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RMIT University Research Fellow 2026: Apply for the Technology Adoption & Social Change Position in Melbourne, Australia

Ling Peng
RMIT University Research Fellow 2026
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RMIT University is inviting applications for an exciting Research Fellow in Technology Adoption & Social Change position based in Melbourne, Australia. This four-year, full-time research appointment offers an opportunity for an appropriately qualified social sciences researcher to contribute to multidisciplinary research examining how people, workplaces and communities interact with emerging sensing technologies, artificial intelligence and complex data environments.

The successful applicant will join the Technology Adoption and Social Change (TASC) program within the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Intelligent Contaminant-Sensing in Complex Environments (IC-SensE). The position brings together social science, technology, artificial intelligence, industry collaboration and human-centred research, making it particularly relevant to researchers interested in the societal implications of emerging technologies.

Based primarily at RMIT University’s Melbourne CBD campus, the Research Fellow will conduct and contribute to high-quality research exploring consumer and workforce adoption of sensor technologies. The researcher will work alongside multidisciplinary academics and industry partners while investigating issues including socially responsible technology design, user experience, data security, trustworthy representation of data and AI-enabled workplace practices.

Applications for the RMIT University Research Fellow position close on 15 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

About the RMIT University Research Fellow Position

The Research Fellow, Technology Adoption & Social Change position is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for four years.

The successful candidate will be situated within RMIT University’s School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, which forms part of the University’s College of Design and Social Context. The Research Fellow will also have an affiliation with RMIT’s Centre for Human-AI Information Environments.

This institutional setting provides an interdisciplinary environment in which the successful researcher can contribute social science expertise to research involving technological innovation, artificial intelligence, sensing systems, workplaces, consumers and society.

Key employment details include:

Although the role is based at RMIT’s Melbourne CBD campus, the successful candidate may be required to work at or be based at other RMIT University campuses when necessary.

What Is the Technology Adoption and Social Change Program?

The Technology Adoption and Social Change (TASC) program is part of the broader IC-SensE research initiative.

TASC investigates how consumers and workers adopt and experience sensing technologies, with particular attention to the human and social dimensions of technological change.

Rather than examining sensing technologies exclusively from an engineering or technical perspective, the program uses human-centred social research methodologies to understand what happens when technologies enter workplaces, industries and people’s everyday experiences.

The program therefore addresses questions surrounding the relationship between technological innovation and society.

Areas examined through the program include:

The Research Fellow will play an important role in developing research that can help researchers, industries and other stakeholders understand these issues.

About the ARC Research Hub IC-SensE

The ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Intelligent Contaminant-Sensing in Complex Environments (IC-SensE) is a multidisciplinary research initiative focused on developing human-focused sensing technologies integrated with artificial intelligence.

IC-SensE received $4.75 million in funding through the 2025 round of the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program scheme.

The Hub focuses on technologies capable of supporting the real-time assessment of contaminants and helping predict potential hazards before they occur.

This means its work extends beyond simply detecting contaminants. By combining sensing technologies with artificial intelligence, researchers aim to create systems capable of generating timely information that could help anticipate and manage potential risks.

At the same time, IC-SensE recognises that successful technology development and deployment involves more than technical capability.

New sensing and AI technologies ultimately interact with people, workplaces, organisations and communities. Questions surrounding trust, adoption, usability, security, ethics, social responsibility and workplace practices can therefore become central to whether new technologies achieve meaningful impact.

This is where the TASC program and the Research Fellow position become particularly important.

Learn more at https://icsensehub.org.au/

A Multidisciplinary Research Environment

IC-SensE brings together researchers from Australian and international universities alongside industry leaders.

Participating researchers represent fields including:

Industry engagement spans areas such as:

Within this broad interdisciplinary environment, the TASC team contributes social science expertise and examines the human and social implications of sensing technologies across different contexts.

The team is led by social scientists who collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to understand workplace and consumer experiences of technology adoption.

For the successful Research Fellow, this creates an opportunity to conduct social science research while collaborating with experts working across technology, AI, engineering, health and other disciplines.

What Will the Research Fellow Do?

The successful candidate will lead and contribute to high-quality research within the Technology Adoption and Social Change program.

An important component of the position involves examining the adoption of sensor technologies from a human-centred perspective using social research methodologies.

The Research Fellow will work collaboratively with researchers from different academic disciplines as well as industry partners.

Research areas may include:

  1. Socially Responsible Design

    The researcher may examine how sensing technologies can be designed and introduced in ways that recognise social needs, responsibilities and consequences.

