• School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability

• Full-time, fixed-term position through to May 2028.

• Base salary will be in the range $85,452 - $94,984 + 17% super (HEW Level 5).

• Based at our St Lucia Campus.

About This Opportunity

Join a purposeful, collaborative research environment supporting Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator, a nationally significant initiative hosted by The University of Queensland. As Senior Research Assistant, you will provide technical and laboratory support for an industry-linked project focused on next-generation food ingredients and products with enhanced nutritional functionality, improved processing performance, and reduced allergenicity. Working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues across food science, immunology, and commercial translation, you will contribute practical expertise that helps turn research insight into industry-ready outcomes.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Conduct and support laboratory experiments across compositional and amino acid profiling, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion studies, protein digestibility assays, and allergen release kinetics assessments.

• Perform thermal denaturation and processing experiments, including differential scanning calorimetry, turbidity and dynamic light scattering measurements, and industry-relevant thermal treatments.

• Benchmark techno-functional performance across foaming, gelation, emulsification, and baking applications, including stability and shelf-life studies for liquid, frozen, and powdered ingredient formats.

• Assist with research study design, technical troubleshooting, equipment upkeep, research documentation, literature reviews, reporting, and routine team administration.

About You

• Completion of a degree level qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline, or completion of a Diploma with relevant work experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education or training in food protein or allergen research.

• Demonstrated experience in food protein characterisation, thermal processing of egg or dairy products, or allergenicity assessment methodologies such as ELISA, immunoblot, or in vitro digestion models.

• Strong practical research skills in analytical techniques relevant to the project, such as differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, texture analysis, LC-MS/MS sample preparation, or food rheology measurements.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team spanning food science, immunology, and commercial translation.

• Capability to manage routine laboratory procedures independently with a methodical, organised, and self-motivated approach.

• Confidence troubleshooting scientific or technical equipment and contributing to safe, efficient laboratory operations.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to assist with reports, figures, presentations, and research documentation.

• Experience in industry-based research and development, particularly within the food or ingredient sector, would be considered favourably.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, working together to create a better world. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.

This role connects with UQ’s industry-facing food innovation ecosystem. In 2025, UQ News highlighted how FaBA researchers developed a texture toolkit to help food manufacturers improve product texture and consumer appeal, reflecting the applied, practical impact this team is helping to build. Read more about FaBA’s texture toolkit.

Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible and hybrid working options, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on-campus childcare, affordable parking, and salary packaging.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Nidhi Bansal n.bansal@uq.edu.au. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number below in the subject line.

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns 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. 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're 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’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close 16 August at 11.00pm AEST (R-67307).