research jobs adelaide

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Research Career Opportunities

Looking for a stimulating environment to continue your research? Choose the University of Adelaide.

• Ramsay Fellowships
• Future Fellowships
• Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards

In response to a generous donation from the Ramsay family, we support applications from outstanding researchers to conduct full-time research within the faculty.

The Ramsay Fellowship aims to:

• Advance knowledge and fundamental research in the natural sciences.
• Encourage general increase in research excellence.
• Increase research opportunities at the University of Adelaide.
• Provide opportunities for outstanding young Australian scientists and to enhance their potential as future scientific leaders.

The  Ramsay Fellowship was established in 2008  with a significant bequest from the Ramsay family. The Ramsay family were founders of the Kiwi Polish Company (later Kiwi International), the famous shoe polish manufacturers. Hamish Ramsay fulfilled his late stepmother's wish to help advance scientific research by pledging funds for four-year Ramsay Fellowships.

Applications for the Ramsay Fellowship are normally open at the start of each year via the  University's employment website .

We encourage  mid-career scientists  who wish to join us to progress their research career, to apply for an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship.

We're looking for researchers who aspire to join our scientific disciplines and help us  make history . We offer a competitive package to support you in establishing your research career with us.

What is an ARC Future Fellowship?

An ARC Future Fellowship is a four-year fellowship that gives outstanding mid-career researchers (MCRs) an incentive to continue their high-quality research in Australia.

It is the flagship fellowship scheme for MCRs and is a prestigious accolade to advance your research and career.

The award is the Australian equivalent of the various international postdoctoral fellowships, such as those administered through the UK Research Councils and US National Institute of Health.

The scheme provides focused support for researchers who have completed a PhD between five and 15 years ago. 

The objectives of the Future Fellowships scheme are to:

• support excellent basic and applied research and research training by outstanding mid-career researchers to be recruited and retained by universities in continuing academic positions;
• support national and international research collaboration; and
• enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas.

Want to continue your research at the University of Adelaide? We’ll support you and your Future Fellowship application, if you have: 

• A record of high-quality research outputs appropriate to your discipline; 
• Experience in research training, mentoring and supervision;
• Evidence of your leadership capability and national research standing; and
• Capability to build collaborations across research organisations, industry and other disciplines both within Australia and internationally.

About Future Fellowships   Grant guidelines

Why should I come to the University of Adelaide?

Sciences at the University of Adelaide is a synergy of twelve research intensive schools; thriving research centres and groups; and strong cross-institutional collaborations.

Our world-renowned scientists are critical thinkers and experts in their fields. Our researchers link with experts in industry, government and international institutions to solve real-world problems. They are driven by a passion to find answers, and to discover new ways to make our world a smarter, safer and a more sustainable place.

From understanding disease and tackling environmental challenges, to advancing technology and mapping distant galaxies; our teaching is informed by our cutting-edge research.

Our campuses are home to a number of co-located industry partners, affiliated researchers and research institutes of international significance. This close proximity offers a unique opportunity for our students to gain practical and theoretical knowledge through dynamic national and international research projects.

Enjoy an outstanding career environment

The University of Adelaide is a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaborations - offers you vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity and is family-friendly; consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery.

We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

How we can help with your application?

The University and SET Faculty offers support programs such as workshops, information sessions and pitch panel sessions to prepare you for your application.

We also support a limited number of applicants by providing funding for external reviews of your application.

It’s vital that you approach a current researcher at the University of Adelaide who will support your application. This person will assist by submitting the required internal forms such as the Notification of Intent (NOI) and the Research Funding Request (RFR).

Application workshops / clinics

Resources and key dates

Research Services and the faculty have created series of resources and guides to assist you with your application.

Key contact

If you've looked through the resources and have any questions, feel free to contact  Research Services  via  [email protected]  or [email protected]

We're looking for  early career researchers  who aspire join our scientific disciplines and help us  make history . We offer a competitive package to support you in establishing your research career with us.

What is a DECRA?

An Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) supports new early career research projects.

It is the flagship fellowship scheme for early career researchers (ECRs) and is a prestigious accolade to advance your research and build your career pathway.

The award is the Australian equivalent of the various international postdoctoral fellowships, such as the Marie Curie Fellowship; the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (STFC); or the Life Sciences Research Foundation Fellowship.

The scheme provides focused support for researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions.

