Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Officer – Global Extractive Industries bei The University of Queensland

• Sustainable Minerals Institute / Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining

• Full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 12 months

• Base salary will be in the range $82,057.75 - $109,246.18 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level A)

• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity 

The Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM), part of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland, is looking for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Officer to join its world-leading team tackling the social challenges of global resource extraction.

This role offers early-career researchers the chance to work on high-impact issues like human rights, land use, conflict, and governance—within a collaborative, multidisciplinary, impact-driven environment.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Research:

  • Conduct high-quality, independent and collaborative research aligned with CSRM’s thematic areas.

  • Publish research findings in reputable journals and present at academic and industry conferences.

  • Contribute to the development of competitive research funding proposals.

  • Engage with stakeholders to translate research into practice, including policy analysis and field-based studies.

  • Develop a coherent research program that supports CSRM’s strategic objectives.

  • Apply best-practice methodologies in social research, including qualitative and mixed-methods approaches.
     

• Supervision and Researcher Development:

  • Support the supervision of Honours and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students.

  • Mentor junior researchers and contribute to their professional development.

  • Provide constructive feedback and guidance to research support staff and students.

  • Manage research support staff in accordance with University policies and procedures.
     

• Citizenship and Service:

  • Demonstrate behaviours aligned with UQ’s values and CSRM’s collaborative culture.

  • Actively participate in internal service roles, including committee work and operational support.

  • Contribute to CSRM’s professional development programs and bespoke training offerings.

  • Build external partnerships with industry, government, civil society, and community stakeholders.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad:  from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You 

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in social science, political science, human geography or a related field with a focus on resource governance, sustainability, or extractive industries.

• Experienced in independent research on social issues in resource extraction, with a strong record of publishing or presenting in academic and industry settings.

• Proven ability to lead research projects addressing social challenges in the extractive sector (e.g. land use, human rights, conflict, grievances, resettlement).

• Skilled in qualitative and/or mixed-methods research, including fieldwork and stakeholder engagement.

• Experience contributing to successful competitive research funding applications.

• Ability to translate research into practical insights for policy, industry, and community stakeholders.

• Experience supervising or mentoring Honours or HDR students, and supporting junior researchers.

• Strong collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholder groups.

• Commitment to CSRM’s mission, with a willingness to contribute to teaching, service roles, and team culture.

• Understanding of and adherence to relevant policies and legislation, including UQ’s Code of Conduct, OH&S, sustainability, and ESOS compliance.

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.

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Deanna Kemp [email protected].

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected], stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.
 

Want to Apply? 

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume

• Cover letter responding to the ‘About You’ section

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact [email protected].

Other Information 

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

Applications close Tuesday 2 September 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-54691). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the week commencing Monday 8 September.

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