Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Fellow (Molecular Biologist, Drug Discovery)

Institute for Molecular Bioscience Full-time fixed-term position for up to 12 months Base salary will be in the range $83,698.91 – $111,431.10 + 17% super (Academic Level A) or $117,120.53 – $138,769.70 + 17% super (Academic Level B) Based at our St Lucia Campus About This Opportunity Join a visionary and collaborative research environment at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, where discovery science meets real-world impact. This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow or Research Fellow in Molecular Biology to contribute to an ambitious program focused on developing next-generation peptide and protein therapeutics for drug-resistant cancers. Working alongside peptide chemists, biologists and clinicians, you will lead innovative research from early-stage discovery through to translation and commercialisation, supported by world-class infrastructure and a culture that values curiosity, collaboration and purpose. Key responsibilities will include: Research: Design and deliver high-quality molecular biology research, contributing to competitive grant applications, publishing in leading journals, and advancing projects through translational and commercial pathways. Supervision and Researcher Development: Contribute to the supervision and development of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students, fostering an inclusive and supportive research culture. Citizenship and Service: Actively participate in institute and university service, demonstrate behaviours aligned to UQ values, and begin building external partnerships with industry, government and the wider community. This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance. About You You will bring enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity and a commitment to collaborative science, along with: Level A: Qualifications and research experience Completion or near completion of a PhD in fields relating to molecular biology. Previous experience in a similar role would be considered favourably. Strong experience with molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, including PCR, cloning, and recombinant protein expression. In particular, the candidate should have knowledge of and experience with recombinant display libraries (e.g., phage, yeast and/or mRNA display). Experience with cell biology techniques, including cell culturing, flow cytometry, would be considered favourably. Research outputs Excellent problem-solving skills, leading to efficient production of quality research outputs. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences. Participated in funding applications directly or indirectly Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and also independently on research projects Supervision and Researcher Development A growing profile in the supervision and training of Honours and Research Higher Degree students to successful completion Engagement Experience in meaningful internal service roles Level B: Qualifications and research experience Completion of a PhD in fields relating to molecular biology. Previous experience in a similar role would be considered favourably. More than 3 years’ of post-PhD research experience with molecular biology and biochemistry techniques, including PCR, cloning, and recombinant protein expression. The candidate should have knowledge of research experience with recombinant display libraries (e.g., phage, yeast and/or mRNA display). Experience in other scientific areas, such as structural biology, cell biology and flow cytometry, with evidence of independently running related experiments. Research outputs Ability to independently lead research projects, resulting in efficient production of quality research outcomes, with a lead role in some outputs. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and sometimes invitations to present at conferences. Evidence of successfully seeking, obtaining and managing external research funding, and sometimes leading funding applications Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and also independently on research projects Supervision and researcher development A developing record of successful supervision and training of Honours and Research Higher Degree students to completion and production of research outcomes, and a developing profile of leading others. Engagement Experience in meaningful internal service roles in conjunction with active contributions to external activities. Participated in team building and leadership activities. Evidence of contributions to progression of knowledge to end users through translation 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. 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, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process. Interested? For more information about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Conan Wang at [email protected] and Dr Crystal Huang at [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. When you apply, please ensure you upload a cover letter (maximum of 1 page), resume (maximum of 2 pages), and responses to the ‘About You’ section (maximum of 2 pages). Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted. Other Information Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia and qualifications checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements. Relocating from interstate or overseas? We may support you with obtaining employer-sponsored work rights and a relocation support package, however upfront costs will still be expected to be covered. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [email protected] or calling +61 7 3365 2623. Applications close Thursday 25 June 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-63992). The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million). Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries. UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way. UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work. For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.