Research Assistant – Immunology

• Frazer Institute – The University of Queensland

• Broaden your career within one of QLD’s largest employers.

• Partner with people educating future generations & solving the world’s problems.

• Belong to a vibrant community where your work genuinely makes an impact.

• Based in Brisbane

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.

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’ll 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 leave

• 17% superannuation contributions

• 17.5% annual leave loading

• Health 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 family

• Salary packaging options.

About This Opportunity 

The successful applicant will contribute to research projects and will play a central role in the administration and organisation of the Belz research group at the Frazer Institute, Translational Research Institute to facilitate day-to-day research activities.  The projects encompass (1) performing flow cytometry and immunological characterisation of immune responses to vaccines, undertaking and developing immunological assays for vaccine development.

Characterisation experiments will include ELISA, PCR, multicolour flow cytometry and molecular biology; (2) assisting in vaccine efficacy studies and undertaking tasks involved in vaccine assessment including animal studies, (3) assist in the assessment of serological response to vaccines using flow cytometry and other associated immunological studies. Support vaccine assessment including animal studies.

Key responsibilities will include: 

• Assist in the conduct of research in the area agreed with the supervisor.  

• Work with colleagues, postgraduates, and undergraduates in the completion of their research projects.

• Ordering and maintenance of laboratory supplies and preparation of laboratory samples and reagents.

• Assisting with mouse handling infection procedures, monitoring laboratory animals out of business hours, when required.

• Undertaking induction and basic training of new staff and students.

This is a full-time (100%), fixed-term position in the first instance from early 2024.

About You  

• Minimum diploma level qualification majoring in immunology or molecular biology, or an equivalent combination of experience and education/training.

• Basic understanding of immunology, molecular biology, microbiology or biochemistry.

• Some experience with flow cytometry, PCR, ELISA assays, microbiology, immunology studies.

• Some experience with tissue culture, bacterial culture and aseptic technique.

• Willingness to assist with laboratory animal handling and procedures.

• Ability to quickly acquire new laboratory techniques and to perform them routinely at a high level of accuracy and efficiency.

• Sound knowledge of OH&S guidelines and laboratory safety.

• Availability to check on laboratory animals on occasions out of business hours.

• Ability to work as a member of a team.

• The ability to plan, execute and interpret research in a semi-independent manner.

• High level of inter-personal and communication skills.

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

• Mandatory Immunisations: It is a condition of employment for this role that you will be required to provide evidence of immunisation against certain vaccine preventable diseases.

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Gabrielle Belz:  [email protected] .

For application queries, please contact [email protected] 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 addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume.

Other Information 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion .  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity , LGBTQIA+ , cultural and/or linguistic , Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples , or people with a disability . Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to [email protected]  

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close Thursday, 18 January 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number – R-34050). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for week commencing 22nd January.