Research Assistant - Neurodegeneration Mouse Models

• Queensland Brain Institute

• Broaden your career within one of QLD’s largest employers

• Partner with people educating future generations & solving the world’s problems

• Fixed-term position until 31 December 2024

• Based at the St Lucia Campus

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

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 start/finish times, purchased leave

• 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 $5.75 a day)

• Salary packaging options

About This Opportunity 

The Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory led by Associate Professor Adam Walker are seeking a Research Assistant to join our collaborative team conducting pre-clinical studies using small molecules in mouse models of motor neuron disease (MND) and dementia. You will work both independently and cooperatively, with access to a dedicated support network and superb neuroscience research facilities.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Mouse monitoring, drug delivery, surgery, motor behavioural, cognitive and behavioural testing

• Mouse perfusions, tissue dissections and tissue processing;

• Mouse tissue section preparation, immunohistochemistry and microscopy;

• Protein analysis by immunoblotting;

• Gene expression analysis by qPCR

• Assisting in general laboratory management and organisation including ordering of supplies;

• Interacting with and assisting other cell and molecular neuroscientists within the research team;

• Keeping clear and accurate records of experimental methodology and results, animal ethics organisation and assisting with effective record keeping and data management.

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.

Other

• The University’s Code of Conduct .

• Requirements of the Queensland occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation and related OH&S responsibilities and procedures developed by the University or Institute/School.

• The adoption of sustainable practices in all work activities and compliance with associated legislation and related University sustainability responsibilities and procedures .

• Requirements of the Education Services  for Overseas Students Act 2000, the National Code 2007 and associated legislation, and related responsibilities and procedures developed by the University.

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position until 31 December 2024. Part time position is negotiable. 

At HEW level 5, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the annual range $77,396.47 - $86,029.78, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $90,553.87 - $100,654.84 annually. As these roles are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases in line with the Enterprise Agreement.

About You  

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) or an equivalent combination of relevant research experience

• Expertise in mouse handling, drug administration, motor behaviour testing including rotarod and grip strength, cognitive and behavioural testing including open field, elevated plus maze, three chamber social interaction, novel objective recognition tests

• Experience in mouse perfusion, tissue collection (including brain and spinal cord dissection)

• Experience with brain tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and image analysis

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

• Well-organised, methodical and self-motivated

• Ability to work independently and to multi-task experiments while meeting timelines; self-motivation and independent thinking with enthusiasm to achieve research goals;

• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively both without direct supervision and as part of a team; excellent organisational skills, attention to detail; with a high level of oral and communication skills

• Ability to learn new techniques and optimise experimental approaches

• Awareness of laboratory safety, animal ethics and occupational health and safety protocols

Desirable

• Experience in the use of mouse models of neurodegenerative disease;

• Experience in cognitive and behavioural tests for rodents;

• Experience in brain tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry, microscopic techniques.

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.

Questions? 

To discuss this role please contact Dr Wei Luan [email protected] or Dr Adam Walker [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:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume 

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 , people with a disability, or age . 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 Thursday 30 May 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-38922).