Geoscience Australia's Graduate Recruitment Program

Adrian's Story

I joined Geoscience Australia after finishing a PhD that had involved applying an isotopic dating technique to Australia's arid landscapes. While I had really enjoyed doing the research, I found myself in the difficult situation of being overspecialised in an area that had few job prospects. I needed to branch out and get experience in other areas of geoscience, which made the graduate program perfect. It gave me the opportunity to work in projects well outside my area of expertise, and it also supported this with all the necessary training.

I started off in the Seabed Mapping Project looking into how statistics could help characterise the shape of different elements of the sea floor. This exposed me to working with large datasets, as well as giving me experience with image analysis and GIS software. I then moved into the Risk Assessment Methods Project where I looked into satellite-based volcano monitoring systems for our neighbours in PNG and Indonesia. Unfortunately, the technology is not quite ready to allow for early detection of volcanic activity, but I learnt how to develop new projects, and discovered the important role that Geoscience Australia has in assisting the countries in our region. My third rotation was in the Minerals Division, looking into Australia's mineral exports that contain low levels of radio activity. I had to present scientific advice to policy makers across various government departments, and it resulted in changes to the Australian international trade regulations.

After these three very different rotations I was offered a permanent position within the Minerals Division, where I am working on airborne geophysical data acquisitions, and their interpretation. I am enjoying continuing the learning experience, and I feel anything but overspecialised.