POSITION DESCRIPTION
School of Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty of Science
Research Fellow in Optimization and
Machine Learning of Flows in Complex
Networks
POSITION NO 0043594
CLASSIFICATION Research Fellow Level A
SALARY $66,809 - $90,657 p.a. (Level A PhD entry level $84,458 p.a.)
SUPERANNUATION Employer contribution of 9.5%
WORKING HOURS Full-time
BASIS OF Fixed term for a period of 2 years
EMPLOYMENT
OTHER BENEFITS http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/working/benefits
HOW TO APPLY Online applications are preferred. Go to
http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers, select the relevant option
(‘Current Staff’ or ‘Prospective Staff’), then find the position by title or
number.
CONTACT Name Antoinette Tordesillas
FOR ENQUIRIES ONLY Tel +61 3 8344 9685
Email atordesi@unimelb.edu.au
Please do not send your application to this contact
For information about working for the University of Melbourne, visit our website:
about.unimelb.edu.au/careers
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Position number 0043594 The University of Melbourne
Position Summary
This research position is part of a new research program in complex systems data analytics.
The program is a joint venture between the School of Mathematics and Statistics (M&S) of the
Faculty of Science and the School of Computing and Information Systems (CIS) of the
Melbourne School of Engineering. Broadly, this program seeks to strengthen the link between
mathematics, statistics and computer science in the area of complex systems data analytics.
Specifically, its mission is to contribute to the development of mathematical models and efficient
algorithms for data-driven characterization, modelling and optimization of networked complex
systems.
As part of this program, the Research Fellow is expected to undertake high level methodological
and theoretical research that is directed towards understanding, design and applications of
resilient networked systems. The research is multidisciplinary and the Research Fellow will be
expected to draw concepts and techniques from one or more of the following areas:
optimization, complex networks, dynamical systems and data mining/machine learning
techniques for analytics. Problems to be addressed may include: characterization and early
prediction of vulnerabilities, bottlenecks and failure in node/link-capacitated networks; network
redundancy optimization; and anomaly detection and explanation.
The Research Fellow will be based in the School of Mathematics and Statistics (M&S) and will
work closely with a multidisciplinary research team comprising Prof. Antoinette Tordesillas
(M&S), Dr. Benjamin Rubinstein (CIS), Prof. James Bailey (CIS), Dr. Charl Ras (M&S), and
some of their PhD students. This team has broad expertise in the analysis of data from a wide
range of real complex systems including infrastructure, communication and materials systems.
The successful applicant will report to Prof. Tordesillas (M&S).
1. Key Responsibilities
Conduct internationally competitive research and produce conference and seminar
papers and publications from that research.
Contribute ideas to the development and application of analytics tools for a diverse suite
of complex systems.
Contribute to the development and implementation of the data management plan,
including determining how data may be stored, backed up and archived.
Co-supervise, or where appropriate, supervise major postgraduate research projects and
minor undergraduate research projects within the position’s area of research.
Administrative functions primarily connected with his/her area of research
Subject to availability of funds, participate in professional activities including attendance at
conferences and seminars in the field of expertise.
Contribution to the preparation, or where appropriate, individual preparation of research
proposal submissions to external funding bodies.
Occupational Health and Safety (OH& S) and Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S)
responsibilities as outlined below.
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Position number 0043594 The University of Melbourne
2. Selection Criteria
2.1 E S S E N T I AL
Completion, or near completion, of a PhD in Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics
or an associated discipline. If near completed, submission of the PhD by the date of
commencement in the position.
Ability to code in Python, Matlab or R.
Demonstrated ability to undertake high quality research, with a sound publication record.
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and excellent time management
skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to work co-operatively in a multi-
disciplinary team environment and liaise with associates from diverse range of
stakeholders.
Ability to undertake and to initiate new research ideas and directions.
Ability to show initiative and work independently on day-to-day research activities
2.2 D E S I R AB L E
Experience in complex systems science
Evidence of, or potential in, honours and graduate student supervision.
A track record in the preparation of grant applications.
3. Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion
The University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a
workplace free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, bullying, vilification
and victimisation. The University makes decisions on employment, promotion and reward
on the basis of merit.
