Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50
Collaborate with highly awarded, world-class colleagues
Fast track your career with our early career academic development program
Based at 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.
At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.
As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.
About This Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to lead a project to develop a rationally-designed vaccine against malaria.
By taking advantage of recent advances in genomic sequencing, proteomics, transcriptional profiling, and molecular immunology, we have discovered unique targets of T cell responses or antibody responses against malaria. This NIH-funded project will test these antigens as vaccine candidates by engineering novel vaccine platforms to enhance T cell responses and assessing immunogenicity, protective capacity and biological function in pre-clinical models of malaria. By establishing proof-of-concept for rational vaccine design from genomic data, this project is expected to advance the development of an effective vaccine against malaria with implications for other challenging public health threats.
The candidate will work with national and international experts and gain experience in malaria biology, immunology and vaccinology, with a specific focus on novel vaccine technologies including mRNA and viral vector vaccine platforms.
Key responsibilities include:?
1. Research
Advance a cutting-edge research program
Produce quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing in high quality outlets and presenting project outcomes via conference presentations and seminars
Provide technical leadership of project teams, including the development and implementation of project plans, resource management, scheduling, and reporting
Effectively monitor and report progress against agreed milestones
Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies
Contribute to transfer of knowledge, technology and practices through research translation, including commercialisation of intellectual property
Cultivate partnerships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community
Contribute to the development of joint research projects and funding applications
2. Supervision and Researcher Development
Contribute to the effective supervision of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students Demonstrate personal effectiveness in supervision and management of researcher development
Work to promptly resolve conflict and grievances when they arise in accordance with University policy and procedures
3. Citizenship and Service
Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values
Contribute to service and engagement roles and activities.
Contribute to internal service roles and administrative processes as required, including participation in decision-making and service on relevant committees.
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 up to 3 years. At Academic level A the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $75,808.68 - $100,926.59, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $88,696.16 - $118,084.11 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
PhD in infectious disease, vaccinology, immunology, biomedical science or related area.
Demonstrated proficiency to carry out high quality research, and proven record of professional achievement in the relevant discipline area
Experience in mouse models of disease and animal handling
Experience in cellular and molecular immunology, including ELISA, FACS, ELIspot
Molecular biology expertise, including RNA extraction, RT-qPCR and molecular cloning.
Excellent organisational skills, lab management skills, and ability to work to tight deadlines
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Ability to work independently as well as part of a cohesive team
Evidence of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
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.
Relocating from interstate or overseas? We’ll support you with the visa sponsorship process and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.
Questions?
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Prof. Denise Doolan (
[email protected]).
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
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
[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 Tuesday 9 January 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-32682).
