"Research Fellow (Avian Influenza Epidemiology)"

Job Description

• Faculty of Science / School of Veterinary Science
• Part-time (80%), fixed-term position through to April 2028
• Base salary will be in the range $117,120.53 - $138,769.70 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level B)
• Based at our Gatton Campus

About This Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for a Research Fellow to contribute to high-impact infectious disease epidemiological research while building a strong research profile toward national recognition.

Based primarily at the UQ School of Veterinary Science (Queensland Alliance for One Health Sciences), the role is supported by an ARC Discovery–funded project and involves close collaboration with Chief Investigators and experts at the UQ Institute of Molecular Bioscience, as well as engagement with industry, government, and international partners.

The Research Fellow will lead expert consultation and prioritisation to identify Australian bird species at risk of avian influenza; conduct avian necropsies and disease screening in line with ethical and biosecurity requirements; curate samples to establish a national avian bone-marrow biobank; and develop integrated disease-modelling pipelines to support risk-based avian influenza surveillance across Australia. Travel to partner institutions may be required.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Research: Lead and contribute to an interdisciplinary avian influenza epidemiology and immunology research program, integrating molecular, immunological, phylogenetic, ecological, and modelling approaches to produce high-quality research outputs, support competitive funding, and translate findings into risk-based avian influenza surveillance and biosecurity outcomes.
• Supervision and Researcher Development: Provide effective supervision, mentoring, and people management, including co-supervision of Honours and HDR students and research staff, supporting researcher development, and managing performance, conduct, and workplace matters in line with University policies and procedures.
• Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate leadership and service through mentoring and collaboration, stakeholder engagement, research dissemination, and active participation in unit priorities, while ensuring project delivery, compliance, and contribution to a collaborative and inclusive research culture aligned with UQ values.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

About You

Essential

• Completion of a PhD in infectious disease epidemiology, veterinary science, animal science, immunology, bioinformatics, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated postdoctoral research experience with a developing track record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to a Level B appointment.
• Evidence of the ability to conduct research with a degree of independence, including planning experiments or analytical approaches and meeting project milestones.
• Demonstrated experience working with biological samples and complying with animal ethics, biosafety and quality-assurance frameworks.
• Demonstrated expertise in infectious disease epidemiology and/or disease modelling, molecular epidemiology, bioinformatics and/or quantitative analysis relevant to infectious disease research.
• High-level written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated capacity to present and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary national and international research teams.
• Evidence of successfully seeking, obtaining and managing external research funding.
• A growing record of supervision of Honours and Research Higher Degree students to successful completion.
• Experience in meaningful internal service roles in conjunction with active contributions to external activities

Desirable

• Direct experience in avian influenza research in poultry and/or wild birds.
• Practical experience performing avian necropsies and pathological sampling.
• Demonstrated experience in spatiotemporal or transmission modelling of infectious diseases.
• Experience with RNA sequencing, comparative genomics or long‑read sequencing technologies.
• Experience working at the One Health interface, including engagement with government biosecurity or wildlife agencies.
• Experience supervising students or junior research staff and contributing to grant reporting or development.

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

Applications close Sunday 15 March at 11.00pm AEST (R-59932).