills specific to the proposed research project. PhDs must have been awarded within the last three years or be under examination.

Structural biology

Working closely with Prof Jill Trewhella, a Federation Fellow working jointly between ANSTO and Sydney University, this fellowship aims to advance neutron and x-ray scattering applications in structural biology. A major scientific focus will be to understand the structural basis for biochemical regulation and signalling between bio-molecules. A key approach will be to combine neutron contrast variation and x-ray solution scattering data with data from other techniques and develop computational models that are experimentally validated. The work is multi-disciplinary in nature, involving biophysical characterisation techniques, structural biology, and structural modelling.

Practical experience in neutron and/or x-ray scattering including data analysis is essential. Practical experience in structural biology and/or computational modeling of biological structures is desirable.
For further information contact Prof Trewhella – jtrewhella@usyd.edu.au, or Dr William Hamilton – william.hamilton@ansto.gov.au

Structure/dynamics-function relationship in new energy-related materials

A fellowship is available to study alternative energy systems and materials using neutron scattering methods, in the area of hydrogen research, including separation, storage, and use in fuel-cells.

Applicants must have a background in physical-chemistry or materials science and experience in solid-state analysis and modern quantum-chemistry calculations. This is a competitive and rapidly advancing field that offers the potential to contribute to both scientific and environmental developments.

For further information contact Dr Vanessa Peterson – vanessa.peterson@ansto.gov.au or Prof Don Kearley – gordon.kearley@ansto.gov.au

Stable isotopes and biomarkers as new tools in human impact studies

A postdoctoral fellow with expertise in paleoecology and use of stable isotopes is sought to generate generalised high-time resolution records of environmental change where there is independent evidence of human impact and then to apply methods of extracting, identifying and quantifying the composition of organic compounds from sediments. These will be related to potential casual agents through dating and stable isotope analyses.

For further information contact Prof John Dodson – john.dodson@ansto.gov.au

Structural integrity

Two Materials Science or Engineering PhD graduates are sought to work on the development of advanced methods for predicting the structural integrity of welded components and structures in nuclear and thermal power generation systems.

One fellowship is to develop full 3D residual stress finite element simulations of power plant welds in order to inform predictive models of their structural integrity. This will be accomplished using the ABAQUS FEA package used within ANSTO’s Institute for Materials Engineering. The work will centre around the key simulation and measurement tasks in an international program (NET: Safelife.jrc.nl/net/) to standardise methods of calculating residual stress in both Austenitic and Ferriotic/Martensitic thermal plant.

The second fellowship is based on the requirement in high quality weld finite element simulations for accurate materials constitutive models and appropriate validation. In particular, it has become clear that significant improvements in simulation accuracy are produced if the spatial variation in constitutive behaviour in the weld is included in the model. Thus, the fellow will use state-of-the-art non-contact strain (ESPI and DIC) and high spatial resolution neutron and synchrotron diffraction techniques to measure both the elastic and plastic constitutive behaviour in the weld, the heat affected zone and parent material in order to provide data critical to weld simulation activity within the research group.

For further information contact Prof Lyndon Edwards – lyndon.edwards@ansto.gov.au

TO APPLY visit www.ansto.gov.au and follow the links to the vacancies page. Applications must address the relevant selection criteria and should be submitted on-line via our website.

To be eligible for appointment, applicants will require a security and medical assessment.

For further information please consult the vacancies page of our website www.ansto.gov.au or contact Jessica Simpson on +61 (02) 9717 3905.

Applications close: 31 October 2008