• Institute for Molecular Bioscience

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

• Collaborate with highly awarded, world-class colleagues

• Plan for your future with a generous 17% superannuation allowance 

• Work at our vibrant and conveniently located 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 

This is an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to focus their efforts on developing their expertise and emerging research profile at the Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, as part of the greater Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

At this level it is expected that the incumbent will contribute to service and engagement roles and activities.  

Key responsibilities include: 

1. Research

• Conduct chemical research into synthesis and characterisation of peptides and cyclic peptides with potent and selective biological activities, including application of advanced solid phase heterocyclization techniques and the use of advanced spectroscopic and other techniques for characterising structure and function.

• Produce quality research outputs by publishing in high quality outlets.

• Collaborate with colleagues to develop research outputs that can attract competitive research funding.

• Contribute to transfer of knowledge, technology, and practices to research end users through translation.

• Contribute to establishing an internationally competitive research profile.

2. Supervision and Researcher Development

• Contribute to effective supervision of students and staff and achievement of high quality research outputs.

3. Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

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

• Provide support to unit operations as needed during team members absences.

• Contribute to internal service roles and administrative processes as requested.

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

About You  

• Completion of a PhD in chemistry.

• An emerging profile in chemical research.

• Ability to independently develop, adapt, and implement new research techniques and validate protocols for new syntheses/assays, enabling their integration into standard workflows.

• Expertise in synthesis and characterisation of peptides, cyclic peptides, natural products and organic compounds, and in exploration of functional properties of new chemicals.

• Expertise in and knowledge of other sophisticated analytical techniques, such as neutron- and synchrotron based research methods and EPR spectroscopy.

• Experience in multidisciplinary research. Some background in physics and biology would be advantageous.

• Experience in isolation and characterization of natural products.

• Some experience in computational chemistry (DFT/MM).

• Demonstrated experience in NMR and MS and other techniques associated with chemical characterisation of structure and function, and in monitoring success of chemical reactions.

• Evidence of publications in and presentations at international conferences.

• Exposure to industry, familiarity with industry-used project management and innovation management techniques.

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. 

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Prof. David Fairlie d.fairlie@imb.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 responding 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 Saturday, 25 November 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (R-30626).