"Research Assistant (Molecular Plant Pathology)"

Are you an experienced Research Assistant with a passion for plant pathology? Do you enjoy working in collaborative environments where your contributions can lead to real-world impact? 

Join our team at UniSQ and work alongside Early Career Researchers through to Senior Researchers on projects relating to cotton pathogen research as part of the newly established Australian Cotton Disease Collaboration (ACDC) Virtual National Centre at UniSQ’s Toowoomba campus.

In collaboration with the Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC) and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), UniSQ has been selected as a lead strategic partner for the ACDC which will see our renowned crop scientists leading research into crop disease, shaping a future where cotton production thrives.

Who you are

You will have a keen interest in agricultural research as well as a strong desire to work collaboratively with a team who are dedicated to mitigating the economic impact of diseases on the Australian cotton industry. You will also possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to contributing to high quality research outcomes.

What you'll do

You will play an important role in our efforts to understand and combat cotton pathogens. You will be involved in various aspects of research and work alongside a team of scientists to initiate and develop effective strategies to establish a cotton pathogen collection. In doing so, you will:

Develop advanced protocols to undertake the isolation, characterisation, and storage of cotton pathogens.

Lead individual experiments by planning, organising and conducting glasshouse and field trials to understand host range and fungicide responses.

Prepare pathogen inoculum, raising and infecting seedlings and monitoring for disease symptoms.

Collect, collate, and analyse project data whilst maintaining scientific data integrity to record data relating to experiments, field trials and disease scores of infected seedlings in the glasshouse.

What will help you succeed

Together with your relevant qualification, your experience and expertise in molecular and plant pathology related research, will be key to your success in this role. You will also have:

An ability to lead and conduct glasshouse and field experiments relating to establishing a cotton pathogen collection.

A demonstrated ability to apply high levels of scientific accuracy and integrity in the accumulation of laboratory, glasshouse and field data.

Specialised technical expertise, knowledge of advanced techniques and procedures and ability to operate fit-for-purpose technology relevant to the work being undertaken.

An ability to work as part of a team, set appropriate goals and prioritise workload.

For further information about this role, please contact Associate Professor Sambasivam Periyannan, Associate Professor (Crop Molecular Genetics), via +61 7 4631 1502 or Sambasivam.Periyannan@unisq.edu.au. 

To find out more about the ACDC Virtual National Centre, please visit https://www.unisq.edu.au/research/acdc. 

The University offers a range of different ways of working and connecting across our physical and virtual spaces to meet the needs of our students, partners and community. We value diversity and strive to foster an inclusive environment that is underpinned by our values and champions, embraces and respects differences.

We support and encourage applications from all diversity groups. With an increasingly diverse workforce, we understand that careers may be placed on hold or limited throughout many life circumstances.

Find out more about UniSQ at www.usq.edu.au.

Reference Number: 0128_05/24

Location: Toowoomba

Term: Part-time fixed term appointment until 30 June 2028 (18 hrs/week)

Salary: Total remuneration range $52,344 pa to $56,691 pa (includes salary range of $44,228 pa to $47,901 pa, employer super contributions up to 17% and annual leave loading)

Closes: Monday, 2 September 2024 at 11:30 pm (AEST)

At UniSQ we are united by our core values of Respect, Integrity and Excellence, which guide our daily actions and decision-making.

To be considered for this position, you will need to have the right to work in Australia.

If you know that this role is right for you, please submit your current resume together with a two-page (maximum) statement, outlining your skills and experience relative to ‘Who we’re looking for’ in the position description.

For more information on our selection process please refer to your recruitment journey available on our website.

Position Description