Job Description

• School of Chemical Engineering 

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

• Research project on genome-scale modelling

• Part-time (0.6 FTE), Fixed term until 31/03/2024

• Visa sponsorship is not available

• Based at our St Lucia campus

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 

The primary purpose of this role is to engage as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer within the School of Chemical Engineering to support research being developed concerning genome scale modelling of the metabolism of bacteria useful in resource recovery.

The focus is to understand the optimal metabolic routes towards maximising the production of valuable compounds using different microbial strains. The role will involve genome-scale model building and curation, model validation, simulation studies, data analysis and scientific writing. Furthermore, experimental validation of metabolic models will also be performed, involving metabolomics, molecular techniques and bioreactor operation under aseptic conditions. You will be supported and guided by more senior academic research staff with the expectation of an increasing degree of autonomy over time.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Research

• 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.

• 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.

• Develop a coherent research program and an emerging research profile.

• Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies.

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.

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.

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

This is a part-time (60%), fixed-term position until 31 March 2024 at an Academic level A. The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $74,308.68 - $99,426.59, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $86,941.16 - $116,329.11 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 including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You  

• Completion of a PhD in the discipline area of bioengineering.

• Experience in developing and curating genome scale models.

• Experience in applying software tools enabling metabolic model simulation.

• Ability to analyse large datasets and provide critical insight into the underlying mechanisms of cells.

• Experience in the operation of fermenters under aseptic conditions for bioprocessing.

• Experience in molecular techniques and metabolomics, as well as integration of this data into metabolic models.

• Ability to prioritise own workload, work independently and meet deadlines.

• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and/or presentations at conferences.

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. 

• 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. 

 
Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Adrian Oehmen. 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 on Thursday, 2 November 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (R-31782).