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RESEARCH FELLOW
School/Centre
Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM)
Classification
Level A, Research Only
Responsible to
Energy Pipeline CRC Research Program Leader
Hours of Duty
Full-time (36.75 hours per week) and fixed term to 14 June 2018
Location of Work
Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
Vacancy closes
Vacancy reference number
More information
Sunday 10 May, 2015
150191
Professor Mike Yongjun Tan, Tel: +613 5227 2443
LIFE AT DEAKIN
Deakin University is proud to be recognised as an organisation that offers a friendly and supportive working environment. Our
staff are committed to genuinely making a difference to thousands of people's lives by contributing to excellence in their
education. We acknowledge the importance of providing a dynamic and diverse working environment and strive to offer variety
in day-to-day roles as well as various career and professional development opportunities to assist staff to grow and progress
their careers. Deakin University staff have the opportunity to interact with colleagues from a diverse range of cultures and
professional backgrounds, all who share a common interest in lifelong learning. Furthermore, our staff enjoy the physical
location and natural surrounds of our working environments, which they report as enhancing their job satisfaction.
Alongside our international and Australian partners, Deakin University operates on four main campuses; Melbourne Burwood
Campus, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong Waterfront Campus, and the Warrnambool Campus. We also have a location
in the Melbourne and Warrnambool CBDs as well as learning centres across regional Victoria.
The University may require staff to work at other locations outside their primary place of work.
WHY WORK FOR OUR UNIVERSITY?
Institute of Frontier Materials
Benefits of working at Deakin
LIVE the Future – Deakin University Strategic Plan
Version 1.1
PD Developed April 2015
POSITION PURPOSE
The Research Fellow will initiate and conduct research in the area of on Energy Pipeline Cooperative Research Centre (EPCRC)
projects entitled ‘Pipeline Condition Monitoring Sensors’ and ‘Cathodic Shielding & Corrosion under Disbonded Coatings’. This
position will focus on laboratory and field testing and analysis of corrosion, corrosion sensor and cathodic protection under the
effects of various environmental and materials factors. The Research Fellow appointee will work together with a team of
researchers and industry experts with knowledge spanning materials research and development through to innovative detection
at various levels of localised corrosion.
The Research Fellow is expected to contribute to the research output of the EPCRC and Deakin University.
This is a new fixed-term position funded by EPCRC.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
The appointee will work with support, guidance and / or direction from research only staff classified at Research Fellow (Level B)
and above and with an increasing degree of autonomy as the researcher gains greater skills and experience. The appointee will
be part of the research team within the IFM. The appointee will work with support, guidance and / or direction from EPCRC and
ACES Research Leaders.
ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The Research Fellow reports to the EPCRC Program Leader through the relevant Research Project Supervisors. The appointee
will collaborate and interact regularly with industry advisers, with students, other staff within the University, their peers in other
universities, both nationally and internationally, and with community, professional and industry organisations.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Research Fellow is expected to contribute towards the research effort of the University and develop his/her research
expertise through the pursuit of defined research projects relevant to the particular field of research. The appointee is
responsible for:
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Design, setup, operation and monitoring of laboratory and field corrosion experiments that simulate energy pipeline
environmental conditions. Determine the corrosion behaviour of energy pipeline as a function of key environmental,
surface coating and cathodic protection factors. Examine the spatial and temporal detail of corroded materials surfaces.
Periodically analyse and interpret results of long term laboratory and field corrosion sensor experiments.
Design, setup, operation and monitoring of laboratory and field experiments that test corrosion sensors’ performance for
corrosion monitoring and for measuring localised corrosion electrochemistry.
Uphold an active role in project direction and planning. Constructively contribute to a vibrant research team, including
participating with colleagues in developing and maintaining links and partnerships with industry and the wider community.
Actively take part in supervision of postgraduate students.
Publish scholarly papers in high quality international journals in the field.
Promote the activities of the EPCRC and the University within academic and professional communities locally and
internationally.
DUTIES
The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
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Manage the project on a day-to-day basis and engage in other related research projects.
Draft project progress reports. Contribute to scholarly research publications in top quality journals in the field of corrosion,
sensors for infrastructural health monitoring, and materials sciences and engineering.
