Research Technician

Food and Beverage Accelerator Program: Based at Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Technology (QAAFI)Full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to December 2026Base salary will be in the range $78,944.40 - $87,750.37 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 5)Based at our Long Pocket Indooroopilly CampusAbout This Opportunity In this role, you will support world leading research on Food and Beverage Technology in supporting development of premium foods and beverages.
The position is with the Centre for Nutrition and Food Science of Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI).
As a research technician within QAAFI, you will provide technical expertise in compositional analysis of food products and work collaboratively to support strategic and applied research projects within the Trailblazer funded FaBA research program, support delivery of impactful outcomes and strengthen engagement with industry partners.
This role involves working closely with experienced staff involved in quality evaluation of agricultural food and beverage products.
You will be responsible for developing analytical methods to measure volatile and non-volatile components and supporting a range of laboratory-based operational and reporting activities relating to food compositional analysis under the direction of the team leader.
You will also be expected to provide technical research support to deliver project milestones.
Key responsibilities will include: Coordinate technical aspects of food compositional analysisAssist in the design of research studies, under supervision of senior staff.Apply and instruct others on the application of specialist research skills, including sample preparation of food products for chemical analysis and application of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and olfactometry.Assist in the conduct of complex experiments, involving identifying and measuring key quality-determining components in food products, including volatile components.Maintenance and troubleshooting issues with scientific equipment.Safety Contribute to the safe and efficient operation of research equipment, infrastructure, methodologies and protocolsEnsure the appropriate storage, handling and disposal of chemicals, equipment, stores and/or samples/specimensResearch and administrative support Assist with drafting research documentation, including ethics and funding applicationsUndertake literature searches and reviewsAssist with routine team administrationAssist with preparing reports, graphs, figures and presentations on research outcomes at different stages of the research cycle outcomesSupport fostering relations with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.Any other duties as reasonably directed by your supervisor.
About the FaBA initiative Australia's Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) is a $160 million initiative to boost growth and innovation in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.
Part of the Federal Government's Trailblazer Program, FaBA leverages $50m of government investment with more than $110m from universities and industry.
Partners work across four areas: the research programs 'Innovative Ingredients' and 'Premium Food and Beverage Products', and the enabling programs 'Innovation Pathways' and the 'FaBA Training Centre'.
A national initiative, FaBA provides F&B manufacturers access to research teams, next generation industry professionals, state-of-the-art equipment and pilot facilities.
FaBA is proudly hosted by The University of Queensland, in collaboration with participants QUT, UniSQ and UniQuest.
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.
Everyone here has a role to play.
As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world.
By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.
Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:
26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave17% superannuation contributions17.5% annual leave loadingAccess to flexible working arrangementsHealth and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate familyUQ Study for StaffOn campus childcare optionsAffordable parking (from just $5.75 a day)Salary packaging optionsAbout You Completion of a degree level qualification in Science, Food Science and Technology, Food Engineering or equivalent; or completion of a Diploma with relevant work experience.Excellent practical experience skills and experience in relevant research methodology or techniques required for this body of research (flavour chemistry).Experience using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) and related analytical techniques.Experience with either cereal (specifically oat), meat and/or vanilla products would be considered favourably.Ability to work collaboratively with colleaguesAbility to work independently on routine proceduresExcellent oral and written communication skillsWell-organised, methodical and self-motivatedPrevious experience in a similar role would be considered favourably.The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, criminal check, education check etc.
Work Rights: You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.
Questions? For more information about this opportunity, please contact Thoa Nguyen -
For application queries, please contact stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.
Want to Apply? All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
Cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the 'About You' sectionResumeOther Information UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory.
Candidates who don't meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential.
The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.
We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues.
We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community.
We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent.
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Applications close 2 February 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-45604).
Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for early February.
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