Organisation/Company: UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Research Field: Agricultural sciences, Computer science, Engineering
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), Established Researcher (R3)
Country: Australia
Application Deadline: 1 Feb 2025 - 00:00 (UTC)
Type of Contract: Other
Job Status: Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer DescriptionLocated on the Camperdown campus with field engagement in Cambodia and the Mekong RegionUtilise your technical expertise to contribute to sustainable development initiatives which support community needsFull time, fixed term for 4 years (subject to continued industry funding). Offering a base salary of $105,314 - $127,433 + 17% superannuationAbout the opportunity The ACFR is one of the largest robotics research institutes in the world, with over 100 members including faculty, research fellows, technical staff, and postgraduate students. The ACFR performs fundamental research on perception, control, modelling, learning and systems engineering and has strong industry and scientific collaborations in sectors including mining, commercial aviation, agriculture, defence, intelligent vehicles, and underwater mapping and exploration.
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher who is technically adept - comfortable working with hardware, software, and integrated systems - and eager to operate within a broad, interdisciplinary environment. This multi-year project aims to modernise smallholder farming in Cambodia by integrating electrified and "smart" capabilities into two-wheel tractors, and incorporating sensors and controls for precision agriculture. The position blends technical development with the strategic coordination of multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, local universities, NGOs, and experts in economics, policy, gender studies, and agricultural systems.
Your key responsibilities will be to:
develop, refine, and test electrified and "smart" enhancements to two-wheel tractors, integrating sensors, software, and control systems that advance local farming practices for precision agriculturework alongside specialists in economics, policy, gender studies, and agriculture, ensuring that your technical solutions align with broader social, environmental, and market considerationsregularly connect with local engineers, technicians, farmers, and NGOs, adapting solutions based on their input, facilitating training, and supporting the effective adoption of new technologiescontribute to strategic project planning, manage timelines, and maintain transparent communication channels, bridging technical developments with stakeholder prioritiessupervise student projects, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present findings at conferences, illustrating how people-centred design and technology integration can drive sustainable agricultural transformation.About you The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values. We are seeking an excellent candidate for a Postdoctoral Researcher who has:
a PhD or equivalent research experience in a relevant technical discipline (e.g., mechanical, electrical, mechatronic engineering, computer science, applied sciences, agriculture technology, agriculture engineering, human-centred design)demonstrated capacity to work across hardware/software boundaries in applied contextsstrong interpersonal and communication skills, enabling meaningful engagement with researchers and community members from diverse backgroundsa genuine interest in sustainable development, and in integrating technical solutions with socio-economic and policy frameworksThe following criteria are highly desirable (or have a demonstratable strong interest):
experience in resource-limited or developing regionsfamiliarity with agricultural technologies, precision agriculture, or field-based deploymentsability to navigate complex, multi-partner projects, adapting to evolving needs and challenges.To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.
Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.
For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Rebecca Astar or Cherie Goodwin, Recruitment Operations by email to .
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