Senior Research Assistant, Rapid Response Vaccine Pipeline

• Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology

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

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

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

• Based at 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.

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 

Engage as a Research Assistant within an established research group and wider Australian consortium developing a Rapid Response Vaccine Pipeline. This team is funded by Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to validate a subunit vaccine platform for use to an emergency outbreak response. The research to be carried out includes rational design and molecular cloning of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and recombinant viral fusion proteins, protein expression and purification, animal immunizations, mAb discovery through B-cell sequencing and analysis of mAbs using ELISA.

You will provide specialist research subject matter expertise in support of high quality research outcomes at all stages of the research life-cycle.

Core

• Plan and conduct laboratory work within an established research group and larger consortium
• Conduct high quality experiments under the guidance of experienced post-doctoral researchers to achieve a well-defined set of project goals.
• Thorough recording of results using an electronic lab book format
• Standard procedures involving laboratory mice including immunisations, blood draws and sacrifice

Safety

• Ensures a high standard of research housekeeping, waste disposal, sample storage and chemical/specimen/sample inventory management
• Assists with developing a proactive safety culture and implement continuous improvement 

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

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to December 31, 2025.

At HEW level 6, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $86,371.95 - $92,658.90, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $101,055.18 - $108,410.91 annually. As this role is covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases – at least once a year.

About You  

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Senior Research Technician/Assistant/Coordinator to apply their subject matter expertise and advanced knowledge of cloning, protein expression, purification, ELISA and mammalian cell culture to the Rapid Response Vaccine Pipeline project.

• Completion of a relevant degree in microbiology, immunology, molecular biology or related field with subsequent experience in coordinating activities or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or training.
• Demonstrated research-relevant knowledge and skills with expertise in a wide range of specialist and general research techniques, including including cloning, protein expression, purification, ELISA and mammalian cell culture
• Expertise in animal handling and research involving animals
• Detailed knowledge of legislative requirements and operating procedures for major areas of research and scientific safety such as quarantine procedures, waste disposal, labelling and risk assessment
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Ability to take instructions and receive feedback in a fast paced and high pressure environment.
• Well organised with thorough attention to detail in the recording of research methods and results
• Commitment to upholding the University’s values, and with the outstanding personal qualities of openness, respectfulness and integrity

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. 
• 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. 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Keith Chappell [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 
   

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 14th February 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number – R-35047). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for February.