Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Data Science and AI

• Part-time (0.5 FTE | 17.5 hours per week), fixed-term role until 30 June 2027 at Academic Level A
• Kingswood (Penrith) campus, with flexible working options
• Salary: $47,624 to $57,537 per annum, plus 17% Super and Leave Loading (pro-rata based on 0.5 FTE)

Advance data-driven research that improves the safety and reliability of rail systems.

The Opportunity
Western Sydney University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to contribute to cutting‑edge work in data science, signal processing and digital monitoring technologies. Based at the Kingswood (Penrith) campus, this part time role supports the SmartCrete CRC’s Intelligent Rail Infrastructure System, a major initiative aimed at enhancing defect detection and predictive maintenance across the railway network.

Working within the School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, you will design and refine monitoring strategies, develop machine learning and deep learning models, and generate advanced analytical frameworks to deliver robust, high‑quality insights for real‑world rail environments. Your work will be instrumental in supporting the creation and validation of algorithms used within digital twin environments to improve infrastructure health outcomes.

You will collaborate with academic teams, industry partners and SmartCrete CRC stakeholders to ensure research outputs are aligned with project milestones. You will also prepare publications, contribute to research dissemination, and support the supervision of higher degree research students.

What Success Looks Like

• Deliver thorough literature reviews that identify capability gaps and future monitoring opportunities
• Design and optimise instrumentation strategies and sensor configurations
• Develop and validate algorithms and modelling techniques for defect detection
• Produce high‑quality research outputs, including reports, manuscripts and conference papers
• Build strong working relationships with academic and industry partners

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• PhD in engineering, data science or related fields
• Demonstrated research capability supported by peer‑reviewed publications
• Experience in machine learning, signal processing or structural health monitoring
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively
• Ability to contribute to HDR and Honours student supervision

Benefits
We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Beyond a rewarding career, we offer a suite of benefits designed to support your physical, financial, and family wellbeing:

• Fitness Passport: Access hundreds of gyms and pools across the state through salary-packaging options.
• Onsite Childcare: Convenient facilities with exclusive staff discounts and salary packaging options.
• Financial Benefits: Salary sacrifice options for onsite parking and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Holistic Support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) along with discounted retail and private health cover.

Application Details

• Position Enquiries: Direct enquiries to Associate Professor Maria Rashidi M.Rashidi@westernsydney.edu.au. Please include job reference REF10371 in your email.
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Friday 17th April 2026.
• Working Rights: You must provide evidence of your fulltime working rights in Australia for the full term of the appointment at time of application.
• How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered.

Belonging at Western
We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact talentacquisitionteam@westernsydney.edu.au.

About Western
This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.

All ongoing and fixed term employees seeking to apply for this position as a secondment must have completed a minimum of 12 months’ full-time continuous service to be eligible to apply for this role, as per Part D of the Recruitment and Selection Policy.

In accordance with section 45.4 of the Academic Staff Agreement 2022, Casual academic staff are eligible to apply for appointment if they have been employed at Western Sydney University as a casual employee for at least two teaching sessions in the last 24 months.