Role highlights

• Advance Net Zero with sustainable feedstock solutions for low-carbon fuels
• Lead research across the full value chain from biomass to refining
• Collaborate widely to shape policy and grow a multibillion-dollar industry

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 our interdisciplinary team to help build Australia's Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) industry-essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, mining, and heavy transport. You'll generate insights on sustainable feedstock sourcing from agriculture and forestry, focusing on renewable fuels such as SAF and renewable diesel made from biomass, residues, and waste, with scope to explore e-fuels from green hydrogen. Working within the Sustainability Program in Agriculture and Food, you'll collaborate across energy and environment teams and with external partners to deliver full value-chain solutions that meet sustainability, certification, and social license requirements. This is your chance to shape a multibillion-dollar industry critical to achieving Net Zero goals.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Scope and analyse currently available feedstock production, processing and refining options; the focus will be on identifying pathways and barriers to developing domestic LCLF feedstock supply and refining capacity based on our agricultural systems while protecting food supply, environmental and natural capital values.
• Carry out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel scientific and industry impact and outcomes.
• Support the Scientific Lead for LCLF and project team to deliver diverse projects to external government and industry clients including (but not limited to) bioresource and feedstock assessments, farming systems analysis, integrated sustainability assessments, land use change analysis, techno-economic analysis of LCLF production pathways, review and discussion of international LCLF frameworks including CORSIA, EU Renewable Energy Directive and the Australian Guarantee of Origin scheme.
• Work with broad Agriculture and Food, Energy and Environment teams to develop novel technologies and strategies to overcome current barriers to the expansion of domestic LCLF production and the use of second and third generation feedstocks.
• Engage with government, industry and academic networks to better understand opportunities, barriers and R&D needs to support LCLF industry development and to develop new project funding proposals.

Role particulars

Location: Brisbane QLD, Melbourne VIC or Canberra ACT

Salary: AU$103k - AU$113k per annum (pro-rata for part-time) + 15.4% superannuation

Tenure & work schedule: Specified term of 3 years, Full-time

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

Essential criteria

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD). The doctorate must be in a relevant discipline area, such as Agriculture Science or Engineering, Chemical or Environmental Engineering (with bioenergy focus), Environmental Science, Agricultural Economics, Data Science or Modelling (with agriculture or bioenergy focus). Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of relevant research experience.
• Understanding/ knowledge/ experience of the role of agriculture and land-use management in bioenergy/biofuel value chains, the place of low carbon liquid fuels in decarbonisation of hard to abate industries, and/or the role of regulation and sustainability metrics (e.g. GHG accounting) to ensure food supply and environmental values are protected.
• 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 and engagement with funding bodies and government.
• A sound history of publication in peer reviewed journals and/or authorship of scientific papers, reports, grant applications or patents.
• A record of science innovation and creativity, including the ability & willingness to incorporate novel ideas and approaches into scientific investigations.
• Remain productive, positive and resilient in complex, ambiguous and/or uncertain environments.

Eligibility

Applications for this position are open to Australian/New Zealand Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents and candidates who either hold, or are able to obtain, a valid working visa for the duration of the specified term (visa sponsorship and relocation assistance may be provided to the successful candidate if required). Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.