About This Opportunity

Are you a talented researcher ready to make a real impact on understanding hail hazards in Western Europe? We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to play a leading role in an AXA Research Fund supported project, focusing on France, Switzerland, and Northern Italy. You will contribute directly to two key objectives: creating the first complete radar-based hail climatology for the region, mapping hail swaths for individual events over a decade of observations, and designing, developing, and training geostationary satellite-based hail retrievals. Your work will provide critical insights into hail hazards and support improvements in forecasting and risk assessment.

Throughout your appointment, opportunities will become available to gain some teaching experience and to supervise and mentor research degree students. You will collaborate closely with international researchers at AXA, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, MeteoSwiss, and regional weather services in Northern Italy, expanding your research network and building a strong professional profile while contributing to a high-impact, globally relevant project.

Key responsibilities will include:

Research

• Conduct high-quality research by collecting and processing weather radar data for Western Europe and estimate hail footprints at high spatial and temporal resolutions.
• Develop a comprehensive radar-based hail climatology for France, Switzerland and Northern Italy, including hail swaths per event across more than a decade.
• Design, develop and train geostationary satellite-based hail algorithms using the radar-based hail climatology. Produce quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing in high-quality peer-reviewed journals, and contribute to project reporting requirements as needed.
• Participate in the development of joint research projects and applications for competitive research funding, in collaboration with colleagues and external partners.
• Contribute to the translation of research outcomes to end users, including potential commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.
• Review and apply best-practice research methodologies in geospatial data science and climatology.
• To actively engage with all research partners and to organise and lead regular meetings with AXA scientists and researchers.

About You

• PhD in Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Physical Geography, Physics, Mathematics or related discipline.
• An emerging research profile in radar meteorology and satellite data analysis.
• Demonstrated high-level experience in processing of weather radar and satellite data.
• Demonstrated high-level experience in machine and/or deep learning applied to geospatial data.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of HPC and handling of very large datasets.
• Experience in software development and contribution to packages in the area of geospatial data science.
• Evidence of innovation in research with high-level skills in numerical data analysis and presentation of data.
• A track record of publishing in reputable, peer reviewed scientific journals.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Experience in liaising and collaborating with external agencies to develop co-operative research initiatives.
• A good team player with an ability to establish effective professional relationships and to represent and promote academic discipline at a university and wider community level, including industry, government and professional bodies.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, education check. 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.