Graduate Researcher in Geospatial Analysis and Data Systems in Sydney

About the Organisation

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank dedicated to shifting the world's focus to peace as a positive, achievable, and tangible measure of human wellbeing and progress. IEP produces the Global Peace Index, the Global Terrorism Index, the Positive Peace Index, and the Ecological Threat Report, and its research is used by governments, multilateral organisations, universities, and the media in more than 150 countries.

Your Role

This is a graduate position for a computer scientist or quantitative social scientist who wants to build research infrastructure and apply it to questions of peace and conflict. The role has two main components:

• Satellite Analysis Programme: Help establish IEP's satellite analysis programme, which is currently at the design stage. The successful candidate will work directly with the Chief Research Officer to scope initial projects, select methods, build processing pipelines and produce initial analysis.
• Internal Data Infrastructure: Develop and maintain IEP's internal data infrastructure, including ingesting and cleaning datasets, improving database schemas and documentation, maintaining the MCP connector that provides database access to AI tools, and building pipelines supporting IEP's indices and reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Chief Research Officer to scope, design and prioritise satellite analysis projects.
• Acquire, preprocess and manage satellite imagery and derived products.
• Develop and validate methods for extracting peace- and development-relevant measures from imagery.
• Ingest, clean, harmonise and document new datasets in IEP's internal database.
• Maintain and extend the database schema, codebook and data quality checks.
• Contribute quantitative analysis and technical review to IEP research outputs.

Selection Criteria

Essential Requirements:

• A master's degree or higher in computer science, data science, geography, statistics, economics or a related quantitative field.
• Strong programming ability in Python, including the scientific and data stack.
• Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases; experience with PostgreSQL is preferred.
• Sound understanding of statistics and quantitative research methods.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Interest in peace, conflict and development research.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience with geospatial data and remote sensing.
• Experience applying machine learning to imagery.
• Advanced experience with large language models and agentic AI tooling.
• Experience with cloud platforms, particularly Azure.

Training, Development & Rotations

Opportunity to design a new research programme from its initial stage. Direct mentorship from the Chief Research Officer and IEP's senior research staff.

Salary & Benefits

Remuneration is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Career Progression

Potential to transition into an ongoing position within the research team at the end of the 12-month contract.

Applicants must have the right to work in Australia. IEP is an equal opportunity employer.