FaBA Postdoc Research Fellow in Milk Biochemistry (uq)

Job Description

• ­Food and Beverage Accelerator Program: Based in the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability (AGFS)
• Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50
• An exciting opportunity to conduct fundamental research on milk biochemistry
• Full-time position until end of 2026
• Based at St Lucia Campus

About UQ

Join UQ, a globally renowned institution fostering a vibrant academic community. Collaborate with brilliant minds from around the world in an interdisciplinary environment. Backed by world-class facilities, ample research funding, grant writing support, and post-fellowship contracts via our UQ Amplify initiative, UQ empowers research excellence. With a large PhD enrolment and commitment to accessibility, be part of a prestigious institution that empowers academics to thrive and make a lasting impact.

About the Food and Beverage Accelerator

Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) is a $160 million initiative to boost growth and innovation in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Part of the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Program, FaBA leverages $50m of government investment with more than $110m from universities and industry. Partners work across four areas: the research programs ‘Innovative Ingredients’ and ‘Premium Food and Beverage Products’, and the enabling programs ‘Innovation Pathways’ and the ‘FaBA Training Centre’.

A national initiative, FaBA provides F&B manufacturers access to research teams, next generation industry professionals, state-of-the-art equipment and pilot facilities. FaBA is proudly hosted by The University of Queensland, in collaboration with participants QUT, UniSQ and UniQuest.

About This Opportunity 

This is an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to focus their efforts on developing their expertise and emerging research profile in the discipline of food processing and biochemistry. The candidate will join the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability (AGFS) and collaborate closely with researchers in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and other divisions within UQ, as well other universities in FaBA.

We are seeking a driven, creative, and inventive researcher to join our team in the Training Centre program to harness the potential of dairy compounds, particularly the oligosaccharides, to produce new ingredients and foods which have enhanced nutritional properties. Naturally occurring milk components are known to enhance immune functions and support brain development for infants. This role will investigate addition of these to infant formula and adult nutritional products. The role will build on existing research activity in this area and will have scope to develop new avenues of research that are aligned with the Innovative Ingredients program in FaBA. At this level it is expected that the incumbent will contribute to service and engagement roles and activities.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Produce quality research outputs by publishing or exhibiting in high-quality outlets.
• Apply for competitive research funding to support projects and activities.
• Collaborate with colleagues in FaBA and the food industry on joint research projects and funding applications.
• Transfer knowledge and technology to research end users, including commercialising UQ intellectual property.
• Develop a coherent research program and emerging research profile, using best practice methodologies.
• Supervise Honours and Higher Degree by Research students effectively.
• Lead and develop supervisee performance through feedback, coaching, and professional development.
• Manage research support staff in accordance with University policy and procedures, resolving conflicts promptly.
• Demonstrate UQ citizenship values through collaboration and active participation in unit activities.
• Develop external links and partnerships with industry, government, professional bodies, and the wider community.

This is a full-time 100%), fixed-term position through to end of 2026.

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

At Academic level A, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range

$78,871.35 - $105,004.02, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $92,279.48 - $122,854.70 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  

Essential

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in food chemistry, food technology, biochemistry or related discipline
• An emerging profile in research in food chemistry or food processing.
• Experience with dairy processing, membrane filtration, biochemical techniques (HPLC, UPLC, HAPEC-PAD, HILIC-FLD, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS and ELISA) and food flavour/structure/texture analyses.
• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.
• Evidence of contributions towards successfully obtaining external research funding.
• Experience in research student co-supervision including Higher Degree by Research students.
• Some experience in meaningful internal service roles and contributions towards external activities

 Desirable

• Knowledge and experience working with milk oligosaccharides, infant formula and biochemical analysis of milk components.
• Knowledge and/or experience of food technology and food safety requirements in new food development.

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Nidhi Bansal at n.bansal@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
• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

Please note that you will be asked to add all documents into the one upload box labelled ‘resume’, which is step one of the application form.
 

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 our 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 17 July 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-40386). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the week commencing July 22nd 2024.