• School of Political Science and International Studies
• Part-time (40%), fixed-term position for up to 3 years
• Base salary range: $82,057.75 – $109,246.18 + 17% superannuation full time equivalent (Academic Level A)
• Based at our St Lucia campus

About This Opportunity

An exciting opportunity exists for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join one of Australia’s leading universities. The successful candidate will work on the ARC-funded project “Outsourcing Foreign Policy: Consultants and Contractors in Australian Aid”, alongside Professor Shahar Hameiri (UQ), Dr Kelly Gerard (UWA), Dr Annabel Dulhunty (ANU), and Professor Emma Mawdsley (Cambridge).

The project uses innovative methods to analyse how outsourcing shapes Australia’s foreign policy and identify ways to improve policy outcomes. The Fellow will contribute to data collection, analysis, and co-authored publications for academic, policy, and media audiences, as well as to broader service and engagement activities within the research team.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Research: Conduct and publish high-quality research, develop a coherent research program, and contribute to competitive funding applications. Collaborate with colleagues and external partners to enhance research outcomes and impact.
• Service and Engagement: Actively contribute to internal service roles and team initiatives. Build external relationships with industry, government, and professional bodies to support collaboration and knowledge transfer.
• Compliance: Uphold University policies and relevant legislation, including OH&S, sustainability, and education standards for international students.

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

Essential

• Completion or submission of a PhD in Politics, International Relations, International Political Economy, or cognate discipline.
• An emerging profile in research in the discipline area.
• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

Desirable

• Evidence of skills in one or more of the following areas: financial analysis (preferably the ‘follow the money’ method); social network analysis; interviewing and/or leading focus group discussions.
• Evidence of contributions towards successfully obtaining external research funding.

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 Professor Shahar Hameiri s.hameiri@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 Wednesday, 12 November 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-56518).