Food and Beverage Accelerator Program: Based in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)
Full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to December 2027
Base salary will be in the range $102,166.05 - $109,246.18 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level A)
Based at our St Lucia Campus
We are seeking a hands-on Fermentation Scientist to operate, optimise, and design experiments using lab-scale bioreactor systems. You will generate the high-quality biological datasets required to train the biological layer of a digital twin, a computational model that predicts how bioprocesses behave at different scales, and work closely with engineers and data scientists to integrate experimental outputs into computational models.
This role is ideal for someone who loves running fermentations, troubleshooting real systems, and contributing directly to next-generation process development tools.
Key responsibilities will include:
Research:
Set up, optimise and maintain the instrumented bioreactors in coordination with the IDEA Bio team.
Design and execute fermentation experiments to measure growth, yield, product formation, and environmental responses of microorganisms.
Perform baseline cultivations and modified-condition experiments used to mimic pilot-scale hydrodynamics
Maintain rigorous data collection, sample logging, and QC standards.
Work closely with the modelling team to ensure experiments generate the required parameters for model training.
Contribute to design of automated workflows for running multi-condition and perturbation studies.
Carry out sample preparation and analysis on instruments to satisfy and accomplish research outcomes.
Prepare experimental summaries for milestone reports and publications.
Organise and maintain bioreactors and probes/sensors.
Coordinate sample preparation workflows with the proteomics and metabolomics teams.
Assist the development of research and testing procedures and methodologies, including analysis of quality outcomes.
Perform standard maintenance on instruments for optimal performance.
Assist in the preparation of engineering reports, documentation, and milestone deliverables.
Produce quality research outputs consistent with discipline norms by publishing or exhibiting in high quality outlets.
Other duties, as reasonable directed by the supervisor
Supervision and Researcher Development: Supervise Honours and Higher Degree by Research students, supervise and manage employees, provide performance feedback and training, resolve conflicts, and ensure correct remuneration and benefits.
Citizenship and Service: Develop partnerships, demonstrate leadership through mentoring, engage in internal service roles and committees, perform administrative functions, provide support to colleagues, and uphold university values.
This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.
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.
At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.
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 including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.
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
You are an experienced and highly motivated fermentation scientist ready to apply your subject matter expertise and advance the development of a Digital Twin for Bioprocess Scale-Up/Scale-Down and Optimisation.
You will have:
Completion of a relevant undergraduate and PhD in microbiology, biotechnology, biochemical engineering or related discipline with subsequent experience cultivating microorganism sin instrumented bioreactors.
Demonstrated research-relevant knowledge and skills with the operation of instrumented bioreactors and relevant operation software.
Demonstrated research-relevant knowledge and skills in the development of bioprocesses: batch, fed-batch, continuous, scale-up criteria.
Strong understanding of experimental design and data quality control.
Demonstrated experience in the cultivation of microorganisms (bacterial, yeast), including screening methods, media selection and standard growth kinetics characterisation.
Demonstrated laboratory skills (media and buffer preparation, sample preparation, implementation of experimental protocols etc.)
Ability to work collaboratively with the modelling team.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to plan, prioritise tasks, meet deadlines, and work adaptably both independently and in a team.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to produce clear, succinct documentation.
Strong expertise in the Microsoft Office suite of programs, GraphPad Prism, and the ability to learn new programs (e.g., LabArchives, BioRender).
Desirable
Experience with precision fermentation or industrial strains.
Familiarity with off-gas analysis, metabolite assays, bioprocess analytics (e.g. HPLC data)
Knowledge in fermentation control, optimisation and scale-up.
Experience in the use of electronic lab books.
Familiarity with the Python programming language.
The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, conduct concerning gender-based violence etc.
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.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Tim McCubbin at t.mccubbin@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.
We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:
Resume
Cover letter
Responses to the ‘About You’ section
Our strength 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, particularly from Australia’s First Nations Peoples. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.
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.
Applications close Sunday 4 January 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-59580). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for early January 2026.