Faba Postdoc Research Fellow In Food Technology

Join UQ, a globally renowned institution fostering a vibrant academic community. Collaborate with brilliant minds from around the world in an interdisciplinary environment. Backed by world-class facilities, ample research funding, grant writing support, and post-fellowship contracts via our UQ Amplify initiative, UQ empowers research excellence. With a large PhD enrolment and commitment to accessibility, be part of a prestigious institution that empowers academics to thrive and make a lasting impact.

Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) is a $160 million initiative to boost growth and innovation in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Part of the Federal Government’s Trailblazer Program, FaBA leverages $50m of government investment with more than $110m from universities and industry. Partners work across four areas: the research programs ‘Innovative Ingredients’ and ‘Premium Food and Beverage Products’, and the enabling programs ‘Innovation Pathways’ and the ‘FaBA Training Centre’.

A national initiative, FaBA provides F&B manufacturers access to research teams, next generation industry professionals, state-of-the-art equipment and pilot facilities. FaBA is proudly hosted by The University of Queensland, in collaboration with participants QUT, UniSQ and UniQuest.

This exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow offers a chance to apply and enhance your skills in Food Technology. You will have the opportunity to develop expertise and bolster your research profile within a multidisciplinary project team. This role will involve exploring the application of specific materials in Food and beverage applications. Additionally, the successful applicant will be expected to contribute to service and engagement in the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA). There may also be opportunities to develop teaching skills during the appointment.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Research

• Develop a coherent research program for the areas of food powder technologies, encapsulation of bioactive compounds, and material science.

• Produces 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 transferring knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.

• Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies.

• Seek for collaborations with local and international industries in the area of Food Science and Engineering.

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.

• 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

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align with the UQ values.

• Shows leadership of self through collaboration and active participation in priority activities for the Food and Beverage Accelerator center and the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sustainability.

• 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 Food and Beverage Accelerator center and the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sustainability.

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

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to end of July 2026.

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

At Academic level A, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $77,324.85 - $102,945.12, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $90,470.08 - $120,445.79annually.  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.

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in Food science, chemical engineering, colloids and physical chemistry, spray drying, cellulose nanocrystals, or closely related discipline.

• Experience in laboratory research experiments with food processing techniques, microscopy, spectroscopy, and other characterization techniques.

• Strong ability to conduct novel research with limited supervision.

• An emerging profile in one or more of the following research areas: powder technology, spray drying, nano-cellulose, food proteins, polysaccharides, drying technologies, encapsulation procedures, characterization of dry powders, and food science-related discipline.

• Evidence of publications in Q1 refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

• Evidence of successful participation in collaborations, including international and/or industry collaborations.

• Some experience in meaningful internal service roles and contributions towards external activities.

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. 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Alberto Baldelli at **********@uq.edu.au. For application queries, please contact ******@uq.edu.au 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

Please note that you will be asked to add all documents into the one upload box labelled ‘resume’, which is step one of the application form.
 

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 our 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 ******@uq.edu.au.  

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, June 6th 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-38738). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for June 13th and June 14th.