Job Description

• Sustainable Minerals Institute / JKMRC

• Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50

• Collaborate with highly awarded, world-class colleagues 

• Partner with people educating future generations & solving the world’s problems

• Based at our University Mine - Indooroopilly

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.

About the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC)

The Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) aims to be a world class provider of postgraduate education and innovative applied research in mineral processing and geometallurgy. JKMRC creates industry impact through applied research and knowledge transfer in mineral processing technologies.

The Centre has strong partnerships with industry – collaborating with stakeholders worldwide and has an outstanding reputation as an innovator in mineral processing techniques, evidenced by the widespread use of it research outcomes. For more information, please see the JKMRC website.

About This Opportunity 

This is an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to engage in research on the area of data analytics, modelling, machine learning and process control to further their expertise and growing research profile in their discipline.  The focus of this position is to provide practical data driven solutions to the mineral processing industry across a range of areas, including soft sensor development, dynamic modelling of mineral processing equipment, control strategy development and data analysis. Excellent technical computing skills and experience in the mineral processing sector is required.

Key responsibilities will include: 

1. Research

• Maintain and develop research expertise in the discipline of the assigned research projects within the area of data analytics, process control, and modelling for mineral processing

• Undertake research individually or as part of a project team

• Prepare research reports and presentations for sponsors

• Produces quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing or exhibiting in high quality outlets.

• Participate in applications for competitive research funding to support projects and activities.

• Experimental development and design, data collection, curation and data analysis

  View Orignal JOB on: postdocjobs.one

• Development, calibration, and validation of new dynamic models for the minerals processing industry

• Development, validation, and deployment of new soft sensors and their associated control strategies for the minerals processing industry

• Contribute to progressing towards transfer of knowledge, technology, and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.

2. Supervision and Researcher Development

• Contribute to the effective supervision of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students (as appropriate).

• Demonstrates personal effectiveness in supervision and the management of researcher development.

• Effective lead and develop supervisee performance and conduct by providing feedback, coaching, and professional development.

• As appropriate, manage research support staff effectively throughout the employee lifecycle in accordance with University policy and procedures.

• Working to promptly resolve conflict and grievances when they arise in accordance with University policy and procedures.

3. Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

• Shows leadership of self through collaboration and active participation in priority activities for the unit

• Provide support to other academic positions and unit operations as needed during other team members absences.

• Contribute to internal service roles and administrative processes as required, including participation in decision-making and service on relevant committees.

• Collaborate in service activities external to the immediate organisation unit.

• Begin to develop external links and partnerships by cultivating relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.

4. Other

Ensure you are aware of and comply with legislation and University policy relevant to the duties undertaken, including but not exclusive to:

• The University’s Code of Conduct.

• Requirements of the Queensland occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation and related OH&S responsibilities and procedures developed by the University or Institute/School.

• The adoption of sustainable practices in all work activities and compliance with associated legislation and related University sustainability responsibilities and procedures.

• Requirements of the Education Services  for Overseas Students Act 2000, the National Code 2007 and associated legislation, and related responsibilities and procedures developed by the University.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 2 years. At Academic level A. The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $77,324.85 - $102,945.12, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $90,470.08 - $120,445.79 annually. As these roles are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases in line with the Enterprise Agreement.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad:  from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You  

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in the discipline area.

• An emerging profile in research in the discipline area.

• Excellent programming skills in one or more languages (Python, MATLAB, C++)

• Experience in developing data analytics workflows and solutions

• Experience in using machine learning models

• Experience in delivering computational solutions to the mineral processing sector

• Experience in practical application of process control systems

• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

• Evidence of contributions towards successfully obtaining external research funding.

• Some experience in meaningful internal service roles and contributions towards external activities

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: Visa sponsorship may be available for this appointment.  

• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits. 

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We will support you with the visa sponsorship process and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Mohsen Yahyaei m.yahyaei@uq.edu.au. For application queries, please contact talent@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Resume

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section

Other Information 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion.  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with a disability, or age. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to talent@uq.edu.au.

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close Thursday 18 July at 11.00pm AEST (R-39322).