Senior Research Assistant - Molecular Biology

• Institute for Molecular Bioscience

• Broaden your career within one of QLD’s largest employers 

• 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

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

The Senior Research Assistant/Technician provides technical research support and subject matter expertise in support of high quality research outcomes at all stages of the research life-cycle.

Responsibilities

• Performs Molecular Biology experiments, including cloning, PCR, display libraries, protein expression and purification

• Conducts experiments under the supervision of senior laboratory/research staff

• Assists in the design of research studies, under supervision of senior staff

• Independently undertakes routine analyses of peptide quality and integrity

• Applies and/or instructs others on the application of advanced or specialist or technical research skills or processes, including peptide synthesis and purification

• Assists senior laboratory/ research staff in affinity evaluation and functional assays

• Troubleshoots issues with scientific/technical equipment

Scientific/technical research

• Maintains accurate and up to date research book records and records of experiment results

• Monitors and records experiment outcomes under supervision

• Presents results in group meetings

• Provides general research/laboratory support, including ordering and maintaining consumables

• Actively participate in research group meetings and where applicable, contributes to seminars/ webinars/ symposia

Safety

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

• Ensures the appropriate storage, handling and disposal of chemicals, equipment, stores and/or samples/specimens

Research and administrative support

• Undertakes literature searches and reviews

• Assists with routine team administration

• Assists with preparing reports, graphs, figures and presentations on research outcomes at different stages of the research cycle outcomes and coordinates manuscript preparation

• Provides assistance with risk assessments, procedures and/or methods experimentation

• Any other duties as reasonably directed by your supervisor

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

At HEW level 5, the full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $77,396.47 - $86,029.78, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $90,553.87 - $100,654.84 annually.  As these roles are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases in line with the Enterprise Agreement.

• Completion of a degree level qualification in Molecular Biology or biochemistry or completion of a Diploma with relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training

• Excellent practical research skills and experience in relevant research methodology or techniques required for this body of research

• Experience with Molecular Biology and biochemistry techniques, including cloning, PCR, recombinant display libraries, protein expression and purification, heterologous expression systems (bacteria, yeast, insect cells), Western blots

• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues

• Ability to work independently on routine procedures

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Well-organised, methodical and self-motivated

• Previous experience in a similar role would be considered favourably.

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. 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Prof. David Craik  *******@imb.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:

• 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 ******@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 14 May 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number – R-36952).