Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB) – Faculty of EAIT
Full-time (100%), fixed-term position until 31/12/2027
Academic Level A: the range $82,057.75 - $109,246.18 + 17% Superannuation
Academic Level B: the range $114,824.05 - $136,048.73 + 17% Superannuation
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position
Based at our St Lucia Campus - Brisbane
About This Opportunity
We are excited to invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Academic Level A) or Research Fellow (Academic Level B) to join our Digital Sewers team, researching digital twinning approaches to transform wastewater and sewer infrastructure into efficient service systems for community benefit.
In this position, you will advance your expertise and build a strong emerging research profile in machine learning and mechanistic modelling, sensor network development, efficient data sorting and processing algorithms, real-time and model predictive control, and transformative applications in the wastewater sector.
Key responsibilities will include (for Academic Level A and B):
Research: Design and implement data-processing methods to assess sewer operations and support predictive, real-time control. Develop and optimise code and digital-twinning platforms with industry partners, produce high-quality research outputs and reports, contribute to funding applications, and deliver training workshops and demonstrations for technical staff.
Supervision and Researcher Development: Support effective HDR student supervision and development, help attract postgraduates, demonstrate strong supervisory skills, and resolve conflicts promptly in line with University policies.
Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate UQ-aligned citizenship by collaborating on priority activities, mentoring HDR students, supporting colleagues, contributing to service and committee roles, and beginning to build external partnerships with industry, government, and the broader community.
Additional responsibilities for Academic Level B include:
Research: Produce and lead research outputs consistent with discipline norms, resulting in a developing national profile. Contributes to and sometimes leads funding applications or other external mechanisms of research support, consistent with discipline norms. Contribute to progression towards transfer of knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ IP. Contribute to development of, or delivery of partnerships with research end users (and in particular industry), or external collaborations resulting in quality outputs. Participate in team building and/or discipline service.
Supervision and Researcher Development: Demonstrate active engagement in the responsible conduct of research. Facilitate the development of supervisee capabilities and skills. Facilitate engagement opportunities for supervisees. Demonstrate personal effectiveness in supervision and the management of researcher development.
Citizenship and Service: Undertake internal service role/s effectively. Actively pursue goals in external service. Actively pursue goals in engagement activities and partnerships. Show leadership of self and others through mentoring and collaboration.
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 or near completion of a PhD in a relevant field.
Demonstrated expert knowledge and experience in modelling and control in water and/or wastewater systems, and data science and data analytics methods as they relate to management of water and/or wastewater systems, especially hydrological and hydraulic process, groundwater infiltration, and sewer processes.
Software engineering and coding expertise relevant to integration of machine learning and mechanistic models, and development of engines for efficient processing and visualisation of large-scale datasets and system geographic information and showcasing research results relevant to decision-making for sewer operation and maintenance.
Quality research outputs: Produces research outputs consistent with discipline norms.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as demonstrated by e.g., invited talks/seminars and lectures, presentations at conferences, communication to technical and non-technical audiences.
The ability to work both independently in a research environment and as part of a collaborative research team.
The ability to work productively with industry collaborators.
Responsible conduct of research: Demonstrates engagement in the responsible conduct of research, including management of sensitive and commercial in-confidence data.
Additional for Academic Level B:
Supervision outcomes: Has a developing track record of achievement in supervision outcomes. Facilitates the development of supervisee capabilities and skills. Demonstrates personal effectiveness in supervision and management of researcher development.
Quality research outputs: Produces research outputs consistent with discipline norms, with a lead role in some outputs, resulting in a developing national profile.
Funding and other external support: Evidence of identification of research opportunities and solutions that are creative and non-standard. Contributes to and sometimes leads funding applications or other external mechanisms of research support, consistent with discipline norms.
Translation and impact: Contributes to progression towards transfer of knowledge, technology and practices to research end users through translation, including commercialisation of UQ IP.
Teaching profile: Demonstrates a growing profile and contribution to a range of teaching responsibilities.
Engagement: contributes to the development of, or delivery of partnerships with research end users, or external collaborations resulting in quality outputs.
The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: rights to work in Australia, education check.
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 Dr Stephan Tait via s.tait@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, 15 December at 11.00pm AEST (R-58589). Interviews will occur in January 2026.
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