Role type: Full-time; Fixed term for 2 years
Faculty: Engineering and Information Technology
School: Electrical, Mechanical and Infrastructure Engineering
Salary: $124,656 - $148,023 p.a. plus 17% super

• Revolutionise offshore wind energy / Collaborate on cutting-edge geotechnical designs / Drive commercial readiness with industry partners
• Apply now to transform offshore wind systems and lead groundbreaking research in geotechnical engineering.

• Investing in you - benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.

The University of Melbourne

We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research.

Your next career opportunity
As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you'll spearhead the development of an integrated offshore wind turbine system using suction bucket foundations tailored for Australian marine conditions. You'll engage with industry partners to co-develop practical solutions, conduct large-scale simulations and physical tests, and contribute to strategies for installation and decommissioning. This role offers a unique opportunity to translate research into real-world applications and advance the commercial readiness of innovative wind energy systems.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Conduct Advanced Cross-Disciplinary Research: Focus on suction bucket foundations and perform structural and stability analyses under environmental loading.
• Design and Execute Model Tests: Evaluate foundation performance using centrifuge and tank-based tests under Australian offshore conditions.
• Collaborate with Industry Partners: Prototype the integrated foundation-tower-turbine system and align with commercial deployment pathways.
• Translate Research into Applied Tools: Develop engineering tools, design guidelines, and frameworks for cost-effective manufacturing and installation.

You may be a great fit if:

You will be an accomplished researcher with a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering or a related field, adept at translating cross-disciplinary research into practical engineering solutions, and skilled in collaborating with industry partners to refine prototypes.

You may also:

• Have hands-on experience with centrifuge testing or large deformation analysis.
• Be familiar with TRL progression and offshore energy infrastructure certification processes.
• Possess programming skills (e.g. Python) for simulation and data analysis.
• Have prior involvement in R&D projects with industry or government partners.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills to convey complex concepts clearly.

Your new team – School of Electrical, Mechanical and Infrastructure Engineering

The School of Electrical, Mechanical and Infrastructure Engineering (EMI) undertakes teaching and research across a range of disciplines that are internationally recognised for their contribution to fundamental research. EMI has several well-established industry linkages and international partnership and is building a vibrant profile of interdisciplinary research, working with industry with an aim to contribute to society. EMI offers a comprehensive range of accredited Master of Engineering and Master of Information Technology programs taught through the Electrical, Mechanical and Infrastructure departments as well as professional Masters programs. The School has a substantial cohort of research higher degree students.

Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. We are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where all individuals feel valued, respected, and have the opportunity to thrive regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age, being a parent or having caring responsibilities.

Working at the University – what you need to know
This role requires the successful candidate to maintain a Working with Children Check The successful candidate can apply for the WWCC as part of the onboarding process. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is available for this position.