The University is committed to all aspects of equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion in
the workplace and to providing all staff, students, contractors, honorary appointees,
volunteers and visitors with a safe, respectful and rewarding environment free from all
forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, vilification and victimisation. This
commitment is set out in the University’s People Strategy 2015-2020 and policies that
address diversity and inclusion, equal employment opportunity, discrimination, sexual
harassment, bullying and appropriate workplace behaviour. All staff are required to
comply with all University policies.
The University values diversity because we recognise that the differences in our people’s
age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability and
background bring richness to our work environment. Consequently, the People Strategy
sets out the strategic aim to drive diversity and inclusion across the University to create
an environment where the compounding benefits of a diverse workforce are recognised
as vital in our continuous deserve to service for excellence and reach the targets of
Growing Esteem.
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Position number 0043594 The University of Melbourne
4. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
All staff are required to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of
other personnel who may be affected by their conduct.
OHS responsibilities applicable to positions are published at:
http://safety.unimelb.edu.au/topics/responsibilities/
These include general staff responsibilities and those additional responsibilities that apply
for Managers and Supervisors and other Personnel.
5. Other Information
5.1 O R G AN I S AT I O N U N I T
http://www.ms.unimelb.edu.au
The University of Melbourne's School of Mathematics and Statistics is one of Australia's
leading mathematics and statistics schools. It has achieved this status through the high
quality of its research and teaching programs. The School offers a wide range of subjects
to undergraduate and postgraduate students and is involved in aspects of community life
that impact on the interests of the School and the discipline.
The School of Mathematics and Statistics has a total of 57 continuing teaching and/or
research staff; 27 research only staff and consultants; 5 teaching specialists, 3 academic
specialists; and 12 support staff. The School has over 100 casual and honorary staff. In
2016, there were 88 Research Higher Degree and 78 Coursework Master of Science
students. Four members of the School staff and one Emeritus Professor are members of
the Academy of Science.
Infrastructure support for research and basic information technology facilities are provided
to all members of the department. Special facilities such as high end workstations and
salaries for research fellows are supported through individual competitive external
research grants. Members of the School have had considerable success at attracting
support from the Australian Research Council. The school hosts two ARC Centres of
Excellence, has one ARC Laureate Fellow, two ARC Future Fellows and two DECRA
Fellows.
It is one of the objectives of the University to develop and maintain a strong international
profile. In this context, members of the School have strong collaborative links with
colleagues in the United States of States of America, most countries in Europe and the
Asia-Pacific region.
5.2 BUDGET DIVISION
http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au
Science at the University of Melbourne is the most highly ranked Faculty of Science in
Australia.* Science is defined by its research excellence in the physical and life sciences
and is at the forefront of research addressing major societal issues from climate change
to disease. Our discoveries help build an understanding of the world around us.
We have over 150 years of experience in pioneering scientific thinking and analysis,
leading to outstanding teaching and learning and offer a curriculum based on highly
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Position number 0043594 The University of Melbourne
relevant research, which empowers our STEM students and graduates to understand and
address complexities that impact real world issues and the challenges of tomorrow.
We aspire to engage the broader community with the impact that Science has on our
everyday lives. Through the strength of our internships and research project offerings, our
students are provided opportunities to engage with industry partners to solve real-world
issues.
The Faculty of Science has over 50,000 alumni and is one of the largest faculties in the
University comprising seven schools: BioSciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences,
Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics.
The Faculty is custodian of the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute,
Office for Environmental Programs and home to numerous Centres.
Science manages more than $290 million of income per annum, with a staff base in the
order of 270 professional staff, and more than 580 academic staff.
We offer a range of undergraduate, honours, graduate and research degrees; enrolling
over 8,600 undergraduate and 2,440 graduate students. The Faculty of Science is the
custodial Faculty for the BSc (Bachelor of Science). The Faculty of Science is a leader in
research, contributing approximately $70 million in HERDC income per annum. The
Faculty of Science is highly research focused, performing strongly in the ARC competitive
grants schemes, often out-performing the national average. The Faculty of Science is
currently growing its competitiveness and standing in the NHMRC space.
