About Data Science & Research Services Program’s Technology Development Team
AIMS is on a journey of technology transformation to equip our researchers to provide the knowledge needed to empower our decision makers. We are looking beyond traditional marine science to world-leading space and data technologists, next-generation sensors, artificial intelligence, machine-learning, robotics and autonomous systems. The Technology Development Team consists of engineering, technician and project management staff working across numerous hardware, software and systems projects.
About this opportunity
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Assistant to join our Technology Transformation team. In this exciting role, you’ll support the development, validation, and demonstration of the innovative ReefScan Digital Manta capability—an advanced technology designed to deliver traditional manta tow survey results directly from the ReefScan device. Working closely with the ReefScan Product Lead, you’ll contribute to a high-impact project that is transforming how reef health is monitored across the Great Barrier Reef.
As the ReefScan Research Assistant, you will provide research, data coordination, and analytical support for the Reef Joint Field Management Program (RJFMP) ReefScan Phase 2 project. You’ll play an important role in preparing, validating, and analysing survey data while supporting the production of reports, user guidance, presentations, and other project deliverables.
About you
You are a motivated and detail-oriented professional with a passion for research, data quality, and environmental science. You enjoy working with complex datasets, have a methodical approach to problem-solving, and are committed to producing accurate, high-quality work.
You thrive in a collaborative environment and are confident working with a range of stakeholders to coordinate information, resolve data queries, and contribute to shared project outcomes. Your strong organisational skills enable you to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain well-structured records.
Experience with ecological monitoring, image annotation, GIS, statistical or analytical software (such as R or Python), or marine and environmental research projects will be highly regarded but is not essential.
Key Selection Criteria
Essential
- Post Doc qualifications in marine science, environmental science, ecology, data science, geospatial science or a related discipline with demonstrated interest in and exposure to applied marine science, digital monitoring technologies and reef management outcomes; or equivalent relevant experience.
- Demonstrated advanced organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to plan, prioritise, and manage complex workloads while accurately collating, organising, quality-checking, and maintaining compliant and timely research or operational datasets.
- Demonstrated strong team-oriented professional skills, including self-awareness and interpersonal ability, fostering innovation and collaboration while leveraging extensive experience with spreadsheets, databases, and analytical tools to produce clear summaries, figures, tables, and other review-ready outputs.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully run established analytical workflows or scripts under direction and identify data issues, errors or inconsistencies.
- Demonstrated well-developed interpersonal and problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively across technical, field and data review teams, contributing constructively to critical analysis, collaborative problem solving and practical next-step planning.
Desirable
- Experience or coursework in coral reef ecology, marine monitoring, image-based survey methods, manta tow surveys or Crown-of-Thorns Starfish surveillance and/or experience with image annotation, ecological data classification such as ReefCloud, geospatial tools or analytical software such as R, Python, or QGIS.
- Experience preparing content for validation reports, user guides, technical summaries, presentations or stakeholder-facing communication materials.
- C Class Open Drivers Licence (or equivalent) or the willingness to obtain
Location: Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Salary range: AUD $104,291 to $114,730 per annum
Application deadline: August 16, 2026
