Postdoctoral Research Associate – Physics-Informed Learning and Optimisation of Windfarms Dynamics

• Full time fixed term for 1 year

• Join one of the world’s largest robotics research institutes

• Base Salary $109,263 - $121,054 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Australian Centre for Robotics and the Net Zero Institute at the University of Sydney, Australia. The successful applicants will work at Sydney with Prof. Ian Manchester and Prof Gregor Verbic, in collaboration with Prof Ben Thornber (Queens University Belfast, UK) and Prof. Dr Harald Köstler (Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen, Germany) on a project funded in part by the Australian Research Council.

The successful applicant will work with this team to develop new approaches to optimisation and control of large-scale windfarms in low-carbon electric power systems, taking into account wake interactions between individual wind turbines. The project focus is on how to generate and utilize reduced-complexity predictive models for windfarm control, from combinations of computational fluid dynamics and experimental data.

You will join the Australian Centre for Robotics (ACFR), at the University of Sydney. The ACFR is one of the largest robotics research institutes in the world, with over 140 members including faculty, research fellows, technical staff, and postgraduate students. The ACFR performs fundamental research on perception, control, modelling, learning, and systems engineering and has strong industry and scientific collaborations in sectors including mining, aviation, agriculture, manufacturing defence, and environmental resilience.

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Physics-Informed Learning and Optimisation of Windfarms Dynamics.

For this position the research activity is expected to develop new methods in robust and physics-informed machine learning, reduced-order modelling, and data-driven control. You will have:

• PhD (or soon to be completed) in physics-informed learning, neural operators, computational fluid dynamics, or a closely-related field

• a research track record, potential or demonstrated, of international standing

• strong mathematical and computational skills, and experience with machine learning tools and software libraries

• demonstrated expertise and research experience in physics-informed machine learning, reduced-order modelling, and/or prediction and control of fluid systems

• excellent written and verbal English communication skills

• demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and independently.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University.  Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. 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 LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum 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 Cherie Goodwin or Rebecca Astar, Recruitment Operations by email to [email protected]

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Applications Close

Thursday 21 May 2026 11:59 PM