• Food and Beverage Accelerator Program: Based in the School of Chemical Engineering
• Full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 30 April 2027
• Base salary will be in the range $93,491.78 - $100,296.98 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 6)
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position
• Based at St Lucia Campus - Brisbane

About This Opportunity

We are looking for a new team member with experience in food manufacture, processing and/or development to join our team and provide this specialist technical expertise in support of high-quality research outcomes at all stages of the research, development and innovation life-cycle.

Projects include those seeking to enhance the nutritional properties and sustainability credentials of animal and plant-based foods while maintaining consumer acceptability, spanning products like beverages, burgers and nutrient dense snack foods with minimal ingredients. It is anticipated that the researcher will perform food product and/or process development, and it may include utilising lab- and pilot-scale twin screw extruders.

A key aspect to the role is engaging collaboratively to deliver outcomes that support FaBA in accelerating new product / ingredient / processing opportunities for the benefit of Australian industry and consumers.

Key responsibilities will include:

Responsibilities

• Applies specialist technical skills or knowledge to research activities, including food and beverage product/ingredient development, processing, manufacture and/or characterisation.
• Implements research results and new knowledge from science and engineering.
• Assist in the development and management of research, development and innovation projects and technologies.
• Support the management of food laboratory operations.
• Assist in managing projects to deliver against milestones and meet expectation of stakeholders.

Safety

• Ensures food safe practices are exercised and maintained within the food laboratory.
• Ensures a high standard of research housekeeping, waste disposal, sample storage and chemical/ingredient/sample inventory management.
• Assists with developing a proactive safety culture and implement continuous improvement.
• Under broad direction, sets up, monitors and demonstrates standard experiments and equipment use.
• Coordinates maintenance of instruments/equipment to ensure optimal performance.

Research and Administrative Support

• Assists with the development of research/analytical/processing protocols.
• Maintains accurate records of experiments or technical activities and results/outcomes.
• Designs testing procedures and coordinate to identify problems and solutions.
• Contributes to research outputs and preparation of reports/manuscripts.
• Other duties, as reasonable directed by the supervisor.

About the Food and Beverage Accelerator

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.

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
• Access to flexible working arrangements including flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight
• 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
• UQ Study for Staff
• On campus childcare options
• Cheap parking (from just $6.15 a day)
• Salary packaging options

About You

• Completion of a relevant degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering or Chemical Engineering or similar.
• Significant experience of working in manufacturing / food production environment, or in a relevant research and development environment, is highly desirable.
• Advanced technical capabilities in food processing, food development, and/or extrusion processing highly desirable.
• Knowledge of nutrition science and regulatory frameworks is desirable.
• Detailed knowledge of legislative requirements and operating procedures for research, food production, and food safety, including development of standard operating procedures, waste disposal, labelling and risk assessments.
• Relevant experience in a research, development and innovation preferably in area of food and beverages or the capability to quickly acquire this knowledge and apply in the workplace.
• Well-developed problem-solving skills, with an ability to forward plan, prioritise tasks to meet deadlines and work with a high level of adaptability, both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to produce clear, succinct documentation.
• The ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in a research environment.

The successful candidate may be required to complete background checks including, Right to Work in Australia, criminal history and education checks.

Work Rights:
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.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Prof Jason Stokes via [email protected].

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected], stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume
• A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the 'About You' section

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We are committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact [email protected].

Other 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 do not 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.

Applications close on Tuesday, 16 September 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-55414).