Postdoctoral Research Associate - Australia's Climate Economy

The University of Sydney is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for a 3-year fixed-term role focused on mapping Australia's Climate Economy. The position involves interdisciplinary collaboration, fieldwork, and analyzing climate policies. Candidates should have a PhD in relevant fields and strong skills in qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The role is full-time, with a base salary starting at $109,301 plus superannuation, based in Marrickville, NSW.
• Full time (Part Time negotiable), Fixed term for 3 years
• Work with a team of interdisciplinary researchers and doctoral students building a conceptual and empirical map of the emerging Climate Economy in Australia
• Academic Level A, Base Salary from $109,301 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The School of Social and Political Sciences in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the School of Geosciences in the Faculty of Science at The University of Sydney are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on a joint project: The Climate Economy: Emerging Strategies for Australia.

This project explores Australia's emerging Climate Economy, investigating how climate change challenges conventional economic policy paradigms and redefines political economic concepts and practices. We want to understand how the pressures of climate change are reshaping governance, investment, and policy strategies in unexpected ways. Our approach highlights the hybrid nature of this new political economic configuration, where public and private actors are taking on new roles and producing new economic geographies, financial instruments are being reimagined, and economic and sociospatial outcomes must be measured in novel ways. By mapping and evaluating Australia's Climate Economy, we aim to provide new frameworks for understanding and democratising the economic policies that will define a climate-changed future.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to (1) mapping Australia's climate economy; (2) investigating critical climate infrastructures, and (3) developing strategies for democratic engagement and policy impact.

Key responsibilities include:
• mapping and budgeting Australia's Climate Economy by tracking institutional frameworks and financial flows related to climate policies and infrastructure investments
• engaging in fieldwork based on the above mapping exercise, which may include document discovery, participant observation, and interviews with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and civil society actors
• collaborating with the research team and external partners to analyse climate policy instruments and their impacts and publishing and presenting research outputs, policy briefs, and an independent review of Australia's Climate Economy
• assist in project management, ethics approvals, and dissemination activities.

About you
• a PhD in political economy, geography, sociology, public policy or cognate discipline
• strong understanding of climate policy, economic governance, and public-private financial arrangements
• methodological skills and experience in analysing qualitative and quantitative data, analysing and communicating data spatially and analysing policy documents, financial instruments and infrastructures such as investment vehicles
• an emerging research profile with demonstrated capacity for engagement with critical social theory
• skills and experience engaging policymakers or non-government organisations in research processes (desirable but not essential)
• demonstrated project management experience and ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
• sound written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills suitable to collaborating in an academic context.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

Visa sponsorship is available.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Lena Jiang, Recruitment Operations by email to lena.jiang@sydney.edu.au.

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Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Sunday 22 June 2025 11:59 PM