employment fact sheet

Taupo

GNS Science, Te Pū Ao, is a and ’s leading provider of Wellington Earth and geoscience research and consultancy services. Our core purpose is to understand natural Earth system processes and its resources, and translate these into economic and social benefits.

Who we are Facilities For over 140 years, GNS Science GNS Science operates from four New and its forerunners have had an Zealand sites located in Wellington, international reputation for first-class Taupo and Dunedin. Our facilities earth and isotope science research. include well-equipped laboratories; Although New Zealand is a relatively meeting and conference rooms; small country, it has a diverse a library on every site; and visitor geological landscape, located astride and staff parking. Research and an active plate boundary. This has consultancy activities are supported resulted in one of the world’s finest by commercial, word processing, natural laboratories to study earth computing and graphics services. processes. Employee Benefits Our commercial and research GNS Science benefits include activities enable us to identify and generous leave entitlements, income manage renewable and non-renewable protection insurance and a fair and resources including geothermal, oil transparent remuneration structure and gas, groundwater, and minerals. that is measured against clear criteria. We lead the way in understanding, Progression is based on performance managing, and mitigating the with a clear structure for planning your physical, economic and social future direction. Staff receive ongoing effects of geological hazards such as professional development and are earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides encouraged to attend international and tsunamis. Our radiocarbon conferences to update their skills and dating, non-invasive scanning, and maintain their collaborative networks. nanotechnology science is at the forefront of isotopic and materials Number of Employees research. The National Isotope Centre Over 340 Staff is closely involved in investigating climate change, utilising our world- class ice core facility. our culture

GNS Science employs highly qualified staff, with 70 percent holding either PhD or Masters degrees. We are proud of our diversity with over 30 percent of our staff coming from countries other than New Zealand. We offer a relaxed and friendly workplace that values commitment, initiative and excellence. Much of the research and consultancy activities are undertaken in teams and collaboration is actively encouraged. Bill Fry seismologist tectonophysicist

As a seismologist with GNS, my job is to employ science to understand current and future natural hazards in New Zealand. The plate tectonic setting of New Zealand makes it an exciting place for this type of research. We have no paucity of tectonics in action, ranging from earthquakes, tsunami, and landslides all the way to active volcanoes! This wealth of tectonic activity also makes the landscape of New Zealand a prime living destination for people interested in outdoor pursuits.

Giuseppe Cortese marine geologist

While working at a German polar institute, with my office window overlooking the big tidal flat that is the Weser estuary into the North Sea (think mud, more mud, and then some more), I read a job description for a position at GNS that contained exactly what I was doing there (microfossil-based paleoclimate reconstructions). Geologists usually are quite happy with mud, and I make no exception, but I’ll never regret the shift in scenery and moving to New Zealand (the furthest one can get from my native Italy, which is a bonus if you like to travel and experience new cultures and places as much as I do).

Xochitl Morgan molecular microbiologist

After years as a graduate student who spent all day in lab and seldom saw the sun, I applied to GNS because I was intrigued by the job ad which declared, “Must be willing to do field work.” I find it a great pleasure to work with such helpful, capable, smart people, and I enjoy never doing the same thing two days in a row. It is not unusual for me to extract DNA from an uncharacterized bacterial phylum, isolate new species of microbes, maneuver a four-wheel drive up and down muddy hills, and hike through beautiful old forests to bioprospect in an eruption crater over the course of a week. My job requires me to program computers and also to climb fences.

Kim Wright natural hazards scientist

From physical geography to social science, my career has evolved from studying the physical processes of natural hazards to understanding the social, political, and economic reasons behind why disasters occur. I began my career at GNS in 2004 as a Summer Technician researching landslides while studying for my Masters. Four years later I now work as a Social Scientist, with external emergency management agencies, land use planners, and geologists and geographers. We’re a very diverse and social team! Through my job at GNS Science I get to see some great parts of the country, while living in wonderful Wellington; a cycling, tramping and camping paradise.

Vivian Fang nanoelectronics scientist

I stepped into Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in 1999, during the 1st year of my PhD study. It’s sometimes exciting and frustrating to explore the tiny world in nanosize. I used to work as an Associate Professor before I joined GNS Science. I really like my job at GNS especially the friendly working surroundings. To synthesise different nanostructures and thereafter test their physical & chemical properties is the basis of what I do at GNS. I hope I can contribute to the future commercial application of our nanostructures. areas of scientific research geology nanotechnology earthquake and geological includes: structure, paleontology includes: ion beam implantation, engineering and stratigraphy, sedimentary nano-device development includes: material properties, slope and petroleum geology, physical environmental biology instability, microzoning, engineering volcanology, igneous and performance metamorphic petrology, mineralogy, includes: taxonomy, biodiversity, geomorphology, sediment transport biostratigraphy, geomicrobiology information technology geophysics time-varying geospatial includes: systems programming, applications programming, software includes: seismic, geopotential data management and maintenance, hardware maintenance, (gravity, magnetics) and visualisation internet protocol telephony, database electromagnetic sounding, includes: GIS mapping, spatial data management (acquisition, processing, seismology, geodesy, heat-flow, management, software development storage, dissemination) hydrogeology, hazard monitoring mathematical modelling social and economic geochemistry includes: analytical and numerical sciences includes: organic and inorganic methods (grid based, cellular includes: human behavioral research, analysis and tracing, mineralogy, automaton, and closed form), land-use planning, warning response hazard monitoring optimisation, computer programming effectiveness, evidence-based policy isotopic sciences including parallel computing advice, cost-benefit analyses includes: radiometric dating, stable isotope analysis, ion beam and radiation technologies employment opportunities immigration useful websites

Please visit our website to view current GNS Science can sponsor prospective New Zealand Immigration Service: vacancies employees to enter New Zealand on www.immigration.govt.nz http://www.gns.cri.nz/careers/ a Talent Visa. Provided that medical New Zealand Meteorological service: Or email our human resources team at and security clearances have been www.metservice.co.nz [email protected] obtained acquiring a Talent Visa Real Estate: should be a relatively simple process www.realestate.co.nz as these visas receive priority Royal Society of New Zealand: processing. For those with partners www.rsnz.org and children, work and student visas Te Ara Encyclopedia: are also generally straight forward to www.teara.govt.nz obtain. Wellington City Council: As an Accredited Employer under www.wellington.govt.nz the Talent Visa Policy we are also a Hutt City Council: participant in the Work to Residence www.huttcity.govt.nz Programme. This programme gives Taupo District Council: Talent Visa holders a reasonable www.taupodc.govt.nz expectation that as long as they Dunedin City Council: meet health and character (security) www.cityofdunedin.com requirements and work for GNS for two years, they will be eligible to apply Upper Hutt City Council: www.upperhuttcity.com for and receive permanent residence. Greater Wellington Regional Council: www.gw.govt.nz

Principal Location Other Locations

GNS Science National Isotope Centre Dunedin Research Centre Wairakei Research Centre 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon 30 Gracefield Road 764 Cumberland Street 114 Karetoto Road 5010 Lower Hutt 5010 Dunedin 9016 Wairakei 3377 PO Box 30368 PO Box 31312 Private Bag 1930 Private Bag 2000 Lower Hutt 5040 Lower Hutt 5040 Dunedin 9054 Taupo 3352 New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand T +64-4-570 1444 T +64-4-570 1444 T +64-3-477 4050 T +64-7-374 8211 F +64-4-570 4600 F +64-4-570 4657 F +64-3-477 5232 F +64-7-374 8199