Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer in severe thunderstorm observations and analysis

• School of Civil Engineering – Faculty of EAIT
• Full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to 11 February 2028
• Base salary will be in the range $85,372.89 - $113,659.72 + 17% super (Academic Level A)
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position
• Based at our St Lucia Campus - Brisbane

About This Opportunity 

Take your severe weather research into the field as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer specialising in severe thunderstorm observations and analysis. Working alongside researchers from the School of Civil Engineering, School of the Environment and Bureau of Meteorology, you will carry out fieldwork to capture critical measurements using mobile radar and LiDAR systems during severe thunderstorm events across Southeast Queensland. You will also advance techniques for analysing near-surface hail and wind observations during these events, contributing to a deeper understanding of severe storms and their impacts.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Research: Contribute to cutting-edge severe thunderstorm research by planning and undertaking fieldwork across Southeast Queensland, operating radar, LiDAR and weather monitoring systems, advancing methods to analyse near-surface wind and hail, and producing high-quality research outputs for publication and industry partners.

• Supervision and Researcher Development: Contribute to the supervision and development of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students, providing effective guidance, feedback, coaching and professional development to support their research progress and performance.

• Citizenship and Service: Contribute to a collaborative academic environment through School activities, team support and external engagement.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

About You 

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in a discipline of Engineering or Science with a focus on measurement, analysis or modelling of atmospheric flows. The ideal candidate will have focussed on severe weather, but this focus is not essential. Applicants with an MPhil (or equivalent) having undertaken research in these areas will also be considered.
• Demonstrated competencies in:
  • Analysis of large observational or numerical data sets of atmospheric variables.
  • Mathematical programming and analysis in Python, R or equivalent
• Desired (but not essential) competencies in:
  • Experience in collection and analysis of observations using radar, LiDAR or surface-based weather stations.
  • Experience undertaking or managing fieldwork campaigns, especially during severe weather.
  • Expertise in the theory and practical implementation of optimisation or inverse problems in earth sciences or geophysics.
  • Experience modelling complex fluid flows (e.g. computational fluid dynamics).
• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

We particularly welcome applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and others who may be underrepresented in this discipline.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged. As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad: from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact A/Prof Matthew Mason via matthew.mason@uq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume, cover letter, and responses to the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Other Information 

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia and qualifications, checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We are also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close Wednesday, 11 November 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-69059).