  2. User Experience

    Understanding how workers, consumers and other users interact with technologies is central to successful adoption. The Research Fellow may investigate people’s experiences, expectations, concerns and responses when engaging with sensing systems.

  3. Data Security

    Sensor technologies can generate significant amounts of information. Research within the program can therefore involve questions surrounding the security and responsible management of data.

  4. Trustworthy Data Representation

    Producing data is only one part of a technological system. People also need to understand and appropriately interpret information generated by technologies. The Research Fellow will contribute to research concerning trustworthy ways of representing and communicating data.

  5. AI-Enabled Work Practices

    As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into workplaces, researchers need to understand how it affects workers, organisations and established professional practices.

    The TASC program provides an environment for examining these changing relationships between people, AI and work.

Research Outputs and Academic Responsibilities

The Research Fellow will be expected to contribute to RMIT’s broader research performance.

The successful candidate will develop productive research networks and generate high-quality research outputs.

Responsibilities are expected to include activities such as:

The position therefore combines independent research with teamwork, stakeholder engagement, research translation and academic collaboration.

Research With Practical Economic, Environmental and Societal Impact

One of the notable aspects of the position is its emphasis on translating academic findings into accessible and actionable outcomes.

The successful applicant will not only be expected to produce academic research but also to consider how research findings can generate wider value.

IC-SensE aims to ensure that its projects benefit participating universities and industry partners while creating broader impacts for:

This makes research translation an important element of the Research Fellow’s responsibilities.

Applicants with experience communicating research beyond traditional academic audiences may therefore find this aspect of the role particularly relevant.

Mandatory Academic Qualification

RMIT University identifies one mandatory academic requirement for the position:

Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant social sciences research field.

Candidates who do not meet this mandatory requirement should carefully review the official position description before applying.

Because the program examines technological adoption from a social and human-centred perspective, the position requires strong social science research expertise rather than solely technical expertise in sensing technologies or artificial intelligence.

Research Experience and Track Record Required

Successful applicants should demonstrate an emerging track record and recognition for producing quality research outputs capable of contributing to RMIT’s existing high-performing research teams.

Evidence may include:

The wording of the position indicates that RMIT is looking for someone capable of contributing meaningfully to established research teams while continuing to develop their own research profile.

Qualitative and Social Research Methodology Experience

Applicants should have demonstrated experience designing and conducting qualitative research.

The role particularly emphasises interdisciplinarity and social sciences methodologies aligned with the work of the IC-SensE Hub.

Relevant methodological experience may include:

Applicants should clearly demonstrate their methodological capabilities when addressing the Key Selection Criteria.

Where possible, candidates should provide concrete examples of previous research projects, their methodological responsibilities, the research questions addressed and the resulting outputs or impact.

Industry, Government and Community Engagement

The position is not limited to university-based research.

RMIT is seeking candidates with experience engaging with industry, government or community stakeholders through collaborative research projects and/or research translation activities.

Applicants should therefore consider highlighting previous experience involving:

The ability to communicate effectively with people outside the candidate’s immediate academic discipline is particularly valuable in a multidisciplinary research hub.

Independent and Collaborative Working Skills

The successful applicant must be capable of working independently while also contributing effectively to teams.

The position requires someone who can:

This balance is particularly important because IC-SensE incorporates researchers from several academic fields and collaborates with multiple industry sectors.

Competitive Research Funding Experience

Candidates should have experience applying for competitive research funding and successfully managing research projects.

Applicants preparing their application may therefore want to provide specific evidence of involvement in:

Applicants do not necessarily need to restrict examples to projects for which they were the sole lead researcher. Where appropriate, they can clearly explain their individual contribution to collaborative applications and funded research projects.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities are essential for the Research Fellow position.

RMIT specifically seeks candidates capable of confidently and effectively working with:

Strong scholarly communication practices are also required.

The successful applicant may be expected to communicate complex research findings to audiences with different levels of technical and academic expertise.

Opportunity to Work at the Intersection of Social Science and Artificial Intelligence

One particularly interesting feature of this position is the opportunity to contribute to research at the intersection of social science, sensing technology and artificial intelligence.

The Research Fellow will be affiliated with RMIT’s Centre for Human-AI Information Environments, in addition to being based within the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies.

This provides an environment for examining not only whether technologies function effectively, but how people understand, trust, adopt and experience them.

For researchers interested in the social dimensions of AI, human-centred technology, responsible innovation and changing workplace practices, the position offers a substantial four-year research appointment within an interdisciplinary program.

Salary, Superannuation and Working Arrangements

The Research Fellow position is classified at Academic Level B.

In addition to the applicable Academic Level B salary, the successful candidate will receive 17% superannuation.

RMIT also states that flexible working arrangements are available.

