About This Opportunity

The Australian Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) at UQ is driving the future of Australia’s food and beverage sector through industry-research partnerships, advanced manufacturing, and training the next generation of agri-food innovators.

We are seeking two Postdoctoral Research Fellows to join the FaBA-Noumi industry project, hosted at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability (AGFS). In these roles, you will:

• Engineer microbial systems using cutting-edge synthetic biology tools and metabolic engineering strategies.
• Optimise yeast platforms for the sustainable production of high-value food ingredients.
• Collaborate with a world-class team at the interface of academic research and commercial translation.

At UQ, we offer more than just a role – you’ll be part of a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and impact. You’ll have access to world-class facilities, industry connections, and professional development opportunities to accelerate your career and make a real-world difference.

Join us and contribute to shaping the future of industrial biotechnology in Australia.

Position 1: Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Engineering Secretion Pathways in Yeast

This role focuses on enhancing protein secretion in Komagataella phaffii and other industrial yeasts. The work involves engineering signal peptides, chaperones, folding catalysts, and trafficking components; applying CRISPR/Cas9 and modular cloning tools; and validating engineered strains through molecular, biochemical, and omics analyses. The position provides hands-on experience in synthetic biology, strain engineering, and industrial biotechnology.

Position 2: Postdoctoral Research Fellow - High-Throughput Secreted Protein Quantification and Systems Biology

This role develops high-throughput assays—such as ELISA and LabChip—to quantify secreted proteins and integrates these data with multi-omics datasets to identify regulatory or metabolic bottlenecks. It involves statistical analysis and systems modelling, and close collaboration with strain engineering and bioprocess teams to connect protein titres with cellular fitness and cultivation parameters. The position offers strong exposure to advanced systems biology and industry-informed research with real-world impact.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a world-leading team at the forefront of industrial biotechnology, working at the interface of academic research and commercial translation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Research: Produce high-quality research outputs, support commercialisation, contribute to funding applications, prepare reports and manuscripts, and apply best-practice research methodologies.
• Supervision and Researcher Development: Support and develop junior researchers and students, provide effective supervision, uphold UQ’s leadership expectations, and manage team matters professionally.
• Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate UQ values through collaborative service, contribute to unit operations and committees, and begin building external partnerships with industry, government, and professional bodies.

These are a research focused positions. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

About the Food and Beverage Accelerator

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.

About You

For position 1 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Engineering Secretion Pathways in Yeast:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong collaborative skills with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and strong written and verbal communication.
• Experience mentoring students or junior researchers.
• Demonstrated expertise in yeast molecular biology and protein secretion systems.
• Experience with molecular cloning and genome editing tools (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9).
• Desirable: Experience engineering chaperones, signal peptides, or secretory pathways in yeast.

For position 2 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow - High-Throughput Secreted Protein Quantification and Systems Biology:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong collaborative skills with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and strong written and verbal communication.
• Experience mentoring students or junior researchers.
• Demonstrated experience in high-throughput assay development and protein quantification (e.g., ELISA, LabChip).
• Strong background in data analysis, statistics, and integration of multi-omics datasets (e.g., proteomics, metabolomics).
• Desirable: Experience in systems modelling or HTS assay development to inform strain optimisation.

Desirable for both:

• Evidence of presenting research at conferences.
• Contributions to successful external research funding applications.

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

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We may support you with obtaining employer-sponsored work rights and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.

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 nominate which position you are applying for and 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. 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 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 January 11th 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-57824). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the last 2 weeks of January.