Position Details
Job Title:
CSIRO Undergraduate Vacation Scholarships – Oceans and Atmosphere
Reference No:
1343
Classification:
CSOF1.1
Stipend:
$1462.77 per fortnight
Location:
Please refer to the List of Projects at the end of this document
Tenure:
8 to 12 weeks from November 2015 to February 2016
Role Purpose:
The 2015/16 Vacation Scholarship Program is designed to provide students
with the opportunity to work on real-world problems in a leading R&D
organisation.
Participation in the Vacation Scholarship Program has influenced previous
scholarship holders in their choice of further study and future career options.
Many have gone on to pursue a PhD in CSIRO or to build a successful
research career within CSIRO, a university or industry.
Project
Description:
How to Apply:
Please refer to the list of Projects on the following pages of this document.
If you require further information please contact the person listed as the
contact for the project.
Please apply for this position online at www.csiro.au/careers
You will be required to:
1. list your top 2 research projects (from the list below) in order of
preference;
2. submit a CV which includes:

the reasons why the research project/s you have selected are of
interest to you; and how your previous skills/knowledge and
experience meets the project requirements; and

an outline your longer-term career aspirations and detail how
this program will help you achieve them.
3. upload your academic results.
Referees: Please ensure that your resume includes the name and contact
details of your academic supervisor and at least one other referee (work or
university).
If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 984 220 and someone
will be able to assist you. Outside business hours please email: csirocareers@csiro.au.
Please do not email your application. Applications received via this method
may not be considered.
About CSIRO:
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
is Australia’s national science agency. At CSIRO we shape the future. We do
this by using science to solve real issues. Our research makes a difference to
industry, people and the planet.
Project
Number
OA01
Oceans and Atmosphere – Vacation Scholarships Project Details
Project Title
The role of sensors and citizen science in the collection of water quality information
Project Description
Water quality is a critical component of global fresh water security and ecosystem health,
yet existing data are scarce and declining, have poor geographic and temporal coverage,
and may be of questionable accuracy. With limited resources, Australian State
Governments often struggle to collect adequate information on the status of inland and
estuarine water quality across their jurisdictions to meet both reporting and legislative
requirements. Many are looking at cheaper alternatives for the collection of environmental
data across widespread geographic and remote areas. Remote sensing from satellites may
provide one solution but may not be adequate for all water bodies, especially smaller ones.
Cheaper optical sensors and mobile technologies, operated in the hands of concerned
citizens or local authorities/CMAs, could provide a second tier of information to inform on
water quality status across an individual state. These methodologies may provide a
complementary data stream in the water quality monitoring toolkit, complementing and
adding value to existing monitoring technologies, including the detection of the formation
of algal blooms. Operating on similar principles to earth observation approaches, such
measurements will also play an important role in the calibration and validation of satellite
remote sensing approaches.
The project would contribute to the evaluation of novel low-cost sensor technologies
developed by CSIRO for the collection of high resolution spectral data over inland waters and
develop the science around the measurements they can obtain. Three aspects of evaluation
will be addressed:
1. Evaluation of the accuracy and quality of spectral data obtained by the sensors
compared to data acquired from more expensive field spectroradiometers.
2. Evaluation of the accuracy of water quality data obtained through measurements
performed at a number of different sites.
3. Test the influence of viewing geometry, time of day and season on the
measurements and results obtained.
The work could potentially be undertaken around the Brisbane region, targeting local
reservoirs and the Brisbane River and potentially elsewhere (ACT and NSW) across waters
dominated by both algae and suspended sediments. The approaches can be tested against
concomitant samples for water quality determination, the costs of which will be met from
other CSIRO projects. Outcomes include an evaluation of the strengths and limitations of
the individual technologies for their quantitative and qualitative determinations of water
quality information.
The work may also be undertaken in collaboration with staff from the School of Geography,
Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland.
Project Duties/Tasks

Initial background reading and writing of research project outline

Scoping of specific project aims and objectives

Planning for field experimentation and sampling

Undertake field measurements

Write up of the results into research paper
Relevant Fields of Study
 Environmental Science
 Geography
 Physics
 Remote sensing
Location: Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane (with some possible time in Canberra)
Contact: Tim Malthus on (07) 3833 5583 or email tim.malthus@csiro.au
OA02
Project Title
Effect of Temperature on Alkalinity Analysis
Project Description
The precise analysis of alkalinity in seawater samples depends on many factors. Accurate
measurements of both sample and acid titrant temperatures during analyses are crucial,
and testing of different sensors may lead to significant gains in analytical precision.
Project Duties/Tasks

