Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Officer - Microbial Entrapment for Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment

• School of Chemical Engineering – Faculty of EAIT

• 2x Full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to 30 June 2027

• Base salary will be in the range $85,372.89 - $113,659.72 + 17% super (Academic Level A)

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

• Based at our St Lucia Campus - Brisbane

About This Opportunity 

This is an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer to support with research being developed concerning upscaling the application of entrapped microbial cells for the treatment of industrial and domestic wastewaters. In this role you will focus on understanding how the entrapment process can be scaled-up and how it can be applied at-scale for the treatment of different wastewaters, including acid mine drainage. We have 2 vacant positions to fill and support with the research projects.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Research: Develop an emerging research profile through high-quality publications, collaborative research projects, competitive funding applications, and the translation of research into practice, applying best-practice methodologies to deliver impactful outcomes.

• Supervision and Researcher Development: Contribute to the supervision and development of research students and staff, providing guidance, feedback, and support while fostering a positive and productive research environment in line with University policies.

• Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate UQ values through collaboration, service, and support for colleagues, while contributing to unit priorities and building external partnerships and engagement.

• Teaching: Participate in teaching activities as required, delivering high-quality learning experiences and continuously improving teaching practices in response to student feedback.

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

About You 

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in the discipline area of chemical engineering.

• An emerging profile in research in the discipline area of microbial entrapment for wastewater treatment.

• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and/or presenting at conferences.

• Evidence of contributions towards successfully obtaining external research funding.

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. 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, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact A/Prof Adrian Oehmen via [email protected]. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected], stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume, cover letter, and responses to the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Other Information 

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, mandatory immunisations (Hepatitis A and Tetanus) checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We are also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [email protected] or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close Monday, 7 September 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-68419). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for mid-September 2026.