UQ

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Managing Plastic Waste

St Lucia Campus Full time

About This Opportunity 

This is a great opportunity to work alongside Professor Steven Pratt on two Partnership for Australia-Indonesia Research (PAIR) projects and with Emeritus Professor Helen Ross and Professor Steven Pratt on Effecting Change and Sustainability Assessment in the ITTC for Bioplastics and Biocomposites.

Key responsibilities will include: 

  • Research: Focus on (i) assessment of plastic waste management – and the potential role of bioplastics - for seaweed farming and regional hospitals in Indonesia (PAIR projects), (ii) supporting system-wide assessment of the opportunities and barriers to increasing the flows of bioplastics in the materials system, especially social, business and policy factors and (iii) assessing end-of-life management (specifically composting) of bioplastics.

  • Teaching: Participate in undergraduate or postgraduate teaching as required, ensuring high teaching quality through positive student outcomes and feedback, and continuously improving or innovating where appropriate.

  • Supervision and Researcher Development: Supervise research students (specifically those undertaking coursework thesis projects), supporting their development through feedback and coaching, managing research staff in line with University policies, and resolving conflicts promptly.

  • Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate UQ values through collaboration and leadership, supporting team operations, contributing to service and committee work, and building external partnerships with industry, government, and the community.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

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.

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.

About You

  • Completion of a PhD in (bio)plastic management / end-of-life of (bio)plastics.

  • An emerging profile in research (bio)degradation of (bio)plastics, and / or systems thinking, social or business aspects of (bio)plastics

  • Experience in stakeholder engagement and managing projects that engage with community groups.

  • Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and disseminating outcomes through presentations to stakeholders and / or at conferences.

  • Some experience in meaningful internal service roles and contributions towards external activities.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, criminal check, education check, mandatory immunisations, etc. 

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 Professor Steven Pratt via s.pratt@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.
 

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

  • Cover letter

  • Responses to 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 talent@uq.edu.au.

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 Monday, 24 November 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-58174).

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