Research Fellow
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Liaise with the research and industrial partners on the project. Participate in the development and/or maintenance of links
and partnerships with industry and relevant professional bodies and the community.
Contribute to research proposal development to provide funding for future research projects.
Contribute to the supervision of final year, honours and HDR students associated with the research project.
Monitor R&D literature and news in the energy pipeline industry, prepare newsletters for distribution to relevant industry
interest groups.
Perform administrative tasks commensurate with position responsibilities and contribute to processes that enable the
effective operation of the research group.
Attend appropriate staff development courses as the need arises and participate in the University's Performance Planning
and Review program.
Comply with the University’s Code of Conduct. Promoting and providing a safe working environment for students, staff and
visitors with attention to the requirements of relevant Occupational Health and Safety, Workers Rehabilitation and
Compensation, and Equal Opportunity Acts.
SPECIFIC EXPERIMENTAL / RESEARCH TASKS
The Research Fellow will initiate and conduct research on EPCRC projects entitled ‘Pipeline Condition Monitoring Sensors’ and
‘Cathodic Shielding & Corrosion under Disbonded Coatings’. This position will focus on laboratory and field testing and analysis
of corrosion under disbonded coaatings, corrosion sensors under the effects of various environmental, cathodic protection,
materials and mechanical factors.
LEVEL OF SUPERVISION AND INDEPENDENCE
Research is conducted independently, or as part of a team, in the context of frequent consultation with other team members
and with the responsible research investigators.
PROBLEM SOLVING AND JUDGEMENT
The Research Fellow is expected to exercise judgement on work methods and task sequences within standard practices and
procedures and to seek expert advice for work methods that fall outside the standard practices. Capacity to work independently,
to use initiative and to work well within a team setting is expected.
Capacity to work independently, to use initiative and to work well within a team setting is expected.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Research Fellow will be responsible for:
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Following safe work procedures and instructions.
Taking reasonable care for the safety of self and others.
Seeking guidance for all new or modified work procedures.
Ensuring that any hazardous conditions, near misses and injuries are reported immediately to a supervisor.
Participating in meetings, training and other health and safety activities.
Using equipment in compliance with relevant guidelines, without wilful interference or misuse.
Must cooperate with the University in relation to actions taken by the University in order to comply with the Occupational
Health and Safety and Environmental legislation.
In addition, research only academic staff are responsible for ensuring that an equivalent standard of environment, health and
safety is afforded to their students as is afforded to University staff generally. Research only academic staff are deemed to have
principal supervisory duty for undergraduate and postgraduate research student activities.
Research Fellow
SELECTION CRITERIA – ESSENTIAL
Qualifications
PhD (awarded or near completion) in Corrosion Science and Engineering or a closely related discipline. In addition,
demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas is essential: electrochemical sensors, localised corrosion
monitoring.
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Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Demonstrated ability to rigorously design experiments and to perform experiments under well-controlled energy pipeline
environmental conditions.
Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team particularly covering corrosion electrochemistry, corrosion science
and engineering.
Demonstrated skills in the coordination of data collection, data entry and analysis.
Demonstrated organisational skills including the demonstrated ability to maintain a high standard of laboratory and data
record keeping and a demonstrated ability to meet competing deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to liaise with (and or negotiate with) research clients. Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to
interact well with research and technical staff and students and excellent oral, written communication and presentation
skills.
Demonstrated personal qualities of innovation and high motivation. Demonstrated ability to work with minimum
supervision. Determination and ability to work to deadlines.
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SELECTION CRITERIA – DESIRABLE
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Experience in the operation of corrosion equipment and instrumentation such as electrochemical techniques in the
laboratory and in the field.
Demonstrated skills in the publication of research journal articles, conference papers, report, or professional or technical
contributions and / or demonstrated skills in the preparation of research manuscripts.
Experience in contributing to the supervision of undergraduate honours and / or research higher degree students.
Ability to perform in-depth and critical data analysis.
Relevant industry experience and understanding of the importance of working as a productive member of a team.
Demonstrated capability in project management.
Potential to provide academic supervision to postgraduate students.
Potential for contributing to research program development, including external grant applications.
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SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
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N/A
Research Fellow