"Senior Research Fellow"

Job Description:

• Faculty of Science / School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
• Full-time fixed-term position for up to 12 months
• Base salary will be in the range $140,293.65 - $161,518.34 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level C)
• Based at our Gatton Campus

About This Opportunity

We’re looking for a Senior Research Fellow to join us in shaping more resilient and sustainable food systems. This role offers the opportunity to lead impactful research in agribusiness, rural development and agricultural systems, applying systems thinking to address complex challenges affecting food systems and rural livelihoods.

You’ll join a collaborative, purpose-driven research environment, leading innovative projects that integrate systems mapping, causal loop analysis, scenario modelling and market systems analysis to inform policy, investment and practice at national and international levels.

This is a research-focused position with opportunities to extend your impact through capacity-building initiatives, including the design and delivery of international development short courses and select teaching activities that embed systems thinking into agribusiness and agricultural economics curricula.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Research: Lead and deliver high-impact research in agribusiness, rural development and agricultural systems, applying systems thinking to food systems, market systems and rural livelihoods. Secure competitive funding, publish in high-quality outlets, and translate research into policy and industry impact through strong national and international collaborations.
• Teaching: Contribute to select undergraduate and postgraduate courses in agribusiness and agricultural economics, embedding systems thinking into curriculum design. Support international development capacity-building through the design and delivery of short courses and professional training programs.
• Supervision and Researcher Development: Supervise HDR students and mentor early-career researchers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, research excellence and responsible research conduct. Build capability in systems thinking across the research group and broader academic community.
• Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate leadership aligned with UQ values through collaboration, mentoring and a commitment to staff wellbeing. Strengthen external partnerships across the Indo-Pacific and globally and contribute to UQ’s international development agenda through active stakeholder engagement.

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

About You

• PhD in sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, international agricultural development, agri-environmental management, system dynamics or a closely related discipline.
• Established research profile with national recognition and a developing international reputation, demonstrated through high-quality publications and impactful projects.
• Proven ability to secure and manage external research funding as Chief Investigator or lead on substantial projects.
• Advanced expertise in systems thinking, system dynamics modelling (e.g., Stella, Vensim) and participatory approaches such as group model building.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience supervising HDR students and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into policy and practice, and to build partnerships with industry, government and development agencies.
• Extensive experience in international development and capacity-building programs, particularly across South-East Asia and Africa.
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to travel internationally to lead collaborative research and training initiatives.

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 January 4th 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-58887).