Postdoctoral Fellowship - Climate Projections Science

The Role

Australia’s climate is changing. Acting early to prepare for the impacts of climate change can reduce some of the costs and negative consequences for the nation. The CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship (CAF) aims to equip Australia with practical and effective adaptation options to counter the expected damaging effects of climate change and variability. It will analyse future climate changes in Australia, assess adaptive capacity and vulnerability, and develop new ways to combat and even benefit from these challenges

There are four research themes:

1. Pathways to adaptation
2. Sustainable cities and coasts
3. Managing species and natural systems in a changing climate
4. Adaptive primary industries, enterprises and communities

In Theme 1, we are currently offering a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in the area of regional climate change projections science.

Reliable and relevant regional projection information is an essential element in adaptation planning and forms a key part of the research of the theme.  The science of regional climate projections is still confronted by many scientific challenges.  These include how best to assess the reliability of the regional results of global climate models, how to represent uncertainty, how integrate model based projections with observed climatic trends and how best to tailor projection information to users needs.

The post-doctoral fellow will be expected to conduct a program of research addressing one or more of these challenges.  The development of new techniques to address the issue of how to integrate model projections with emerging trends in the climatic record will be particularly encouraged.

Key Capabilities

• Investigates underlying issues of complex and ill-defined problems and develops appropriate responses.
• Plans, sets and works to meet challenging standards and goals for self.
• Strong commitment to team-based processes and outcomes.
• Active support of CSIRO code of conduct and OH&S
• Assesses the risk and opportunity of identified strategies, options and actions. 
• Overcomes problems and setbacks in achieving goals.
• Shows flexibility in response to external change or when faced with external constraints.

Key Result Areas/Duties

• Undertake research into methods for preparing regional climate change projections based on multi-model ensemble techniques
• Communicate research outcomes in both oral and written form including presentations to a variety of audiences, reports and scientific publications.
• Interact with other researchers engaged in related work within CAWCR and more widely and assist in strategy development within CAF’s climate change projection activities
• Adhere to CSIRO requirements for information security, OHS&E and EEO in accordance with the CSIRO Code of Conduct