AddressSchool of Biomedical Sciences
Belong to a vibrant community where your work genuinely makes an impact
Achieve a work-life balance, purchased leave, WFH + more
Access a range of on-site services, facilities, museums, and events
Based at the St Lucia campus.
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.
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 will 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
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
Join our cutting-edge MRFF-funded project as a Senior Research Assistant, where you'll pioneer the development of an inhalable nanoparticle-based Gene Therapy for cystic fibrosis. This role demands your expertise in cell culture, animal handling, and proficiency in cell biology and biochemistry techniques such as DNA gel electrophoresis, cell imaging, ELISA, and immunochemistry. You'll be a key player, working both independently and collaboratively, showcasing your meticulous lab and record-keeping skills. Your responsibilities will include maintaining the lab, ensuring strict adherence to ethics and OHS standards, and supervising junior staff or students, driving forward this revolutionary treatment.
Key responsibilities will include:
Conduct DNA nanoparticle formulation and characterization, cell transfection experiments, and cell-based assays using FACS, confocal, and ELISA techniques.
Expansion of plasmid DNA.
Undertake in vivo toxicological and biodistribution experiments in rodents after pulmonary dosing, including necropsy and tissue processing.
Monitor the health and wellbeing of experimental animals including after hours and on weekends and public holidays if required, including handling gamma-radiolabelled material under supervision.
Maintain lab stocks, OHS compliance records, and ensure the lab is organized and equipment is maintained.
Contribute to the preparation of research papers, data summary reports, and actively participate in meetings with industry partners and consumer representatives.
Assist in the supervision of students and junior staff, and prepare animal ethics applications and risk assessments.
Work to strict milestone deadlines.
This is a full-time or part-time (minimum 0.6 FTE%), fixed-term position for up to December 2026. At HEW level 6, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $88,099.39 - $94,512.08, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $103,076.28 - $110,579.13 annually. As these roles are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases in line with the Enterprise Agreement.
About You
Honours degree in molecular pharmacology/biochemistry or extensive equivalent lab experience, with excellent general lab skills.
Extensive experience with rodents, including compound dosing, blood sampling, and necropsy, as well as a willingness to work with radioactive materials and mice.
Proficiency in cell culture, cell-based imaging techniques (FACS and confocal microscopy), and biochemical/cell staining assays (ELISA, immunohistochemistry).
Experience working with and expanding genetic material (DNA, RNA) and performing DNA gel electrophoresis.
Proven ability to conduct high-quality experiments, maintain excellent data and lab notebook records, and adhere to OHS rules and SOPs.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and the capability to train and supervise junior staff and students.
Willingness to undertake out of hours work as required
Desirable
Experience with pulmonary dosing in rodents
Experience with in vivo imaging of rodents using techniques such as in vivo bioluminescence and PET/CT imaging
Experience working with and formulating nanoparticles
Experience working with air-liquid interface cell models
Experience or training in animal husbandry
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.
Questions?
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Lisa Kaminskas. For application queries or to obtain a full job description, please contact ******@uq.edu.au 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:
Cover letter
Document 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, people with a disability, or age. 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 Tuesday 2nd July 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number - R-39112). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday 9th July 2024.
