Research Assistant in Material Science

• Food and Beverage Accelerator Program: Based in the School of Chemical Engineering 

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

• Be part of the Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) research program

• Provide technical research support

• Full-time, Fixed term position up to June 2026

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

• Based at our 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.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave

• 17% superannuation contributions

• 17.5% annual leave loading

• Access to flexible working arrangements including flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight

• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family

• On campus childcare options

• Cheap parking (from just $5 a day)

• Salary packaging options

About This Opportunity 

The Senior Research Assistant will provide technical support for the characterisation of techno-functional properties (e.g. structure, rheology, material properties, interfacial properties, mechanical, texture, surface adsorption, tribology) of ingredients and whole foods & beverages, managing access and training on state-of-the-art characterisation facilities and assisting in their maintenance.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Responsibilities

• Coordinates aspects of Food and Beverage Structure and Material Science measurement including laboratory and equipment management.

• Assists in the design of research studies under supervision of senior staff, to deliver the project milestones and report findings to the project supervisors and industry funders.

• Applies and/or instructs others on the application of advanced or specialist or technical research skills or processes, including preparing test samples, performing experiments, and expertly utilising a range of modern analytical equipment in rheology, tribology, light scattering, particle characterisation and surfaces sciences and microscopy.

• Assists in the conduct of major or complex experiments, tasks or programs.

• Troubleshoots issues with scientific/technical equipment.

• Undertakes maintenance and upkeep of facilities and equipment.

Safety

• Contributes to the safe and efficient operation of research equipment, infrastructure, methodologies and protocols.

• Ensures the appropriate storage, handling and disposal of chemicals, equipment, stores and/or samples/specimens.

Research and administrative support

• Assists with drafting research documentation, including ethics and funding applications.

• Undertakes literature searches and reviews.

• Assists with routine team administration.

• Assists with preparing reports, graphs, figures and presentations on research outcomes at different stages of the research cycle outcomes.

Any other duties as reasonably directed by your supervisor.

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to June 2026.

At HEW level 5, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $74,378.89 - $82,842.92, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $87,023.30 - $96,926.22 annually. 

About You  

• Completion of a degree level qualification in chemical engineering, food science, food technology or similar; or completion of a Diploma with relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

• Excellent practical research skills and experience in relevant research methodology or techniques required for this body of research.

• Experience using rheology, tribology, light scattering, particle characterisation, surface sciences and microscopy techniques.

• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues as well as ability to work independently on routine procedures.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Well-organised, methodical and self-motivated.

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. 

• Mandatory Immunisations: For this role you might be requested to provide evidence of immunisation against certain vaccine preventable diseases.

• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record or background 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 Dr Heather Shewan. 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:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume 

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, 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 14 September 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-29084).

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com