Install three different kinds of temperature probe on the alkalinity analysis system

Test the effect of each configuration on analytical precision

Help with sample analyses in the laboratory to observe the importance of analytical
precision in ocean acidification research
Relevant Fields of Study

Analytical chemistry

Inorganic chemistry
Location: Hobart, TAS
Contact: Kate Berry phone on (03) 6232 5270 or email Kate.Berry@csiro.au
OA03
Project Title
International Quality Controlled Ocean Database (IQuOD)
Project Description
Contribute to the international IQuOD project (www.iquod.org), by investigating and
developing software tools for quality control of historical ocean temperature (and salinity)
profiles. Options include Python coding for data analysis in a high performance computing
environment, artificial intelligence/machine learning and/or web-interface GUI
development.
Project Duties/Tasks

With IQuOD team members, agree on the specific project activities from these options:
o Automate data processing for quality control of oceanographic datasets using
Python.
o Investigate machine learning algorithms to be applied to quality control of the
datasets.
o Web-interface GUI development with a goal of crowd-sourcing the manual QC part
of the IQuOD project.

Develop a project outline/plan, recognising that some activities will be feasibility
studies.

Develop and/or test various software tools and or web interfaces to undertake
experiments to assess the most appropriate and feasible approaches.

Implement the selected methods as part of a workflow to provide ongoing improvement
of the ocean database data

Present the results in a seminar or report format.
Relevant Fields of Study

Software development (especially Python)

Large environmental data sets and high performance computing

Machine learning and artificial intelligence

Web interfaces and databases
Location: Hobart, TAS
Contact: Rebecca Cowley via phone on (03) 6232 5446 or email rebecca.cowley@csiro.au
OA04
Project Title
Modelling climate extremes
Project Description
The ability of CSIRO’s new high-resolution climate models to simulate the weather events
leading to extreme rainfall over the Australian region will be assessed, and compared with
the skill of CMIP5 models. How might extremes change under global warming?
Project Duties/Tasks



Help develop and apply software to analyse simulated daily data
Calculate and interpret statistics of the distributions
Develop projections for change in the form of maps and time series
Relevant Fields of Study

Applied Mathematics

Meteorology/Climatology
 Statistics.
Proficiency in numerical analysis and using software (such as Fortran, Python, NCL, netcdf
data format) would be an advantage.
Location: Aspendale, VIC
Contact: Ian Watterson via phone on (03) 9239 4544 or email Ian.Watterson@csiro.au
OA05
Project Title
Design and analysis of undersea marine systems
Project Description
This project will allow students to participate in the development of engineering analysis
software for use in the design of marine systems. Examples of potential applications include
Pressure Vessel analysis, mooring design, and autonomous vehicle design.
*NB Please note this project is designed to support two (2) students.
Project Duties/Tasks

Development of data analysis tools for processing and visualising engineering data
from field experiments.

Development of system analysis software to aid in the development of autonomous
underwater vehicles.

Participate in conducting lab experiments and new methods for design and
fabrication of marine systems.
Relevant Fields of Study

Mechanical Engineering

Ocean Engineering

Naval Architecture

Aerospace Engineering

Civil / Structural Engineering

Computer Science / Scientific Programming
Location: Hobart, TAS
Contact: Andreas Marouchos on (03) 6232 5433 or email andreas.marouchos@csiro.au
OA06
Project Title
Mapping rocky reef systems from multibeam bathymetry.
Project Description
Rocky reefs are a key biodiversity asset yet we know little about their extent and nature.
This project will collate and interpret bathymetric data to locate and map rocky reefs on the
Australian coast and allow students to participate in active biodiversity research.
Project Duties/Tasks

Collation of multibeam bathymetry data and identifying areas of rocky reefs.

Processing and interpreting multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data as
required.

Developing maps identifying distribution, extent and structure of reefs
Relevant Fields of Study

Earth Science

Marine Science / Ecology

Surveying / Spatial Science

Geography
Location: Hobart, TAS
Contact: Tara Martin on (03) 6232 5054 or email t.martin@csiro.au