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Postdoctoral Fellow - Floating PhotovoltaicsAdd expected salary to your profile for insightsSalary package: $112,550 Level A.6 plus 17% employer''s superannuation contribution and annual leave loading.Full-time, 3 year fixed-term appointment, commencing December 2026 until December 2029 (part-time may be considered for the right candidate) Based At Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus, North RydeWe are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join The Transforming Energy Markets (TEM) Research Centre, for a start date of December 2026!The RoleJoin a pioneering national research initiative aimed at accelerating the development of floating photovoltaics (FPV) in Australia, an emerging solution for sustainable energy generation that addresses landuse constraints and water management challenges.Working with Associate Professor Madeline Taylor, the Postdoctoral Research Fellow will be an integral member of a multidisciplinary team working on the research project "Novel Energy and Evaporative Storage Technologies for Irrigators (NEESTI)" funded by the federal Department of Agriculture Future Drought Fund.This project analyses regulatory, social, and policy opportunities to enhance drought resilience in five irrigated agricultural sectors by incorporating floating solar photovoltaics (FPV) on storage dams across cotton, sugarcane, pecans, wine grapes, and rice. Through fieldwork and comparative sociolegal analysis, the project will generate new knowledge on best practices integrating floating solar photovoltaics in irrigated farming contexts. The regulatory pathways pillar of our project will seize Australia''s FPV opportunity by establishing a robust legal framework and policy incentives to scale FPV deployment and adoption. The project seeks to generate robust knowledge to inform scholarly and policy discussions about the future of Australia''s floating photovoltaics sector.The role also involves contributing to the design and execution of research projects, including quantitative and qualitative analyses, modelling FPV integration with existing legal frameworks, and evaluating policy frameworks. The postdoctoral researcher will actively contribute to research publications, nonacademic outputs, media communications, and presentations, helping to establish Australia as a global leader in FPV innovation.In addition to their specific contributions to the Project, the fellowship is designed to offer the Fellow opportunities to build a mix of skills that will equip them to pursue an academic and/or public sector career.Some of your key responsibilities include:Conducting original research independently and as part of a team, focusing on sociolegal analyses, comparative analyses, fieldwork, and theoretical designAssist with the development of a framework and principles for floating photovoltaics legal models.Comparative legal research, including statutory and regulatory analysis across multiple Australian states and international jurisdictions.Policy analysis and evaluation, particularly energy, agricultural, and water regulation.Empirical research skills, including conducting, coding, and analyzing semistructured interviews.Capacity to identify regulatory barriers and propose feasible pathways for floating photovoltaics deployment.Assist in the development of materials for public engagement, conference presentations, and academic publications, including convening public facing briefingsDevelop policy reports and guides along with academic outputs.About YouWe are seeking sociolegal scholar with expertise and/or an interest in the energy transition and decarbonising agriculture. Candidates from diverse backgrounds in law, social science, humanities, and related fields are encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will be interested in working in a multidisciplinary team and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders.The successful candidate will play a key role in exploring and shaping regulatory pathways, environmental assessments, and social licence considerations for FPV projects, helping to unlock largescale deployment opportunities across Australian water bodies. The successful candidate will work closely with research, government, industry, and community stakeholders to identify barriers and develop strategies that balance energy innovation with environmental and social sustainability.About UsMacquarie Law School is a leading Australian institution focused on innovative, practical legal education and interdisciplinary research, preparing students to be critical thinkers and adaptable lawyers. The school emphasizes experiential learning, including clinical programmes and internships, and offers diverse double degrees to combine law with fields such as technology and commerce. It also promotes a collaborative environment for researchers to address realworld issues and advance the rule of law globally.The Transforming Energy Markets (TEM) Research Centre is a Macquarie University research centre focused on interdisciplinary research to facilitate the transition to a decarbonised energy future. The Centre conducts research on energy market design, regulation, analytics, and innovation, with areas of focus including the integration of renewable energy sources, hydrogen, smart meters, carbon credit markets, community impacts, and the legal and policy aspects of the energy transition.To ApplyTo apply for this position, please apply online by submitting your CV and a separate cover letter (no more than 3 pages) that demonstrates how you meet the following selection criteria:Demonstrated research expertise in energy regulation and/or sociolegal applications of energy and industry (prior knowledge of energy applications in the agroindustrial sector will be valued).Completed a PhD in any area related to regulation, social science, and/or geography, broadly defined, including humanities and social sciences;Advanced comparative legal and policy analyses skills;Empirical research skills, including semistructured interviews and workshops; andEvidence of the ability to conduct independent research and assume responsibility for the development and completion of research projects and publications.Rolespecific Enquiries: Please contact Associate Professor Madeline Taylor at [emailprotected].Applications Close: Wednesday 12th of November 2025 at 11:59pm (AEST)We welcome applications from international candidates.Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we reserve the right to progress or decline an application prior to the application closing date. We also reserve the right to close the advertisement early if a sufficient number of qualified applicants is received.Why work at MacquarieWe rank amongst the top employers in the Australian Workplace Employers Index, having recently earned a fivestar rating in the QS World Rankings with the highest rating for employability.Our prime location, we are walking distance from Macquarie University Metro Station and Macquarie Shopping Centre. Benefits on offer:17% SuperannuationSubsidised onsite parking optionsFlexible working optionsTraining and professional developmentDiscounted health insurance (Medibank)Employee Assistance ProgramSubsidised membership at the Sport & Aquatic CentreIf you''re already part of the Macquarie Group (MQ University, U@MQ, MQ Health, MGSM), you''ll need to apply through your employee Workday account. To apply for this job: Login to Workday and go to the Careers App > Find Jobs.A Place Where You BelongAt Macquarie, we believe diversity makes us stronger, inclusion drives our success, and belonging inspires us to do our best work. We are proud to foster a community where different backgrounds, identities, and experiences are valued, and where our people are empowered to thrive through supportive leadership, shared responsibility, and a deep commitment to genuine care and respect for our community. Find out more about our vision for a truly inclusive workplace in our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Framework.Flexible WorkAt Macquarie, we believe by providing flexibility in when, where and how work is done, we can support our staff to manage their personal commitments, while optimising their work performance and contributions to the University. See how we lead in flexible work to enable an outcome focused and inclusive workplace. To learn more about our culture and hiring process, visit our Jobs at Macquarie page.Unlock job insightsAI Job match analysis Salary match Number of applicantsMacquarie is a university engaged with the real and often complex problems and opportunities that define our lives. Since our foundation 54 years ago, we have aspired to be a different type of university: one unbound by ivory towers and sandstone walls. Rather, we are focused on fostering collaboration between students, academics, industry and society, encouraging all to traverse the boundaries of their own perspective and affect change.Macquarie is a university engaged with the real and often complex problems and opportunities that define our lives. Since our foundation 54 years ago, we have aspired to be a different type of university: one unbound by ivory towers and sandstone walls. Rather, we are focused on fostering collaboration between students, academics, industry and society, encouraging all to traverse the boundaries of their own perspective and affect change.To help fast track investigation, please include here any other relevant details that prompted you to report this job ad as fraudulent / misleading / discriminatory / salary below minimum wage.What can I earn as a Postdoctoral Fellow #J-18808-Ljbffr