Postdoctoral Research Fellow

• School of Chemical Engineering
• Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50
• Research Project - new technology development for hydrogen ironmaking
• Full-time, fixed term appointment for up to 2 years
• Based at our vibrant and picturesque 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

A multi-skilled postdoctoral researcher is required for a 2-year fixed-term appointment, to work on the technology and engineering development of the data-driven and machine learning aided Discrete Element Method (DEM) modelling of shaft furnace process for the zero-emission ironmaking with hydrogen. You will focus on the ARC Linkage project and ARC Research Hub project which are recently fully executed with industrial partners.

The successful candidate is expected to show creativity, teamwork, independence, self-motivation, and project management skills to ensure the deliveries of project objectives. Experience in R&D projects and research in chemical and metallurgical engineering such as the data-driven and machine learning aided Discrete Element Method (DEM) modelling is highly desirable. This project involves new technology development for hydrogen ironmaking, which requires the candidate for a solid research experience with a combination of science and engineering acknowledges and is expected that the candidate can quickly learn it.

Key responsibilities will include:

Research

• Design and develop technical route for lump iron ore pre-reduction with hydrogen.
• Conduct research on the process modelling, including gas-solid two-phase flow in shaft furnace using machine learning aid CFD-DEM technology, the hydrogen iron reaction, hydrogen heating and reuse, energy and heat flow etc.
• Optimise the process in terms of energy and hydrogen utilization efficiency.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to plan and carry out innovative R&D projects to develop the hydrogen ironmaking technologies for iron ore pre-reduction with hydrogen.
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis of research results from experiments or models.
• Integrate the work from PhD students into the scale-up of the iron ore pre-reduction h system and demonstrate the work to the key stakeholders.
• Write and edit scientific reports and publish high quality reports to stakeholders and publish high quality papers in internationally influential journals.
• Build connections with industrial partners and sponsors and academic people with expertise in the same area.
• Identify IP arising from research and facilitate its protection through established university procedures.

Supervision and Researcher Development

• Contribute to the effective supervision of Undergraduate, Masters, Honours and Higher Degree by Research students (as appropriate).
• Effective lead and develop supervisee performance and conduct by providing feedback, coaching, and professional development.
• Working to promptly resolve conflict and grievances when they arise in accordance with University policy and procedures.

Citizenship and Service

• Foster relations with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wide community.
• 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.

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 2 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

• Completed or near PhD completion in the area of electrochemistry, chemical engineering or metallurgical engineering, particularly ironmaking and steelmaking.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD/DEM) simulation of the chemical and metallurgical engineering processes, including the CO2 electrochemical conversion.
• Knowledge and skills in laboratory experimental design, equipment setup and maintenance of laboratory facilities and instruments.
• Experience in getting involved in R&D projects for industries in a university or corporate environment.
• 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
• High level of communication and presentation skills.

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.

• 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.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Geoff Wang via gxwang@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, 31 July 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-40123).