Research Fellow - Catalyst Materials

• School of Chemical Engineering – Faculty of EAIT

• Part-time (80%), fixed-term position for up to 31 December 2028

• Base salary will be in the range $119,462.94 - $141,545.09 + 17% super (Academic Level B)

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

• Based at our St Lucia Campus - Brisbane

About This Opportunity 

We are seeking a part-time Research Fellow to lead the development of catalysts and flow processes that convert biomass-derived sugars into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). You will design solid acid catalysts, optimise continuous flow reactions, contribute to high-impact publications, and support the supervision of PhD and Honours students.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Research: Develop and optimise solid acid catalysts and continuous flow processes to convert biomass-derived sugars into sustainable aviation fuel precursors. You will conduct catalyst characterisation and reaction analysis, drive process improvements through advanced analytical techniques, publish high-impact research, contribute to grant reporting, and support the supervision and mentoring of PhD, Masters and Honours students.

• Supervision and Researcher Development: Provide leadership and mentorship within the research group through the co-supervision of PhD, Masters and Honours students. You will support researcher development, foster engagement opportunities, provide coaching and performance feedback, and contribute to a positive, collaborative research environment in line with University policies and procedures.

• Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate leadership through collaboration, mentoring and active participation in key initiatives. You will contribute to academic service and committee activities, support colleagues and unit operations, and build strong partnerships with industry, government, professional bodies and the wider community.

• Teaching: Where undergraduate and postgraduate teaching is undertaken achieve teaching quality as indicated by approved surveys and outcomes for students and improve or innovate where appropriate in response to feedback. 

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

About You 

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related discipline.

• Expertise in the synthesis and characterisation of solid acid catalysts and acid-site chemistry.

• Experience in liquid-phase catalytic reactions, particularly continuous flow or fixed-bed systems.

• Knowledge of biomass conversion, sugar and furanic compounds and catalytic upgrading pathways for sustainable fuels.

• Strong analytical skills using HPLC, GC/GC-MS, and spectroscopic techniques.

• Proven track record of high-quality research publications and strong communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with experience supervising or mentoring research students.

• Desirable experience in biomass valorisation, biorefinery processes, grant applications, reaction kinetics, and process scale-up.

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 Associate Professor Muxina Konarova 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 and qualifications 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 on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-66470)