Senior Research Officer, Citrus Disease Management (Sponsorship Available)

• Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)

• Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50

• Contribute to high quality research, working with world class researchers

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

• Based at Ecosciences Precinct – Dutton Park

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, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Research Fellow to engage in research to develop new Disease Management strategies for the citrus industry in Australia. The focus of this project is citrus tristeza virus (CTV), which is widely regarded the most important viral pathogen of citrus worldwide.  Mild strain cross-protection is an effective control method for CTV, and this project aims to fast-track methods to identify new mild strains of the virus. Research will be done to genetically characterize the viral strains associated with sweet orange and lime stem pitting diseases in Queensland. Infectious clones of the virus will then be created, which will be used to inoculate model plant species such as wild tobacco before progressing to citrus. Mild strains of the virus will be created by mutating the infectious clone, or by searching for suitable viruses that might occur in the wild population of viruses.

You will have extensive experience and a demonstrated skillset in recombinant DNA technologies, including working with Agrobacterium and binary vectors, and be familiar with high throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR technologies. It is also highly desirable that you have some basic knowledge of horticulture. At this level it is expected that you will efficiently manage service and engagement roles and activities.

Key responsibilities will include: 

1. Research

• Design, undertake, analyse and troubleshoot experimental research program in order that project milestones are met on time.

• Ensure that workplace health and safety and gene technology regulations are enforced.

• Produce quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing or exhibiting in national research journals, other appropriate refereed publications and conference publications, with a lead role in some outputs.

• Prepare project milestone updates and assist with writing the final report.

• Assist with promoting project outputs through participation in citrus industry conferences and field days, and publishing extension articles in industry magazines.

• Support and share information with colleagues in the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries working on the same project.

• Contribute to progressing towards transfer of knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.

• Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies.

2. Supervision and Researcher Development

• Demonstrate a track record of the effective supervision of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students.

• Demonstrates personal effectiveness in supervision and management and development of researcher capability and skill.

• Facilitate engagement opportunities for Higher Degree by Research supervisees

• Effective lead and develop supervisee performance and conduct by providing feedback, coaching, and professional development.

• Manage 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.

3. Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate behaviours that align to the UQ values.

• Shows leadership of self and others through mentoring, collaboration and active participation in priority activities for the unit

• Provide support to other academic positions and unit operations as needed during other team members absences.

• Effectively and efficiently manage 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 immediate organisation unit.

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

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

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

This is a Full-time, 100% FTE Fixed-term position for four years at Academic Level B. It is hoped that that the candidate will be able to commence in January 2024, but the start date is negotiable.  

The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $106,079.67 – $125,687.99, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $124,113.21 – $147,054.95 annually. As this role is covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases – at least once a year.

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, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

• Completion of a PhD in plant pathology, plant molecular biology or microbiology.

• Expertise in molecular biological techniques, including DNA cloning, DNA sequence analysis, qPCR, and plant transformation or agroinoculation using Agrobacterium.

• An ability to travel and undertake field work in central and north Queensland for periods of up to three days.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Organized and highly motivated individual, able to work independently or within a team.

• A developing reputation and track record of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

• Experience supervising Honours and Research Higher Degree students.

• Experience in meaningful internal service roles in conjunction with active contributions to external activities

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: Visa sponsorship may be available for this appointment. 

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We may be able to support you with the visa sponsorship process. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact A/Professor Andrew Geering, *********@uq.edu.au, ph. 61-7-34432459.   

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

As part of the Selection Process, applicants will be shortlisted for interview in January 2024.

The University of Queensland is committed to ensuring all candidates are provided with the opportunity to attend the panel interviews, however, for those candidates who are unable to attend in person, video interview options will be available.     

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 Friday 12 January 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-33537).

Please note that UQ will be closed from 23 December until 2 January (inclusive). All applicants for this position will be contacted in the new year, with interviews have been tentatively scheduled for mid-January 2024. We thank you for your patience during this time.