School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability Full-time fixed-term position for up to 12 months with possibility to extend Base salary will be in the range $80,523.29 - $89,505.38 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 5) Based at St Lucia Campus About This Opportunity This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant to apply and develop your skills in food technology. It is an appointment in the UQ Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sustainability funded by the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) Premium Food and Beverage. This opportunity will help you to develop your research expertise as part of a multidisciplinary project team. In particular, this opportunity will lead to exploring the application of specific materials to food and beverage applications. Key responsibilities will include: Support research activities in rheology, grains, size reduction, food processing, digestibility, and beta-glucan extraction, while assisting in refining and implementing research methodologies. Assist in designing research studies, conducting complex experiments, including digestibility processes and extraction procedures, and troubleshooting scientific equipment. Maintain research facilities, ensure proper functioning of specialized equipment, and uphold technical operations. Ensure the safe handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals, equipment, and samples, while following strict safety protocols. Assist with drafting research documents, including ethics and funding applications, conducting literature reviews, and collaborating with senior researchers to support effective research execution. Support administrative tasks, prepare reports, graphs, and presentations on research outcomes, and contribute to effective communication of findings. 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 hybrid on site/WFH options, 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 UQ Study for Staff On campus childcare options Cheap parking (from just $6.15 a day) Salary packaging options About You Completion or near completion of a Master’s or a Diploma in food science, chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline. Basic experience in laboratory research experiments with food processing techniques, microscopy, spectroscopy, and other characterization techniques. Excellent practical research skills and experience in relevant research methodology or techniques required for this body of research. Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues Ability to work independently on routine procedures Excellent oral and written communication skills Well-organised, methodical and self-motivated Previous experience in a similar role would be considered favourably. The successful candidate may be required to complete background checks including, Right to Work in Australia, criminal history and education checks. You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment. Questions? For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Alberto Baldelli at a.baldelliuq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talentuq.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 summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section Resume Other Information UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role. We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to talentuq.edu.au for accessibility support or adjustments. Applications close April 13th 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-47014). Interviews have been tentatively scheduled for April 17th and April 18th.