CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Innovation for Northern Beef Systems in Brisbane

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.

Role highlights:

• Investigate how virtual fencing influences productivity, land condition and environmental outcomes.
• Assess the value of virtual fencing in northern beef systems.
• Accelerate your research career through CSIRO’s CERC Fellowship program.

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.

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. Join CSIRO as a CERC Postdoctoral Fellow and help shape the future of sustainable beef production in Northern Australia.

In this role, you will investigate how emerging on-farm sensor technologies, particularly virtual fencing, can support more precise and informed livestock, grazing and landscape management decisions. Working within a multidisciplinary research team, you will use field research and data generated by sensor technologies to assess the productivity, management and environmental value of virtual fencing across northern beef systems. Your research will explore applications including grazing management, stocking strategies and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

This role will suit someone who enjoys working at the intersection of livestock systems, field research and digital agriculture, and who is excited by turning complex datasets into practical management solutions. This three-year fellowship offers the opportunity to deliver innovative, industry-relevant research while developing the capabilities, networks and experience needed to become an independent researcher.

Darwin is the preferred location for this role, but we’re also open to applications from Brisbane‑based candidates. If based in Brisbane, you’ll travel regularly to Darwin and remote field sites, typically once a month for up to one week at a time.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Recording, managing, and analysing data/information relevant to Northern livestock systems.
• Exploring indicators of systems performance, moving beyond simple indicators of productivity, and how virtual fencing technology impacts these indicators.
• Assessing the management and ecological value of virtual fencing in a systems context.
• Identifying different constraints and risks in Northern livestock systems, particularly around ecologically & environmentally sensitive areas of a farm system, which can inform management practices or the design of novel systems interventions, with a specific emphasis on strategic use of virtual fencing technology as an intervention option.
• Carrying out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes.

Role particulars:

• Location and office arrangements: Darwin, NT preferred; Brisbane, QLD and other locations may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Regular travel would be required.
• Salary: AU$101k – AU$113k per annum (pro rata for part‑time), plus 15.4% superannuation.
• Tenure & work schedule: Full time; specified term of 3 years.
• Reference: 104023.

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as Livestock Science, Rangeland Science or Management, Agricultural Science, Agroecology.
• Experience with on‑farm sensors or technologies to explore scientific questions relevant to agriculture or similar scientific fields (e.g. ecology, agronomy).
• Theoretical knowledge of vegetation or pasture assessment principles and methodologies.
• Experience managing and utilising data pipelines for data integration and interpretation.
• 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.

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

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.

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.

Eligibility: Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents. 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.

Applications close Sunday 8th November 2026, 11:00pm AEST.