Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Protein Engineering for Biocatalysis

• School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
• Full-time, fixed-term position until January 2029
• Base salary will be in the range $83,698- $111,431 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level A)
• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

Join a globally connected research community at the University of Queensland and help shape the future of synthetic biology and pharmaceutical chemistry. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will advance your research profile in protein engineering for biocatalysis, working at the frontier of engineering enzymes to enable new-to-Nature chemistry. The aim of this project is to make drug development cleaner, greener and more sustainable by developing biological catalysts of fluorination chemistry based on catalytically versatile and robust enzymes created by ancestral sequence reconstruction.

At UQ, you’ll collaborate with leading researchers in a supportive, high-impact environment that values curiosity, innovation and real-world outcomes. In addition to progressing cutting-edge research, you will contribute to the stewardship of laboratory systems and ensure compliance with WHS, OGTR and regulatory frameworks, while engaging with the broader research community.

If you are motivated to push the boundaries of enzyme engineering and build an emerging international research profile, this role offers the platform, resources and collaborative culture to help you thrive.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Deliver high-quality research by publishing in leading outlets, contributing to competitive funding applications, and developing an emerging research profile in the discipline.
• Collaborate on impactful projects that translate research into practice, including knowledge transfer, industry engagement, and potential commercialisation of UQ intellectual property.
• Support researcher development through supervision of undergraduate, Honours and HDR students, providing guidance, feedback, and effective management of research support staff where appropriate.
• Contribute to academic citizenship through collaboration, service to the unit and University, and building 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

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in protein engineering, biocatalysis, synthetic biology or biological, bioinorganic or medicinal chemistry.
• Undergraduate training in Biochemistry, Synthetic/Structural/Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biological/Organic Chemistry or Microbiology.
• An emerging profile in research, including evidence of publications in reputable, mainstream refereed journals and presenting at international and national conferences.
• Experience contributing to the supervision of junior research students on laboratory-based projects.
• Some experience in meaningful internal service roles including laboratory management and compliance.
• Experience in engineering enzymes for biocatalysis or pharmaceutical chemistry, or in the characterisation of cytochrome P450 enzymes, unspecific peroxygenases or other haemoproteins would be useful but is not essential.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Elizabeth Gillam e.gillam@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.

When applying, please upload a resume and a cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section, including your relevant formal training in chemistry and/or biochemistry.

As part of the Selection Process, applicants shortlisted for interview may be required to present a short (~10-15 min) talk on their previous research as part of their scheduled interview.

Applications close 7 June 2026 at 11:00pm AEST (R-58926). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for week commencing 15 June 2026.