Senior Research Fellow in Mining Social Performance and Cultural Heritage

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology / Sustainable Minerals Institute

Full-time fixed-term position for up to 2 years

Base salary will be in the range $145,961.51 - $168,043.68 + 17% super (Academic Level C)

Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

Join a globally recognised and purpose-driven research environment where you will help create meaningful change at the intersection of mining, social performance, cultural heritage, and Indigenous engagement.

As a Senior Research Fellow within the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM), you will lead high-impact applied research programs, contribute to commissioned and industry-engaged projects, and play a significant role in the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Advancing Archaeology in the Resources Sector. Working alongside a collaborative and inclusive network of researchers, industry partners, governments, Indigenous organisations and communities, you will help shape leading practice and deliver research with real-world impact.

Key responsibilities will include:

Lead high-impact applied research by delivering commissioned and collaborative projects, securing research funding, publishing high-quality outputs, and translating research into practical outcomes for industry, government and communities.

Provide academic leadership through research training, teaching, professional development, supervision of HDR students, coordination of the UQ PhD cohort within the ARC ITTC, and mentoring of early-career researchers.

Build strategic partnerships by leading collaborations with industry, government, Indigenous peoples and research organisations, applying culturally appropriate and best-practice research methodologies.

Contribute to the Centre's success by fostering an inclusive research culture, demonstrating leadership and service, ensuring ethical and policy compliance, and supporting the strategic priorities of CSRM and the ARC ITTC.

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

About You

To be successful in this opportunity, you will bring:

Completion of a PhD in a relevant discipline such as archaeology or anthropology, with strong knowledge and experience in the Australian mining context.

Extensive experience in applied, industry-facing research, particularly in mining industry-engaged contexts and in Indigenous peoples-focused collaborations.

Established national profile in areas such as Indigenous engagement, employment and business development, and cultural heritage in the context of the mining sector research, with a developing international reputation.

Strong publication record, including peer-reviewed journal articles and applied research outputs (non-traditional research outputs), and co-authoring with scholars with diverse backgrounds.

Demonstrated experience in proposal writing, project management and delivery of complex applied research programs on time and on budget.

Proven expertise in mixed-methods research, including qualitative and quantitative analysis (e.g., interviews, focus groups, surveys, statistical analysis).

Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including industry, government, and community, including Indigenous peoples and their representative bodies.

Demonstrated contribution to supervision, mentoring, and research training.

Experience and a strong track record in securing and managing competitive and commissioned applied research funding.

Australian Research Council (ARC) – Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC)

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Advancing Archaeology in the Resources Sector is a 5-year, $18m investment to transform cultural heritage management in the resources industry. Led by Flinders University, the ITTC brings together three universities (Flinders University, The University of Queensland, Southern Cross University) and Partner Organisations (including mining companies, Indigenous organisations, and cultural heritage consultants) to train a new generation of archaeologists and mining leaders skilled in balancing mining impacts, cultural heritage and social responsibility.

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. 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, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Deana Kemp at csrmdirector@uq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume, cover letter, and responses to the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Other Information

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia and qualification checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

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.

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 talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close Thursday 6 August 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-66882).