Cooperative Research Centre
for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
&
Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Charles Sturt University,
Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Native Woodland Ecophysiology
The CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity aims to transform the
landscape of southern Australia through the introduction of profitable new farming
systems including perennial plants. Without the introduction of such systems, 20% of
currently productive agricultural land will be lost to secondary salinity, which amounts to
a loss of 10 million hectares over the next few decades. New agricultural systems will
need to be ecologically engineered, based on the functioning of the natural systems in the
same areas. The success of the plant-based solutions to salinity will depend, to a large
extent, on the similarity in water use between managed and natural systems.
The focus of Subprogram 2 of the CRC is Understanding the functioning of natural shrub
and woodland ecosystems in recharge zones of southern Australia and applications are
sought from suitably qualified people to work on a project in entitled “ Improved water
management through understanding plant responses and adaptation in native
vegetation to water availability, evaporative demand and climatic and soil physicochemical constraints”. The position is funded by the CRC for Plant-based Management
of Dryland Salinity and will be located at Charles Sturt University. The appointee will:
study the key components of water balance, plant water relations and plant function at
one site in south eastern Australia; will ensure the smooth operation of joint field work;
form part of a small team of scientists working in eastern Australia; will interact with
other CRC scientists located in Western Australia; and will contribute to the joint
supervision of honours and postgraduate students working on aspects of the project.
Targeted research objectives of the project are:
 Assessing water relations of natural systems, at one core site and a number of
satellite sites, predominantly in eastern Australia, in collaboration with
researchers in other subprograms of this CRC.
 Conducting field-based and laboratory studies of plant water relations to
determine key features that need to be engineered for a sustainable managed
system in the same area.
 Examining plant ecophysiological traits that are essential to achieve the desired
water use in new managed systems.
Qualifications:
PhD & professional qualifications in plant ecophysiology,
ecohydrology or a closely related discipline.
Conditions:
3 year contract, subject to annual review.
Salary Range:
Post-Doctoral Fellow $48,339-$51,888pa
Further Information:
Dr Philip Eberbach + 61 (02) 6933 2830 or
peberbach@csu.edu.au
CRC Information:
www.crcsalinity.com/
Application forms and position information material are available from the
Human Resources Office, Wagga Wagga, telephone (02) 6933 2230, fax (02) 6933 2886,
email rechrwagga@csu.edu.au
STATEMENT OF DUTIES
POSITION TITLE
Research Fellow in Native Woodland Ecophysiology
ESTABLISHMENT NUMBER
FACULTY, DIVISION OR
SECTION
Faculty of Science and Agriculture
CLASSIFICATION
Academic Level A, Step 6
INCUMBENT
Vacant
RESPONSIBLE TO
Dr P Eberbach
Dr Burrows
HOURS PER WEEK
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
FOR HOURS
N/A
NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT
Fixed Term – Research-Only Position
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION
TO SUPERANNUATION
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION
TO SUPERANNUATION
ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT
DATE LAST REVIEWED
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH &
SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES
Every employee shall take reasonable care for the health
and safety of persons who are at her/his place of work and
who may be affected by her/his acts or omissions at work.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
RESPONSIBILITIES
Every employee shall follow policies and practices that do
not discriminate against individuals in employment or
education on the basis of race or ethnicity, age, sex, marital
status, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, transgender
identity, responsibilities as a carer or religious or political
affiliation.
ROLE STATEMENT
The appointee will conduct research on water relations-cycling of natural woodlands in the
crop-grazing zone of south-eastern Australia. The appointment at this level requires the
successful applicant to have a PhD, a strong interest in understanding the nature of
competition for resources in complex plant communities, and a willingness to work as part
of a team with other researchers.
POSITIONS REPORTING TO THIS POSITION
Nil
DUTIES
The successful applicant will be responsible for the day to day running of the project .
While tasks will vary according to the particular skills of the applicant and the nature of
the experimentation devised, it is most likely that tasks will include:
1. In conjunction with project team members, devise field, laboratory and glasshouse
experimental protocols
2. Substantially contribute to the installation and maintenance of field experimental
infrastructure, including weather stations, soil moisture monitoring equipment including
neutron moisture meters and time domain refectometry, soil runoff plots, and soil microrhizotron (root growth) tubes
3. Conduct field-based and laboratory studies of plant water relations, systems water
balance and root system dynamics to the determine key features of ecosystem
hydrological sustainability
4. Maintenance of project finances
5. Preparation of scientific publications, seminars and reports
6. Travel intra & interstate as required
7. Other duties appropriate to the classification as required
Note: Superannuation arrangements may vary in certain circumstances.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Essential
1.
PhD or equivalent in a field relevant to plant ecophysiology or ecohydrology
2.
Skills and an interest in the determination of key components of landscape
water balance at several spatial scales
3.
Experience and a capacity to work in field-based experimentation in relation to
understanding the function of complex ecosystems.
4.
Skills in the determination of plant water relations
5.
An interest in developing skills in determining the temporal behaviour of roots
in complex native ecosystems.
6.
Capacity to work alone as well as part of a team
7.
Skills in experimental design and the statistical analysis of data
8.
Good oral and written communication skills
9.
Class C drivers licence or better
10.
Knowledge of and ability to apply equal opportunity principles
11.
Knowledge of and ability to apply occupational health and safety principles
Desirable
1. Demonstrated ability to achieve excellence in research
2. Experience in collaborative research
Applicants are asked to address the selection criteria when applying for this position.
Further information on this position is available from
Dr Philip Eberbach
Farrer Centre
Telephone 0269332830
Mobile 0428422785
peberbach@csu.edu.au
June 2004