"Senior Research Assistant"

Job Description:

• UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research
• Full-time fixed-term position for up to 1 year
• Base salary will be in the range $93,491.78 - $100,296.98 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 6)
• Located within the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

About This Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Research Assistant to join the Antimicrobial Optimisation Bioanalysis Laboratory — a small but world-renowned research team collaborating with clinical and academic partners around the globe to improve how antimicrobials and other drugs are used.

In this hands-on role, you’ll apply your expertise in bioanalysis to support cutting-edge research, performing chromatographic analysis of small-molecule drugs in biological specimens and contributing to every stage of the research life cycle. Your work will help drive innovative discoveries that directly impact global health outcomes.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence in January 2026.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Conduct advanced bioanalytical research — perform drug quantification using HPLC, LCMS, ELISA, and stability assays to industry standards.
• Undertake microbiological and ex vivo studies — contribute to critical care research, including renal replacement therapy and nebulised drug delivery projects.
• Manage laboratory operations — oversee specimen logistics, equipment maintenance, and ensure compliance with ethics, safety, and quality standards.
• Apply specialist technical expertise — develop, set up, and monitor experiments, research protocols, and analytical methods under broad direction.
• Maintain accurate documentation — record, analyse, and report research data, contributing to publications and collaborative outputs.
• Foster collaboration and capability — support continuous improvement, promote a proactive safety culture, and mentor junior research staff.

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.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave
• 17% superannuation contributions + 17.5% annual leave loading
• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
• Career development opportunities –access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and our Study for Staff program
• Salary packaging options

About You

• Completion of a relevant degree in Pharmacy or Science with subsequent experience in coordinating activities or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
• Demonstrated research-relevant knowledge and skills with expertise in a wide range of specialist and general research techniques, including chromatography or bioanalysis.
• Advanced technical capabilities in liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and/or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
• Prior experience in developing chromatographic methods for quantitative analysis of drugs in biological fluids by HPLC or LC-MS/MS
• Experience with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), microbiology and logistics.
• Competence with quality management systems, familiarity with compliance to international standards, and experience with bioanalytical method development and validation.
• Well-developed problem-solving skills, with an ability to forward plan, prioritise tasks to meet deadlines and work with a high level of adaptability, both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to produce clear, succinct documentation.
• The ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in a research environment.

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

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 Dr Helen Won at h.won@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
• A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with 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 November 16th 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-55812). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for late November 2025.

Posted:

25/10/2025