CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Integration for Farming Systems Science

Acknowledgement of Country 

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation. 

Role highlights

• Harness advanced agricultural data to unlock insights into farming systems
• Build innovative models to improve farm performance and decision-making
• Drive impactful research that shapes the future of Australian agriculture

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

Visit CSIRO.au for more information.

The opportunity 

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate and have less than three years relevant research experience.  These Fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.

Agricultural data, collected from long term trials is complex. Data is captured through field-based surveys, and from ground-based sensors, proximal sensors and UAVs and satellites. These data are often used to drive process models, that ultimately are used to optimise aspects of the farming system. In this role, you will explore novel approaches to capturing and utilising this diverse array of data to generate new agricultural insights into complex dryland farming systems. 

Your high-level duties will include: 

• Explore novel ways to record, manage, and analyse data/information relevant to Australian farming production systems, including crop systems or mixed crop-livestock systems.
• Explore different approaches to building data-driven models to simulate farming systems to generate holistic indicators of systems performance, moving beyond simple indicators of productivity.
• Apply models to identify different constraints and risks in farm production systems, which can inform management practices or the design of novel systems interventions.
• Carry out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes.
• Recognise and exploit opportunities for innovation and the generation of new theoretical perspectives, and progress opportunities for the further development or creation of new lines of research
• Carry out research investigations requiring originality, creativity and innovation
• Adhere to the spirit and practice of CSIRO’s Values, Code of Conduct, Health, Safety and Environment procedures and policy and diversity initiatives.
• Other duties as directed.

Role particulars

Location: Canberra, ACT

Salary: AU$103k - AU$113k per annum (pro-rata for part-time) + 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 3 years, Full-time        

Reference: 103800

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential criteria

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD). The doctorate must be in a relevant discipline area, such as Agronomy, Crop or Livestock Science, Genome Biology or Computer Science.
• Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (or full-time equivalent) of relevant research experience.
• Experience with the application of data-science to explore scientific questions relevant to agriculture or similar scientific fields (e.g. ecology, geology, genomics).
• Theoretical understanding of the application of modelling, simulation or artificial intelligence to agricultural science (or related fields).
• High level written and oral communication skills with the ability to represent the research team effectively internally and externally, including the presentation of research outcomes at national and international conferences.
• A sound history of publication in peer reviewed journals and/or authorship of scientific papers, reports, grant applications or patents.
• A record of science innovation and creativity, including the ability & willingness to incorporate novel ideas and approaches into scientific investigations.

Essential criteria

• Experience in using established agricultural modelling platforms.
• Agricultural fieldwork experience or equivalent experience in real world environments.

 
For full details about this role, and other criteria, please review the Position Description. 

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please contact Laura Mason via Careers.Online@csiro.au and let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. We can discuss flexible work arrangements with you during the recruitment process. CSIRO also offers a range of leave entitlements, benefits and career development opportunities. To find out more, visit Careers at CSIRO.

Inclusion and belonging

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Gold Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Eligibility 

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, and Australian Temporary Residents who hold a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term. Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Child safety 

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy. 

How to apply 

Please apply online and submit a CV and cover letter (maximum 2 pages) that demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the selection criteria of this role.

Applications close 

4 October 2026, 11:00pm AEDT