Role type: Part-time (0.8FTE); Fixed-term for 12 months
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Department/ School: School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science
Salary: Level A: $87,266 - $118,416 p.a. plus 17% super

- Pioneering research exploring fire politics and climate adaptation / immersive fieldwork alongside Indigenous communities in the Philippines and Timor-Leste / collaborative, interdisciplinary team within a world-leading science faculty.
- Build your research career while deepening critical understandings of fire, livelihoods and climate resilience through research with real-world relevance.
- Investing in you - 17% superannuation, benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.

The University of Melbourne

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Your next career chance

In this role, you will lead critical ethnographic research exploring fire, livelihoods and climate adaptation in Southeast Asia.

You will work alongside Indigenous and rural communities in the Philippines and Timor-Leste, engaging with and respecting local knowledge systems.

You will benefit from mentoring within a supportive, interdisciplinary team while building a robust foundation for your academic career.

What you will deliver:

- Conduct high-quality ethnographic research on fire politics, gendered livelihoods and climate change adaptation in Southeast Asia.
- Produce scholarly publications, reports and presentations that advance political ecology and agrarian studies in the region.
- Contribute to collaborative research proposals, seminars and conferences, enhancing the School's profile in critical human geography.
- Support supervision and mentoring of students and junior researchers involved in related projects and fieldwork.
- Engage respectfully with Indigenous communities, NGOs and stakeholders to build equitable,



long-term research partnerships.

You may be a great fit if you:

- Hold, or be near completing, a PhD in human geography, anthropology, development studies or related fields.
- Apply advanced ethnographic methods and political ecology frameworks to analyse agrarian change and fire-related practices.
- Demonstrate deep respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and experience working collaboratively with rural communities.
- Communicate effectively in English and local languages, or show commitment to learning Filipino, Tetum and Indigenous languages.
- Manage complex fieldwork logistics, competing priorities and deadlines while delivering agreed research outputs with minimal supervision.
- Publish in relevant international journals and contribute constructively to interdisciplinary, cross-cultural research teams and partnerships.

For further information please refer to the attached PD.

What we offer you

We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfilment, including:

- Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
- Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
- Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
- Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance and well-being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave and cultural leave, and menstruation and menopause leave
- Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
- Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

For more information check out our benefits page

Your new team - School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science

You will join the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, a vibrant hub uniting so

📌 Research Fellow In The Political Ecology Of Fire And Climate Change Adaptation (Melbourne)
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