Research Fellow opportunity – Deakin University (Conservation Science Research Group), supervised by Prof Emily Nicholson

The project: This one-year research fellow position is funded by Deakin University, as part of an ARC-linkage project, Planning for economic development and biodiversity on the Tiwi Islands (LP170100305). The project is in partnership with the Tiwi Land Council and Tiwi Resources, both representative bodies of Tiwi people, and the Tiwi Land Rangers, and includes researchers at Deakin University, Charles Darwin University (CDU), The University of Melbourne and Tiwi Resources.

This project aims to support decision-making on the Tiwi Islands, through new methods for collaborative land-use planning that advance knowledge about trade-offs between sustainable economic development and biodiversity conservation on Indigenous lands. Our trans-disciplinary approach will integrate Indigenous and Western scientific knowledges and methods, through co-development of knowledge, to document goals, values and aspirations for land and sea management, model and map important species, ecosystems and places, and explore the impacts of scenarios of change and management. On-ground outcomes will include training for Tiwi researchers, building capacity in research and planning skills within the Tiwi community, and contributions (including data and mapped products) to planning for new Indigenous Protected Areas on the Tiwi Islands.

The main roles of the research fellow will be to:

• Lead on-ground participatory research, in collaboration with and under supervision of project leads Prof Emily Nicholson (Deakin), Dr Marg Ayre (University of Melbourne) and Dr Michaela Spencer (CDU); this will include on-ground ethnographic inquiry; designing, running and facilitating workshops, country visits, focus groups and interviews; and logistical support for the research;
• Facilitate negotiation, tracking and documentation of local research agendas and preferred ways of working under local elder authority;
• Support and collaborate with Tiwi researchers, based on the Tiwi Islands;
• Support and collaborate with project PhD students, particularly in aspects of their work relating to participatory co-development of knowledge, Indigenous knowledges and community consultation;
• Liaise with other stakeholders, including the Indigenous Protected Area process and committees, Tiwi Land Rangers, and other partner organisations.

Selection Criteria:

1. PhD in a social science or environmental science and/or other relevant qualifications and experience;
2. Experience in ethnographic and/ or other participatory research methods, such as participatory action research, participatory mapping and Indigenous or indigenist research approaches;
3. Emerging reputation in research and scholarship through publications;
4. Ability to make a contribution to communities through research, in particular in through collaborative research with Indigenous and/or local communities;
5. Capacity to contribute to leadership of research and project management;
6. Supervision experience (formal or informal);
7. Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues;
8. Experience working with Indigenous peoples and groups, and knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and contemporary issues;
9. Current drivers licence and 4WD experience, and willingness to work in remote areas and communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this job

Ideally this role would be based in Darwin (though this is flexible and can be negotiated), with substantial time on the Tiwi Islands, including in remote locations. The research fellow will be an active member of multiple research groups, including Deakin’s Conservation Science Research Group and Centre for Integrative Ecology, and the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods (RIEL) and the Northern Institute at CDU.

Starting date: As soon as possible, ideally in August 2022 (negotiable).

Contact Prof. Emily Nicholson for any further information: e.nicholson@deakin.edu.au , +61 404161771.

To apply: Please send a cover letter, response to the selection criteria and CV to Emily Nicholson e.nicholson@deakin.edu.au by 5th August 2022. Initial screenings will occur as applications are received, and the position will be filled as soon as the appropriate applicant is found.

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