James Cook University (JCU) is creating a brighter future for life in the Tropics and beyond, through education and research that makes a difference locally and globally.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Fellow, Applied AI for Forestry Weed Detection and Mapping to join our team at the College of Science and Engineering in the Academy Division.

Full-time and fixed-term for twelves months with the possibility of extension
Located at the Cairns Nguma-bada campus in Tropical North Queensland
ACAD Level A or B, depending on qualifications and experience $100,360.50 - $112,810.47p.a. + super and other benefits.

About the College of Science and Engineering

The College of Science and Engineering is a comprehensive provider of world class research and undergraduate and postgraduate programs in a range of science, technology and engineering disciplines.

As part of the Academy, the College of Science and Engineering promotes, supports and administers quality teaching, hands-on experiences, industry placements and research at JCU in the areas of Marine Biology & Aquaculture, Zoology and Ecology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Information Technology, Physical Sciences Engineering and Veterinary Science.

We are recognised globally for our excellence in research and we strive to ensure that we bring research directly into our classrooms. Our diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs are united by a commitment to excellent teaching, experiential learning opportunities utilising our world class infrastructure and natural laboratories, and a commitment to diversity and respect for difference.

Our postgraduate courses offer professionals opportunities to develop their abilities and advance their careers and our PhD program has launched a thousand research careers.

About the opportunity

This industry-sponsored research role offers an exceptional opportunity to work at the frontier of AI, robotics, and environmental sustainability. The successful candidate will help develop intelligent vegetation monitoring systems capable of detecting and identifying weeds in forestry plantations and mapping fire-prone vegetation from aerial imagery.

The project covers the entire innovation journey, from data collection and model development to real-world deployment. A major outcome of this position is the creation of an advanced AI system that will be integrated into an automated robotic platform to guide precision weed removal in forestry environments. This capability will directly support large-scale reforestation and sustainable land management.

Your work will contribute to practical, high-impact technologies that enable more resilient forests, improved seedling survival, and smarter fire-risk mitigation across Northern Australia.

AI Jobs in Cairns

Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Fellow, Applied AI for Forestry Weed Detection and Mapping