APPN Senior Phenotyping Analytics Manager

APPN Senior Phenotyping Analytics Manager

(HEO9)  $132,705 - $141,974 plus 17% superannuation | Full-Time

36 months Fixed-term Contract, with a possibility of extension if further funding is successful

Help shape Australia’s national plant phenotyping infrastructure and help make a tangible difference to research impact, farmer livelihoods and global food security.

The University of Adelaide leads the Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN), a national research infrastructure initiative established through the Commonwealth’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). APPN delivers cutting-edge imaging and data collection technologies for plant phenotyping, supporting research in controlled environments, field sites, and remote locations. The network consists of nine nodes strategically positioned across Australia’s diverse climate zones—spanning WA, SA, ACT, Victoria, NSW, and Queensland—and is hosted by eight leading universities and one state government department.

We are seeking a Senior Phenotyping Analytics Manager to join our dynamic team and contribute their unique skills to provide leadership in our central team and across our network of facilities in phenotypic image and data analytics. This role will develop and implement new analytical methodologies for data collected, playing a pivotal role in advancing our network’s ability to measure novel traits, supporting agricultural research, innovation and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership into phenotyping analytics methodologies, maintaining a comprehensive understanding of global research trends
• Develop new algorithms, either directly or via programs of research to be conducted by our APPN nodes
• Create and maintain a list of approved trait algorithms that are agreed by all APPN Nodes as agreed standards at any one time.
• Initiate and lead a process of review, updating methodologies in line with developing science or updates to infrastructure
• Propose acquisitions of new physical and software infrastructure to address a prioritised list of crop trait algorithm needs
• Lead the design and delivery of targeted training and development programs to support the upskilling of both skilled and junior analysts and staff
• Cultivate a collaborative network with phenotyping analysts working at APPN nodes to leverage existing experience and encourage alignment of approaches
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with partners across the agricultural and NCRIS community to maximise collaboration and align methodologies.

About You

You're a highly skilled leader in phenotyping analytics who is keen to join a collaborative network of facilities with cutting-edge phenotyping infrastructure and enjoy solving complex problems with a team environment. You are ready to take this leadership opportunity within a national project to deliver impact for the Australian research and agricultural community.

Selection Criteria

1. Substantial expertise in state-of-the-art optical sensors (e.g. RGB and& Hyperspectral sensors, LiDAR) for proximal or airborne plant monitoring along with their underlying physical principles. 
2. Substantial expertise in image processing particularly for multi-modal (hyperspectral, RGB, LiDAR) and high-dimensional data. 
3. Experience in programming languages relevant to technical applications, e.g.  Python, Matlab, R and corresponding image-processing software libraries. 
4. High quality interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to effectively engage with internal and external collaborators and other stakeholders, including the delivery of presentations to a range of audiences. 
5. Demonstrated experience to work independently, as well as to lead projects in an interdisciplinary team. 
6. Demonstrated ability to promote the organisational values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery, and a commitment to positively comply with the associated behaviour expectations. 

Desirable

• Track record of publication in internationally recognised journals/conferences 
• Experience in leveraging AI/ML methodologies for data-driven solutions. 
• Experience in statistical methods for unsupervised, supervised and semi-supervised data modelling. 

Qualifications:

Postgraduate qualifications in Remote Sensing, Computer Vision, Machine Learning or related field and extensive relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education and training.

The path to Adelaide University

We are on an exciting path to Adelaide University as we prepare to open our doors in January 2026. Adelaide University will combine the strengths of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, and we are dedicated to creating an accessible and future-focused educational powerhouse that fosters economic and social wellbeing through ground-breaking research and innovative teaching. You can learn more about Adelaide University HERE  and more information will be provided throughout the recruitment process.

 Enjoy an outstanding career environment

We offer a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaboration - offers you vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-calibre people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work's cutting-edge nature - not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework  and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

Learn more at: adelaide.edu.au/jobs

Your faculty's broader role

The Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology is a multidisciplinary hub of cutting-edge teaching and research. Many of its academic staff are world leaders in their fields and graduates are highly regarded by employers. The Faculty actively partners with innovative industries to solve problems of global significance. 

Learn more at: set.adelaide.edu.au

Richard DickmannChief Executive Officer, Australian Plant Phenomics NetworkE: [email protected]