The objectives of the DECRA scheme are to:

• Support excellent basic and applied research by early career researchers
• Advance promising early career researchers and promote enhanced opportunities for diverse career pathways
• Enable research and research training in high quality and supportive environments
• Expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability
• Enhance the scale and focus of research in the Science and Research Priorities

Researchers who have been awarded a PhD within five years, or, awarded a PhD within nine years and commensurate with a period of significant career interruption may be eligible to apply.

About DECRA   Grant guidelines

Science, Engineering and Technology faculty at the University of Adelaide is a synergy of twelve research intensive schools; thriving research centres and groups; and strong cross-institutional collaborations.

The University and SET faculty offers support programs such as workshops, information sessions and pitch panel sessions to prepare you for your application.

If you've looked through the resources and have any questions, feel free to contact  Research Services  via  [email protected]  or  [email protected] . 

You have no saved courses.

Continue to explore your course options.

Your saved courses

• Current students
• Flinders dashboard (Okta)
• Ask Flinders
• Flinders Learning Online (FLO)
• Campus map: Bedford Park
• Staff directory
• Jobs at Flinders
• Shop Flinders merchandise

Fearless Careers

We are flinders. we are fearless..

Flinders University was founded in an era of profound social, political and technological change, when longstanding conventions were being challenged by a new generation of ambitious young thinkers.

We're transforming and investing in people and facilities to create contemporary, stimulating, and satisfying learning and work environments that reflect our core values of excellence, innovation, courage, and integrity. Flinders is refocusing its strategic priorities with the aim of elevating its performance to be a top ten Australian university, and amongst the top 1% in the world. Reaching beyond the limits of buildings, borders, and backgrounds, ours is an inclusive culture that believes absolutely in equality and opportunity for all. We don't just accommodate differences; we embrace and celebrate them.

Diversity and Inclusion

Information for applicants.

Our Locations

Why Flinders?

Relocating to Adelaide

Indigenous Employment

Career streams at flinders.

Discover your career in academia, research, and professional services at Flinders University.

Professional

Why work at Flinders?

Explore all that a career at Flinders University has to offer.

Learn more about life on campus, salary and superannuation, wellbeing benefits, leave benefits, and career and development opportunities.

Explore current academic, research, and professional job vacancies at Flinders.

Current Vacancies

Internal Vacancies

For internal vacancies, a Flinders FAN is required.

Learn more about our recruitment process, required documents when applying for a job, and frequently asked questions.

Learn more about Indigenous employment at Flinders, including our Indigenous Workforce Strategy, Indigenous employment opportunities and Indigenous Student Employment Scheme.

The artwork is the creation of contemporary Aboriginal artist Elizabeth Close, a Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara woman and Flinders alumna, who graduated from the University with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2011.

At Flinders we embrace and celebrate diversity and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Our locations

Learn more about our campus locations at Bedford Park, Festival Plaza, Tonsley, the Riverland, and the Northern Territory.

Learn more about Adelaide, South Australia, and everything you need to know about relocating from interstate or overseas.

Have questions?

Contact the Recruitment Team, People and Culture.

08 8201 2383

[email protected]

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park South Australia 5042

South Australia | Northern Territory Global | Online

Information for

• Future students
• Business and community
• External contractors

Directories

• Campus and locations
• Research Institutes and Centres

Follow Flinders

Website feedback

Accessibility

CRICOS Provider: 00114A      TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12097      TEQSA category: Australian University

FOREVER FEARLESS

This website uses cookies.

Flinders University uses cookies to ensure website functionality, personalisation and a variety of purposes as set out in its website privacy statement . This statement explains cookies and their use by Flinders.

If you consent to the use of our cookies then please click the button below:

If you do not consent to the use of all our cookies then please click the button below. Clicking this button will result in all cookies being rejected except for those that are required for essential functionality on our website.

Union lodges dispute in employment tribunal, as protesters rally against proposed SA Museum changes

A union representing South Australian Museum workers has lodged a dispute in the employment tribunal over a proposed sweeping reform of the institution's research wing.

In February, the museum's executives outlined a proposed restructure of the research and collections division as part of a "reimagining" of the institution.

The union representing museum workers, the Public Service Association (PSA), said the new structure would see 27 full-time positions abolished and replaced with 22 new positions, mainly at a lower classification and pay.

A spokesperson for the SA Museum said the museum was listening to feedback from staff and the union as consultation continued.