Applicants should consult the official RMIT vacancy and associated position description for complete employment conditions and the applicable salary information.

Location: Melbourne, Australia

The position is primarily based at RMIT University’s Melbourne CBD campus in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

However, RMIT notes that the successful candidate may be required to work and/or be based at other University campuses.

Applicants considering relocation should independently investigate practical matters such as Australian work rights, immigration requirements, accommodation and relocation costs where relevant. The supplied vacancy information does not state that visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is provided, so applicants should not assume that either benefit is available unless confirmed directly by RMIT.

Pre-Employment Checks

Appointment to the position is subject to required background screening.

RMIT states that appointment is subject to passing:

From 1 January 2026, RMIT also considers gender-based violence risk factors as part of its recruitment processes.

Applicants are required to complete a gender-based violence declaration in accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

Preferred candidates will also be required to undertake relevant pre-employment background checks.

RMIT University’s Equal Opportunity Commitment

RMIT describes itself as an equal opportunity employer and a child-safe organisation.

The University states that it is committed to attracting, retaining and developing people regardless of:

Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, with RMIT particularly encouraging applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

RMIT also actively supports and encourages people with disability to apply and provides support for adjustments throughout recruitment, selection and employment.

Candidates requiring adjustments during the recruitment process can contact RMIT’s talent support service using the contact information provided on the official vacancy.

RMIT is also a Circle Back Initiative Employer, meaning it commits to responding to every applicant.

How to Apply for the RMIT Research Fellow Position

Applications must be submitted through the official RMIT University recruitment system.

Candidates are instructed to submit:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. Covering letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria

Applicants should pay particular attention to the requirement to address the Key Selection Criteria.

Rather than submitting a generic cover letter, candidates should use their application to demonstrate how their qualifications, research experience, methodological expertise, funding experience, stakeholder engagement and communication abilities correspond to the requirements of the position.

Where appropriate, applicants can support their claims with specific examples from previous research projects.

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What Should Applicants Highlight in Their Cover Letter?

Because RMIT specifically requests a covering letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria, candidates should ensure their application provides clear evidence of their suitability.

Depending on their experience, applicants may want to address:

Applicants should ensure that all statements are accurate and supported by their actual experience.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications is:

15 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Prospective candidates should aim to submit their application well before the deadline to allow sufficient time to complete the online application, upload the required documents and address the Key Selection Criteria thoroughly.

Applications should be made through RMIT University’s official careers portal.

Further Information and Contact

Candidates who require further information about the position can contact:

Lisa Given
Enabling Impact Platform Director, Social Change
RMIT University
Email: lisa.given2@rmit.edu.au

Applicants should also review the official Research Fellow Position Description available through the RMIT University vacancy page before applying.

Additional information about the IC-SensE Research Hub is available through the Hub’s official website.

Why This Research Position Is Significant

The RMIT University Research Fellow in Technology Adoption & Social Change position provides an opportunity to investigate one of the increasingly important questions surrounding technological innovation: how emerging technologies interact with people and society.

Sensor systems and artificial intelligence can offer substantial technical capabilities, but successful adoption depends on more than technological performance.

Workers and consumers need to understand technologies. Organisations must consider responsible implementation. Data must be managed and represented appropriately. Users need to determine whether systems are trustworthy. Workplaces must adapt to new AI-enabled practices.

These human and social questions sit at the heart of the TASC program.

For an appropriately qualified social sciences researcher, the four-year appointment offers an opportunity to investigate these issues while participating in a multidisciplinary ARC-funded research environment connecting universities and industry.

Conclusion

Applications are now invited for the RMIT University Research Fellow, Technology Adoption & Social Change, ARC Research Hub IC-SensE position in Melbourne, Australia.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research environment focused on the intersection of sensing technology, artificial intelligence, social research and human-centred technology adoption. Working within the Technology Adoption and Social Change program, the Research Fellow will contribute to research concerning socially responsible design, user experience, data security, trustworthy data representation, AI-enabled work practices and the broader societal implications of emerging sensing technologies.

Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent in a relevant social sciences research field and should demonstrate strong qualitative and social research capabilities, an emerging record of quality research outputs, experience with research funding and project management, stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to work effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

The appointment is full-time and fixed term for four years, classified at Academic Level B, with 17% superannuation and flexible working arrangements. The position is primarily based at RMIT University’s Melbourne CBD campus.

Interested researchers should prepare a CV and a carefully written covering letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria and submit their application through RMIT University’s official recruitment portal.

Application Deadline: 15 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Candidates are strongly advised to read the complete position description and official vacancy information before submitting their application.

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