Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Systems Biologist

• Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)

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

• Systems biology, metabolic modelling specialist required to work across AIBN

• Belong to a vibrant community where your work genuinely makes an impact 

• Based at our picturesque 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 

Synthetic biology is characterised by a cyclic workflow based on the design, build, test, learn paradigm. The emergence of genome-foundries allows for the rapid, but still costly, generation of large numbers of engineered strains. The University of Queensland is establishing a complementary facility to genome-foundries, the Integrated Design Environment for Advanced biomanufacturing (IDEA bio, https://www.ideabio.org.au/ ). This facility will consist of a TEST capability that allows for a deep phenomic characterisation of mutant strains, in partnership with Queensland Metabolomics and Proteomics (Q MAP https://www.qmap.org.au/ ) and the Australian Genome Foundry (Macquarie University), as well as a LEARN capability that seeks to learn from large ‘omics data sets and direct strain optimisation, pathway optimisation and metabolic engineering to advance synthetic biology efforts in Australia.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow who specialises in metabolic modelling and ‘omics data driven characterisation of cells. You will join a team of researchers to establish systems biology-based workflows to drive the data-driven bioprocess optimisation capability of this facility, including strain design. The position is primarily computationally based and will work with a bioinformatician/data scientist to use modelling and machine-learning approaches to learn from large data sets to inform further strain engineering or bioprocess optimisation rounds.

Whilst the role is academic in nature, as an employee of an NCRIS-funded facility (https://www.education.gov.au/ncris ), the position has a strong service focus. You will be required to analyse, interpret and report fermentation data to clients by contractual deadlines, which may include researchers and industry, whilst developing novel workflows to allow for high-throughput data analysis.

Key responsibilities will include: 
Research

• Develop data management pipelines and computational workflows to analyse and derive metabolic insights from small to large multi-omics datasets.

• Develop metabolic models and/or performing metabolic modelling to estimate intracellular flux distributions as required.

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

• Participate in applications for competitive research funding to support projects and activities.

• Work with colleagues in the development of joint research projects and applications for competitive research funding support.

• Contribute to progressing towards transfer of knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.

• Develop a coherent research program and an emerging research profile.

• Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies.

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.

• As appropriate, manage research support staff effectively throughout the employee lifecycle in accordance with University policy and procedures.

• Working to promptly resolve conflict and grievances when they arise in accordance with University policy and procedures.

Citizenship and Service

• Perform in-depth phenotypic characterisation of bioreactor runs from data generated by the fermentation scientists and provides this as a report to clients.

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

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

• Provide support to other academic positions and unit operations as needed during other team members absences.

• Contribute to internal service roles and administrative processes as required, including participation in decision-making and service on relevant committees.

• Collaborate in service activities external to the immediate organisation unit.

• Begin to develop external links and partnerships by cultivating relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.

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

This role is subject to The University’s Code of Conduct .  

This is a full time, fixed term position to March 2026 at Academic Level A.

The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $92,938.86 - $102,945.12, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $108,738.47 - $120,445.79 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, flexible working arrangements, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You  

• Completion or near completion of a PhD with demonstrated experience in genome-scale metabolic modelling

• Demonstrated experience characterising and reporting cellular phenotypes from global ‘omics data sets (e.g. whole cell proteomics)

• A strong understanding of metabolism and familiarity with metabolic pathways. A strong knowledge of yeast metabolism is favourable, but not required.

• Demonstrated experience in utilising or developing various tools for systems analysis of organisms

• Evidence of publications in peer-reviewed journals

• Well-versed in at least one programming language/environment (such as Python, MATLAB or similar)

• Good organisational and problem-solving skills.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Agile and adaptable – able to independently identify and overcome challenges associated with analysing ‘omics data and create bespoke solutions.

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 .

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Timothy McCubbin, Senior Data Scientist and Team Leader: [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

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.

This position is being readvertised, previous applicants need not reapply.

Applications close 21st May 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-35525). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for May.