Senior/Principal Research Fellow, Horticulture Breeding/Genomics

• ­Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

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

• Engage in and develop new horticultural breeding programs with QAAFI

• Collaborate with world class researchers and industry specialists in the field

• Based on The Sunshine Coast at the Queensland Government’s Maroochy Research Facility, Nambour, QLD

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, 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 Horticulture Breeding and Genomics Leader at the Senior/Principal Research Fellow level in the Centre for Horticultural Science (CHS) in the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI).  You will lead and leverage your established record of achievement and national/international recognition to engage in current and new horticultural breeding programs.   You will use predictive and genomic informed breeding methods and collaborate with the expertise in QAAFI’s animal and crop centres. You will be expected to perform a range of high-level service and engagement roles and activities and collaborate with QAAFI’s alliance partner, DAF.

The position is based on The Sunshine Coast at the Queensland Government’s Maroochy Research Facility, Nambour, QLD ( https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/contact/stations-facilities/maroochy ). You will provide leadership within QAAFI and for its employees located at Maroochy.  CHS currently leads national breeding programs in macadamia and passionfruit and collaborates in a range of other crops.  These programs provide the university with industry impact and students with immersion in plant breeding programs. You will engage in current breeding in CHS and develop new research programs.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Research

• Supervision and Researcher Development

• Citizenship and Service

• Teaching

For further information, please click here to view the Appointment information booklet.

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

This is a full-time fixed-term position for up to 5 years at Academic level C or D.

The full-time equivalent base salary at Level C will be in the range $132,201.83 - $152,202.33, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $154,676.15 - $178,076.72 annually.

The full-time equivalent base salary at Level D will be in the range $158,869.17 - $174,870.17, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $185,876.94 - $204,598.10 annually.

As these roles are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases in line with the Enterprise Agreement.

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  

Appointment at Level C

• Completion of a PhD in horticultural science and predictive and genomic informed plant breeding.

• An established profile in research in the discipline area.

• National recognition in the area of expertise, with an internationally developing profile and an established record of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

• A strong record of successfully seeking, obtaining and managing external research funding.

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

• A growing record of meaningful internal service roles in conjunction with a strong contribution to external activities

Appointment at Level D

• Completion of a PhD with over 7 years of postdoctoral experience in horticultural science and predictive and genomic informed plant breeding.

• An outstanding national and international record of research impact and achievement in horticultural plant breeding, with an excellent record of publications in reputed refereed journal and presenting at conferences.

• Demonstrated ability of successfully obtaining and managing external research funding as the project leader.

• Demonstrated success in leading plant breeding programs and developing successful partnerships with industry.

• Demonstrated ability in quantitative and statistical analysis of large genomic data sets

• An extensive record of supervision of Honours and Higher Degree Research students to successful completion.

• Well-developed communication, interpersonal and consultative skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from multi-disciplinary teams.

• Evidence of leadership contributing to engagement, collaboration, and performance.

• A strong record of meaningful internal service roles in conjunction with contribution to external activities

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights:  Visa sponsorship may be available for this appointment. 

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We may be able to 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 .
 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Neena Mitter – [email protected]  

For application queries, please contact [email protected] stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.
 

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 6 June 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-37885). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for June.