Job Description

• Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)

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

• Collaborate on and develop world leading research in Food Engineering

• Be part of an organisation with a meaningful purpose and impact 

• Based at Long Pocket, Indooroopilly

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll 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.

As part of our commitment to research excellence, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and post-fellowship contracts via our UQ Amplify initiative.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. Not only do we have one of the largest PhD enrolments in Australia, but we have also made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

About This Opportunity 

In this role, you will seek to develop world leading research in Food Engineering and Sensory Evaluation of agri-food products in support of the development of premium foods and beverages.

As an early career researcher within the Centre of Nutrition and Food Science, QAAFI, you will provide leadership in

Food Science, Food Engineering and Sensory Science and will work collaboratively to support strategic and applied research projects, deliver impactful outcomes and strengthen engagement with industry partners and key stakeholders.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to engage in research to further your expertise and growing research profile to achieve national recognition in their discipline.  At this level it is expected that you will efficiently manage service and engagement roles and activities.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Research

• Develop a complementary research program within QAAFI to achieve national recognition and impact in Food Engineering and Sensory Evaluation.
• Produces quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing or exhibiting in national research journals, other appropriate refereed publications and conference publications, with a lead role in some outputs.
• Participate in or contribute as chief investigator role (often in conjunction with more experienced researchers) in applications for competitive research funding to support projects and activities, which includes actively seeking, obtaining and managing research funding.
• Work with colleagues in the development of joint research projects and applications for competitive research funding support.
• Contribute to progressing towards transfer of knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.
• Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies.

2. Teaching

• Where undergraduate and postgraduate teaching is undertaken achieve teaching quality as indicated by approved surveys and outcomes for students and improve or innovate where appropriate in response to feedback.

3. Supervision and Researcher Development

• Demonstrate a track record of the effective supervision of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students.
• Demonstrates personal effectiveness in supervision and management and development of researcher capability and skill.
• Facilitate engagement opportunities for Higher Degree by Research supervisees
• Effective lead and develop supervisee performance and conduct by providing feedback, coaching, and professional development.
• Manage 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.

4. Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate behaviours that align to the UQ values.
• Shows leadership of self and others through mentoring, 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.
• Effectively and efficiently manage 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.
• Actively pursue and develop external links and partnerships by cultivating relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.

This role is subject to The University’s Code of Conduct and is a research-focused academic position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

This is a Part-time, 50% FTE Fixed-term position through to 15th October 2024 at Academic Level B.

The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $104,579.67 - $124,187.99, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $122,358.21 - $145,299.95 annually. As this role is covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases – at least once a year.

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, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You  

• Completion of a PhD in Food Engineering or similar.
• A growing profile in research in Food Science, Food Engineering and Sensory Science.
• A developing reputation and track record of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.
• Evidence of successfully seeking, obtaining and managing external research funding involving food industry clients.
• A growing record of supervision of Honours and Research Higher Degree students to successful completion.
• Experience in meaningful internal service roles in conjunction with active contributions to external activities

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 A/Prof Heather Smyth – h.smyth@uq.edu.au

For application queries, please contact recruitment@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
   

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, or people with a disability. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to recruitment@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 31 October 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (R-31067). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for November.