Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Fellow (Climate Change & Infection)

• Faculty of Medicine

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

• Collaborate with highly awarded, world-class colleagues.

• Access state-of-the-art facilities to further your research endeavours.

• Based at Greenslopes Private Hospital

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 / Senior Research Fellow to focus their efforts on developing their expertise and emerging research profile in their discipline.

This role has been established to support the NHMRC funded eASIA project: “Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections associated with climate change and major weather events: enhancing surveillance and mitigation strategies” led by CIA Professor Rachel Thomson at the Greenslopes Clinical School and Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation Bronchiectasis and Mycobacterial Diseases research unit, in collaboration with lead international investigators including the Chief of the Epidemiology and Population Studies Unit at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (USA).

Synopsis: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental pathogens known to cause chronic pulmonary disease (PD), skin, soft tissue, and blood stream infection. The incidence of NTM PD has increased dramatically in Australia, Japan, the United States, and other regions over the past 20 years. In many Asian countries however, epidemiological data on NTM is lacking. NTM are common in water and soil and incompletely inactivated by routine disinfectants used in municipal water systems. Persons may be exposed through inhalation of water or soil aerosols, aspiration of water and through direct inoculation into the skin. We have identified key environmental predictors of the geographic distribution of infection and disease, including vapor pressure, rainfall, pH, temperature, and evapotranspiration. Several recent studies provide evidence that global rises in NTM PD incidence may be explained in part by aspects of climate change, including increases in the frequency and intensity of severe weather events and long-term climatic patterns (e.g. increasing temperature or changing precipitation). Experimental studies have shown the relative abundance of mycobacteria in plumbing biofilm increases at higher temperatures and many major weather events impact drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). These systems become colonized with NTM, that then form biofilm lining the pipes, where they proliferate, protected from disinfection, leading to increased dissemination into water downstream to at risk individuals. Our current methods of disinfection are impacted by rising temperatures are not effective in controlling this dissemination.

The specific aims of this study are:

1) To identify climate change variables and major weather events, associated with patterns of NTM incidence in 5 countries (Australia, USA, Japan, Thailand and Cambodia).

2) To evaluate novel disinfection methods that can be applied to drinking water distribution systems, to mitigate the impact of NTM dissemination caused by major weather events and climate change.

The appointee will lead research focused on Aim 1.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Research: Lead epidemiological analyses of Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) case notification data from QLD.

• Actively maintain collaborative relationships with the investigator and research team through the coordination of regular virtual meetings and two face to face meetings.

• Produces quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing or exhibiting in high quality outlets.

• 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.

• Effective lead and develop supervisee performance and conduct by providing feedback, coaching, and professional development.

• Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

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

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance .

This is a part-time (80%) or full time (100%), fixed-term position for 3 years.  

At Academic Level A: The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $75,808 - $100,926 plus super of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be in the range $88,696 - $118, 084 per annum.
At Academic Level B: The full-time equivalent base salary at will be in the range $106,079 - $125,687 plus super of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be in the range $124,113 - $147,054 per annum.  
As this role is covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases – at least once a year.

Relocating from interstate? We’ll support you with a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here .

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, flexible working arrangements including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You  

• Demonstrated skills in all aspects of the research process from proposing hypotheses to preparing reports or publications to dissemination of results.

• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and exercise independent professional judgement in research design, analysis and reporting of research projects.

• Ability to travel internationally when requested, given a reasonable degree of flexibility and timing.

• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise activities, and to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Knowledge of research codes of practice and ability to apply ethical guidelines in research behaviour.

• Ability to communicate effectively with scientific peers, stakeholders, study participants, and the media.

• Demonstrated experience in the analysis and/or reporting of data from administrative health-related data collections would be beneficial.

• It would be advantageous to demonstrate post-doctoral level research skills, knowledge, and expertise in the field of infectious disease.

• Previous experience in project management

• Skills in statistical software and Microsoft applications is desirable.

• Experience with research processes, ethics requirements, managing multiparty agreements.

• Human resource and finance procedures and systems at the University of Queensland is desirable.

Additional at Level A

• Completion or near completion of a PhD/MPhil in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, or other relevant area.

• An emerging profile in research in the discipline area.

• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

• Evidence of contributions towards successfully obtaining external research funding.

• Demonstrated experience in the analysis and/or reporting of data from administrative health-related data collections.

• Demonstrated post-doctoral level research skills, knowledge, and expertise in the field of infectious disease, including a clear understanding of research processes and ethics requirements.

• Ability to communicate effectively with scientific peers, stakeholders, study participants, and the media.

• Experience in project management.

• Demonstrated skill in statistical software and Microsoft applications.

• Experience in managing multiparty agreements.

• Experience with human resource and finance procedures and systems at the University of Queensland.

Additional at Level B

• Completion of a PhD/MPhil in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, or other relevant area.

• A growing profile in research in the discipline area.

• A developing reputation and track record of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

• Evidence of successfully seeking, obtaining, and managing external research funding.

• A growing record of supervision of Honours and Research Higher Degree students to successful completion.

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 Head of Greenslopes Clinical Unit Rachel Thomson [email protected]

For application queries or a full job description, 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 4th March at 11.00pm AEST (R-34539). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for 15th March.