Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Social Science (Loss and Damage)

Faculty of Science | School of the Environment 2 x Full-time (100%), fixed-term opportunities for up to five years Base salary will be in the range $83,698.92 – $111,431.10 + superannuation (Academic Level A) Based at our St Lucia campus About This Opportunity This is a rare and purposeful opportunity for two Postdoctoral Research Fellows to contribute to a flagship ARC Industry Laureate Fellowship addressing climate‑driven loss and damage in the Pacific. Based in the School of the Environment, you will be part of a visionary, collaborative, and impact‑driven research initiative that works through long‑term partnerships with communities, governments, regional organisations, and civil society partners across the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu. The Fellowship focuses on non‑economic losses, values‑based approaches, and locally led solutions, with a strong emphasis on ethical engagement, reciprocity, and sustained relationships. These roles involve extended periods of in‑country engagement, working alongside partner organisations and communities to co‑design, implement, and evaluate locally led initiatives. You will contribute to applied, participatory research and to the translation of research into policy and practice at community, national, regional, and international levels. This is an opportunity to build advanced applied research expertise, deep policy and practice engagement skills, and an emerging international research profile, while contributing to meaningful impact in one of the world’s most climate‑vulnerable regions. Key responsibilities will include: Undertaking high‑quality, applied and participatory research as part of a flagship ARC Industry Laureate Fellowship, focused on climate‑driven loss and damage in the Pacific, with a strong emphasis on locally led, values‑based approaches and non‑economic losses. Working in long‑term partnership with communities, governments, and regional organisations across the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu, including both short and extended periods of in‑country engagement (up to six months or longer), to co‑design, implement, and evaluate initiatives in ethical, reciprocal, and culturally grounded ways. Contributing to research outputs and impact, including peer‑reviewed and applied outputs, and supporting the translation of research into policy and practice through engagement with community, national, regional, and international stakeholders. Supporting a collaborative and inclusive research culture by contributing to the supervision and mentoring of research students and community researchers where appropriate, and undertaking service activities necessary to support effective Fellowship delivery. This is a research‑focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance. About You You will have completed, or be close to completing, a PhD in a relevant social science discipline, and bring strong skills in applied, qualitative, and participatory research. You will be committed to reflexive, culturally grounded research practice, with experience working ethically and respectfully in Indigenous and/or community‑led contexts. An emerging research profile appropriate to career stage, alongside the capacity or strong interest in translating research into policy and practice, is essential. You will have experience working in partnership with communities, governments, civil society organisations, or development partners, ideally through long‑term, embedded engagement in Pacific Island contexts or comparable Indigenous or community‑led settings. Strong relational and cross‑cultural communication skills, the ability to work productively in collaborative and transdisciplinary teams, and willingness to undertake extended periods of in‑country research engagement are critical for success in this role. About UQ As part of the UQ community, you will work alongside inquisitive and ambitious colleagues from around the world in an environment that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, research excellence, and real‑world impact. UQ offers world‑class facilities, strong research development support, and genuine opportunities to build an international academic profile. UQ is a Group of Eight university and offers a range of benefits, including recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, generous parental leave provisions, annual leave loading, access to exclusive internal career opportunities, and clear pathways for academic career development and progression. Interested? For further information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Karen McNamara at [email protected]. For application enquiries, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected], quoting the job reference number in the subject line. To apply, please upload a CV/resume, cover letter, and responses addressing the ‘About You’ section of the full position description. Other Information Pre‑employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, and other integrity and conduct requirements. Relocating from interstate or overseas? UQ may provide support with employer‑sponsored work rights and a relocation support package; however, upfront costs are expected to be covered by the successful candidate. More information about living in Australia’s Sunshine State is available here. We're 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’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [email protected] or calling +61 7 3365 2623. This Fellowship is explicitly designed as a Pacific‑focused, capacity‑strengthening initiative, reflecting UQ’s commitment to respectful, long‑term partnerships in the Pacific. In this context, we strongly encourage applications from Pacific Islander scholars, and from candidates with deep lived and professional experience in Pacific community and governance contexts. Candidates are encouraged to reflect on how their lived experience, regional knowledge, and relational capability align with the Fellowship’s Pacific‑focused, community‑embedded approach. Applications close Thursday 21 May 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R‑63502). The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million). Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries. UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way. UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work. For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.