Many have criticised the proposed changes, accusing the museum executive of compromising the research division and its role in human sciences research.

On Saturday, museum volunteers, former staff members and supporters gathered on the steps of SA Parliament House to raise their concerns.

The PSA has lodged a dispute in the SA Employment Tribunal to seek more details about the proposal from the museum.

PSA general secretary Natasha Brown said the matter remained unresolved despite two lengthy conciliation conferences.

"Despite repeated requests from the PSA, museum management has continued to try and withhold important information required for consultation with our members," she said.

A PSA spokesperson told the ABC the matter would likely be referred for arbitration, with a further hearing expected in the coming week.

Ms Brown said the museum had been underfunded for years, with staff facing unmanageable workloads that would only worsen under the suggested reforms.

"We're very concerned that the proposed changes posed very real risk of degradation and loss of important cultural, historical and scientific materials," she said.

Ms Brown said many current employees would not be able to take up the proposed new roles, and those that could would be facing a pay cut.

"They would not be doing the same work. One of the concerns that we have is this represents a dumbing down and the degradation of the work that our members do," she said.

Opposition arts spokesperson John Gardner agreed, saying the roles required a different skill set, and many would be at a lower salary.

"When the government says that they're not letting all of these people go, they are in fact letting these people go [by] letting people apply for jobs that are different and in most cases less well-paid," he said.

"The problem is the current re-imagining, the current restructure is all on the wrong track."

Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said she would continue to discuss the feedback received with the museum's board to ensure the reforms would strengthen the institution's collection, research and engagement with Aboriginal people.

"I understand that there is misinformation causing concern in the community about the possible restructure and direction proposed by the SA Museum's board and I want to reassure those who have expressed concern that I am listening to their feedback," she said.

Bring the museum 'into the 21st century': executive

SA Museum's chief executive Dr David Gaimster and chair Kim Cheater defended the proposed changes at a parliamentary committee last week, claiming they had seen a "great deal of misinformation" being circulated about the changes in the media.

"These proposed changes to our workforce are about taking important steps now that will make our museum more sustainable, more relevant and more accessible for the 21st century," Mr Cheater said.

He insisted all relevant staff at the museum were properly consulted as part of a review process prior to drafting the changes.

Dr Gaimster said the feedback the museum had received from the scientific community had been focused on one or two issues and did not address the institution's function overall.

"The board of the museum has a whole range of functions to carry out research or promote research into matters of scientific and historical interest," he said.

"It's a very, very broad manifesto, you could say."

Dr Gaimster assured the committee the objective of the executive was not to stop or devalue research on the museum's collections.

"We're anticipating that new models of operation will enable us to evolve from a highly academic research model to what we are describing as a curatorial research model," he said.

Support for museum staff

The State Aboriginal Heritage Committee has expressed concerns over the proposal, and the impact it could have on the museum's Aboriginal Repatriation Program.

The program saw the development of Wangayarta in Adelaide's northern suburbs in 2021, a memorial park dedicated to Kaurna ancestral remains reburials.

Three reburials have taken place at Wangayarta in community-led ceremonies, which have seen the program lauded by Indigenous peoples and governments across the country.

The committee said the museum should "nonetheless continue to provide at least the current level of support for the repatriation team, notwithstanding any wider imperatives".

The museum currently has plans for significant repatriations for the Ngarrindjeri people, and the First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee.

Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri elder Major "Moogy" Sumner said he has been working for 40 years to bring ancestral remains home to Kaurna, including from overseas.

"[These remains] are not objects, they are our relatives, they are our bloodline for thousands of years," Mr Sumner said.

Mr Sumner paid tribute to the museum's repatriation team and expressed concerns about their treatment in the process.

"They're being treated as if they don't matter, but they do," he said.

"You wouldn't treat anyone like that if you want to keep the knowledge going ... the people up there now, they need to be there."

The plan has also seen huge backlash from the academic community and beyond, with more than 350 scholars and others signing an open letter published in a local newspaper on Wednesday.

Among them was former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer,  2007 Australian of the Year and former museum director Tim Flannery, and former SA Premier Steven Marshall.

The letter claims the proposed changes would "devastate the museum's research capability and institutional knowledge".

It called on the state government to review the proposed restructure and to "invest at least $10 million in designated funding annually for the collection and research work of the museum".

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Academic Research
• Libraries, Museums and Galleries