Research Assistant

• Institute for Molecular Bioscience

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

• Be part of an organisation with a meaningful purpose and impact 

• Plan for your future with a generous 17% superannuation allowance 

• Based at St Lucia

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.

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’ll 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 working arrangements including hybrid working 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

• On campus childcare options

• Cheap parking (from just $5.75 a day)

• Salary packaging options

About This Opportunity

The successful applicant will contribute to research projects and will play a central role in the administration and organisation of the research group to facilitate day-to-day research activities.  The projects encompass cloning and purification of recombinant forms of the antigens, antibiotic testing and investigating virulence of bacterial pathogens in mouse models of disease. Standard experiments will include structural and functional studies of virulence determinants, studies of immunogenicity, and standard antibiotic development assays.

 Key responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):   

• Conduct research in the area agreed with the supervisor.

• Work with colleagues, postgraduates and undergraduates in the completion of their research projects.

• Ordering and maintenance of laboratory supplies

• Preparation of laboratory samples and reagents

• Basic molecular biology techniques for manipulation of DNA (e.g. subcloning, mutagenesis)

• Basic microbiology techniques including the culture of human pathogens

• Expression and purification of recombinant proteins from bacterial culture

• Mouse handling and skills including immunisation and infection procedures

• Monitoring laboratory animals out of business hours, when required

• Undertaking induction and basic training of new staff and students

• Assist in formulation of ethics applications and preparation of reports.

• Any other duties as reasonably directed by your supervisor

• General lab management​

• Contribute to the safe and efficient operation of research equipment, infrastructure, methodologies and protocols

• Apply safe storage, handling and disposal techniques to chemicals, equipment, stores and/or samples/specimens

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 12 months.

At HEW level 4, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $70,235.35 - $74,468.15, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $82,175.36 - $87,127.74. As this role is covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases – at least once a year.

About You  

• Completion of a diploma level qualification with relevant work related experience in chemistry, biochemistry, or molecular biology, or an equivalent combination of experience and education/training.

• Experience with molecular biology techniques.

• Experience with protein expression and purification.

• Experience with bacterial culture and aseptic technique.

• Experience with laboratory animal handling and procedures.

• Ability to quickly acquire new laboratory techniques and to perform them routinely at a high level of accuracy and efficiency.

• Sound knowledge of OH&S guidelines and laboratory safety.

• Availability to check on laboratory animals on occasions out of business hours.

• Ability to work as a member of a team.

• The ability to plan, execute and interpret research in a semi-independent manner.

• High level of inter-personal and communication skills.

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 Professor Mark Walker via email [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:

• 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 , 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 Tuesday 12 March 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number – R-34779).