• School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, Faculty of EAIT
• Full-time (100%), permanent/fixed-term position until 30 January 2026
• Australian citizenship is a requirement for this position
• Base salary will be in the range $78,871.35 - $105,004.02 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level A)
• Based at our St Lucia Campus and the Hypersonics Research Precinct at Eagle Farm

About This Opportunity

This is a great opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Officer to work as part of an integrated team from Defence, academia and industry to further develop the X3/R shock tunnel facility to remain the state-of-the-art for ground-testing over the full hypersonic flight envelope from hyperbolic entry trajectories to low altitude manoeuvring.

You will work directly under the supervision of Professor Richard Morgan in Facility development and in the execution of fundamental research projects funded by ARC, Defence and other organisations as required. The position will be based primarily at the Hypersonics Research Precinct located at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, and the UQ St Lucia campus.

Key responsibilities will include:

Research

• Develop a deep understanding of the condition development process and design new test conditions for the X3/R test facility.
• Conduct computational simulations and analyses to improve the performance of the X3/R facility.
• Collaborate with Defence, academic, and industry partners to achieve program milestones and communicate research outcomes through various channels.
• Participate in securing competitive research funding and contribute to the development of joint research projects.
• Progress towards knowledge transfer, including commercialization, and develop a coherent research program with an emerging research profile.

Supervision and Researcher Development

• Contribute to the supervision and development of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students, providing feedback, coaching, and professional development.
• Effectively manage research support staff throughout their employment, ensuring adherence to University policies and procedures.
• Address and resolve conflicts and grievances promptly in line with University policies.

Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours and leadership through collaboration, active participation, and supporting team members during absences.
• Contribute to internal service roles, administrative processes, and decision-making, including service on committees.
• Begin developing external partnerships by building relationships with industry, government, professional bodies, and the wider community.

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

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, 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.

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.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have a passion for and demonstrated ability to solve highly complex problems with a high degree of scientific rigour. The candidate will be able to apply their deep scientific knowledge to solve complex real-world problems, and work with stakeholders to understand their needs and adjust and communicate their approach accordingly to meet any imposed timelines/milestones. Experience of working on pulsed facilities (such as shock and expansion tunnels) is essential.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of research in an area related to hypersonic flight. They will be responsible for aiding in the management and execution of projects and the supervision of RHD students performing and supporting impulse wind tunnel experiments using both optical and physical measurement techniques, designing new test models and commissioning them, if required, and representing the projects internationally at overseas meetings.

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in the Engineering or Science areas (Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics) with a strong background in experimental hypersonics.
• Eligible to apply for and receive an NV-1 security clearance.
• An emerging profile in research in the engineering area.
• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.
• Evidence of contributions towards successfully obtaining external research funding.
• Some experience in meaningful internal service roles and contributions towards external activities.

Australian Citizenship: It is a requirement of this position that the applicant is an Australian citizen.

AGSVA Clearance: It is a requirement of this position that the applicant is eligible and willing to apply for security clearances as required by the project activities.

Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to an educational check.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Richard Morgan via r.morgan@uq.edu.au. For application queries, please contact talent@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:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

Other Information

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We are committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to talent@uq.edu.au for accessibility support or adjustments.

Applications close on Monday, 30 September 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-42631).