Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Structural Engineering at University of Queensland

City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

17 Aug, 26

Salary

111431.1

Posted On

19 May, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Timber Engineering, Composite Structures, Digital Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing, Computational Design, Experimental Testing, Structural Analysis, Project Coordination, Academic Publishing, Student Supervision, Industry Collaboration, Technical Writing

Industry

Higher Education

Description

School of Civil Engineering – Faculty of EAIT Full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 2 years Base salary will be in the range $83,698.91 - $111,431.10 + 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 to join a leading applied research program developing innovative timber structural systems for portable and small-footprint buildings. Based at UQ and funded by Australian and Forest Wood Innovations (AFWI), this role combines research and hands-on delivery, leading prototype design through to real-world implementation. You will provide structural expertise, coordinate projects, collaborate with industry partners, and publish high-quality research and technical outputs. Key responsibilities will include: Research: Lead research in timber and prefabricated systems, deliver high-quality outputs, provide structural expertise, coordinate projects and partners, support funding, and contribute to knowledge transfer and research development. Supervision and Researcher Development: Supervise and mentor undergraduate and research students, support their development, provide feedback and coaching, manage research staff, and address conflicts in line with University policies. Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate UQ values, build partnerships, collaborate across teams, support unit operations, contribute to service and committees, and develop external industry and community links. Teaching and Learning: As a research-focused position, there is no formal requirement for undergraduate teaching. However, you will be encouraged to contribute to teaching activities where appropriate and to support student learning and engagement. This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance. About You Completion of a PhD in the field of timber engineering, composite structures, digital and advanced manufacturing, computational design, or equivalent. An emerging profile in research in the discipline area (advanced manufacturing and/or sustainable construction). Demonstrated knowledge in experimental testing of novel structural systems, including building elements (beams, columns, panels) and/or connections. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively and establish a rapport and good working relationships with students, staff, and industry partners. Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences. Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with colleagues and peers, including those from different disciplines, as well as with administrative and technical staff. Some experience in meaningful supervision roles, internal service roles, contributions toward external activities, and/or contributions toward student learning and engagement. 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 Joe Gattas via j.gattas@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, cover letter, and responses to the ‘About You’ section. Other Information Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia, 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 talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623. Applications close on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-64505). The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million). Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries. UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way. UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work. For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.

Responsibilities

Lead research on innovative timber structural systems for portable buildings and manage prototype design through to implementation. Coordinate projects with industry partners and supervise undergraduate and research students.