The Faculty of Science provides community services and industry partnerships based on
a solid foundation of research in the pure and applied sciences. The Faculty has an
endowment of approximately $56 million. The annual income from the endowment
supports more than 120 prizes, scholarships and research awards.
*Figures from the latest available data for 2015, including published international rankings data.
5.3 THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne is a leading international university with
a tradition of excellence in teaching and research. The main campus in Parkville is
recognised as the hub of Australia’s premier knowledge precinct comprising eight
hospitals, many leading research institutes and a wide-range of knowledge-based
industries. With outstanding performance in international rankings, the University is at the
forefront of higher education in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
The University employs people of outstanding calibre and offers a unique environment
where staff are valued and rewarded.
Further information about working at The University of Melbourne is available at
http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers.
5.4 G R O W I N G E S T E E M , T H E M E L B O U R N E C U R R I C U L U M AN D
R E S E AR C H AT M E L B O U R N E : E N S U R I N G E X C E L L E N C E AN D I M P AC T T O
2025
Growing Esteem describes Melbourne's strategy to achieve its aspiration to be a public-
spirited and internationally-engaged institution, highly regarded for making distinctive
contributions to society in research and research training, learning and teaching, and
engagement. http://about.unimelb.edu.au/strategy-and-leadership
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Position number 0043594 The University of Melbourne
The University is at the forefront of Australia's changing higher education system and
offers a distinctive model of education known collectively as the Melbourne Curriculum.
The new educational model, designed for an outstanding experience for all students, is
based on six broad undergraduate programs followed by a graduate professional degree,
research higher degree or entry directly into employment. The emphasis on academic
breadth as well as disciplinary depth in the new degrees ensures that graduates will have
the capacity to succeed in a world where knowledge boundaries are shifting and
reforming to create new frontiers and challenges. In moving to the new model, the
University is also aligning itself with the best of emerging European and Asian practice
and well-established North American traditions.
The University’s global aspirations seek to make significant contributions to major social,
economic and environmental challenges. Accordingly, the University’s research strategy
Research at Melbourne: Ensuring Excellence and Impact to 2025 aspires to a significant
advancement in the excellence and impact of its research outputs.
http://research.unimelb.edu.au/our-research/research-at-melbourne
The strategy recognises that as a public-spirited, research-intensive institution of the
future, the University must strive to make a tangible impact in Australia and the world,
working across disciplinary and sectoral boundaries and building deeper and more
substantive engagement with industry, collaborators and partners. While cultivating the
fundamental enabling disciplines through investigator-driven research, the University has
adopted three grand challenges aspiring to solve some of the most difficult problems
facing our world in the next century. These Grand Challenges include:
Understanding our place and purpose – The place and purpose grand challenge
centres on understanding all aspects of our national identity, with a focus on
Australia’s ‘place’ in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, and on our ‘purpose’ or
mission to improve all dimensions of the human condition through our research.
Fostering health and wellbeing – The health and wellbeing grand challenge focuses
on building the scale and breadth of our capabilities in population and global health;
on harnessing our contribution to the ‘convergence revolution’ of biomedical and
health research, bringing together the life sciences, engineering and the physical
sciences; and on addressing the physical, mental and social aspects of wellbeing by
looking beyond the traditional boundaries of biomedicine.
Supporting sustainability and resilience – The sustainability and resilience grand
challenge addresses the critical issues of climate change, water and food security,
sustainable energy and designing resilient cities and regions. In addition to the
technical aspects, this grand challenge considers the physical and social functioning
of cities, connecting physical phenomena with lessons from our past, and the
implications of the technical solutions for economies, living patterns and behaviours.
Essential to tackling these challenges, an outstanding faculty, high performing students,
wide collaboration including internationally and deep partnerships with external parties
form central components of Research at Melbourne: Ensuring Excellence and Impact to
2025.
5.5 G O V E R N AN C E
The Vice Chancellor is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and responsible to
Council for the good management of the University.
Comprehensive information about the University of Melbourne and its governance
structure is available at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/governance
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