Research Fellow - Catalyst Materials at University of Queensland

City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

07 Oct, 26

Salary

141545.09

Posted On

09 Jul, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Solid Acid Catalyst Synthesis, Catalyst Characterisation, Continuous Flow Reactions, Fixed-bed Systems, Biomass Conversion, HPLC, GC/GC-MS, Spectroscopic Techniques, Research Publication, Student Supervision, Reaction Kinetics, Process Scale-up, Biomass Valorisation, Biorefinery Processes, Acid-site Chemistry, Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development

Industry

Higher Education

Description

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 m.konarova@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. 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 talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623. Applications close on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-66470) 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 the development of catalysts and flow processes to convert biomass-derived sugars into sustainable aviation fuel. Responsibilities include conducting catalyst characterisation, publishing high-impact research, and supervising PhD and Honours students.