Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Officer - School of Chemical Engineering

• School of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of EAIT
• Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50
• Work at the Pyrometallurgy Innovation Laboratory
• High temperature experimental studies of metallurgical systems
• Full-time, fixed term appointment for up to 3 year
• Based at Long Pocket (near 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, 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.

About This Opportunity

The Pyrometallurgy Innovation Laboratory at The University of Queensland has an outstanding international reputation for the high quality of research output. The Centre undertakes fundamental and applied research, funded through competitive Government grants and by world-wide consortia of leading international metallurgical, recycling and advanced materials industrial companies. UQ is a research-intensive University ranked within the top 50 universities in the world. UQ mineral engineering is world #1 in the 2018 Shanghai’s Academic Ranking of World Universities. There are excellent opportunities to establish Australian and international industry and academic contacts and careers in the field.

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer within the Pyrometallurgy Innovation Laboratory you will be responsible for undertaking high temperature experimental studies of metallurgical systems as well as undertaking fundamental and applied research with a dynamic team at the cutting edge of modern primary and secondary/recycling pyrometallurgy.

The successful applicant will design and conduct experimental research on high temperature metallurgical systems including complex phase equilibria and heterogeneous kinetics and apply and further develop microanalysis methods for slags, matte, metals and other phases occurring in high temperature pyrometallurgy systems.

You will also be required to contribute to the development of the undergraduate and postgraduate programs and foster relations with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.

Key responsibilities will include:

Research

• Design and conduct experimental research on high temperature metallurgical systems including complex phase equilibria and heterogeneous kinetics.
• Conduct thermodynamic optimisations to develop multi-component multi-phase models.
• Apply and further develop microanalysis methods for slags, matte, metals and other phases occurring in high temperature pyrometallurgy systems.
• 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 transfer of knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.
• Develop a coherent research program and an emerging research profile.
• Review and draw upon best practice research methodologies.

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.
• Effective lead and develop supervisee performance and conduct by providing feedback, coaching, and professional 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 to the UQ values.
• Shows leadership of self through 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.
• 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 immediate organisation unit.
• Begin to develop external links and partnerships by cultivating relationships with industry, government departments, 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.

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 3 years at an 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 - $120,445.79 annually. 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.

About You

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering or related field of Science or Engineering (including but not limited to Materials, Geology, Ceramics, Physics, Inorganic Chemistry).
• An emerging profile in research in the discipline 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.
• Demonstrated knowledge in chemical thermodynamics, high temperature phase equilibrium and high temperature heterogeneous kinetics as well as skills in the development, independent design, planning, technical management and successful execution of research programs.

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: Visa sponsorship may be 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 an educational and/or 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.

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We will support you with the visa sponsorship process and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Evgueni Jak via e.jak@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

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 talent@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 on Wednesday, 17 July 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-40094).