Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology

• Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology  

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

• Develop novel disinfection processes in controlling the spread of antibiotic resistance

• Knowledge and experience in water-borne pathogens, molecular microbiology and microbial biofilms

• 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 

A high-calibre researcher is sought to undertake research to investigate the effectiveness of widely used disinfection processes in controlling the spread of antibiotic resistance within the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB). This project requires using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to study whether common disinfection processes promote the spread of antibiotic resistance via mutation or horizontal gene transfer and understand the acquisition and dissemination mechanisms of antibiotic resistance genes. This project will also develop a novel, cost-effective and environmentally friendly disinfection process for efficient antibiotic resistance gene destruction.

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 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.

• Effectively 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.

Service and Engagement

• Participate the PC2 lab management and maintenance.

• Participate in project management.

• Actively engage and collaborate internally within AWCEB, and partners to foster their relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies, universities and the wider community. This will include meetings with industry partners and showcase and conference events.

• Engage with external stakeholders who include other supporting industry and academic partners and a broader consortium of industry representatives and participants from other broadly related research projects.

Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

• 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.

• Provide support to other academic positions as needed and during absences.

• Begin to develop external links and partnerships by cultivating relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 12 months.

This is a research focused academic position at 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. 

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  

• A PhD degree in environmental microbiology, or environmental engineering or similar disciplines, focusing on antibiotic resistance.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance in water systems.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in water-borne pathogens, molecular microbiology and microbial biofilms.

• Experience in publishing high quality research papers in high impact scientific journals, and technical reports to the participating industries.

• Ability to work both independently in a research environment and as a part of a cross-disciplinary research team.

• High-level organisation and time management skills, with demonstrated capacity to establish and achieve goals.

• Ability to build smooth liaisons and strong partnerships with academic and industrial collaborators.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an exemplified ability to work collaboratively and establish a rapport and good working relationships with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and academic and professional staff.

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: It is a condition of employment for this role that you will be required 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 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 Professor Jianhua Guo via [email protected] u. For application queries, please contact [email protected] 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 , or people with a disability . Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to [email protected]  

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 2 May 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number – R-24511).