Research Fellow in Mechanical Engineering

• School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering

• Join a university ranked in the world’s top 50

• ARC Research Project

• Systems Modelling and Simulation

• Full-time, Fixed term position up to one year or Part-time equivalent

• Sponsorship or relocation support are not available

• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll 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.

As part of our commitment to research excellence, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and post-fellowship contracts via our UQ Amplify initiative.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. Not only do we have one of the largest PhD enrolments in Australia, but we have also made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

About This Opportunity 

This is a great opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer with a strong background in engineering and applied mathematics to advance modelling of complex systems associated with renewable energy production and hydrogen.

Key responsibilities will include: 

Research

• Implement systemic analysis and simulation of large-scale energy storage, distribution and export, especially using hydrogen and its derivatives in Queensland/Australian conditions.

• Conduct systemic analysis of renewable, partially renewable and fossil fuel-based hydrogen production and separation, and as needed, cooperate with the molecular dynamic group and perform stochastic and molecular simulations.

• Participate in the centre and group discussions and activities and integrate the work of PhD students involved in the project by creating/maintaining a set of systemic functions (MATLAB, Octave or similar) for different elements associated with energy production, storage and transport.

• Document research findings and/or publish scholarly papers in high-quality refereed international journals, books and conference proceedings.

• Participate in applications for competitive research funding to support projects and activities and work with colleagues in the development of joint research projects and applications for competitive research funding support.

Supervision and Researcher Development

• Contribute to the effective supervision of students investigating energy transition and hydrogen production (as needed) and integrate the work of PhD students involved in the project.

• As appropriate, manage research support staff effectively throughout the employee lifecycle in accordance with University policy and procedures.

• Working to promptly resolve conflict and grievances when they arise in accordance with University policy and procedures.

Teaching

• Although teaching duties are not required for this position, contribution to teaching is encouraged for those who are interested as part of their career planning as long as this does not interfere with the other duties.

Citizenship and Service

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

• Shows leadership of self through collaboration and active participation in priority activities for the unit.

• Provide support to other academic positions and unit operations as needed during other team members absences.

• Contribute to internal service roles and administrative processes as required, including participation in decision-making and service on relevant committees.

• Collaborate in service activities external to the immediate organisation unit.

• Begin to develop external links and partnerships by cultivating relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community.

• Perform a range of administrative functions in the unit (research group or centre) as needed.

• Contribute to the development of a positive safety culture in the School.

• Demonstrate citizenship behaviours that align to the UQ values.

• Show leadership of self through collaboration and active participation in priority activities for the unit.  

• Provide support to other academic positions and unit operations as needed during other team members absence.

• Any other duties as reasonably directed by your supervisor.

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

This is a Full-time (100% FTE), Fixed term position up to one year or Part-time equivalent at an Academic level A. The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $74,308.68 - $99,426.59, plus a generous super allowance of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be up to $86,941.16 - $116,329.11 annually. 

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, some flexible working arrangements including occasional hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in engineering or applied science.

• An emerging profile in research in the discipline area.

• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.

• Success in or a contribution towards obtaining scholarships or research funding.

• Some experience in meaningful internal service roles and contributions towards external activities.

• Demonstrated competence in:

  • stochastic modelling of complex systems, especially those involving hydrogen molecular modelling as well as solving complex engineering problems requiring advanced mathematics and systems-level analysis

  • programming in a MATLAB-like language(s) (i.e. Octave, Python, Simulink etc.)      

• Ability and willingness to:

  • Supervise honours and/or Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students.

  • Promote and adhere to a positive safety culture.

• Demonstrated:

  • High level of drive and enthusiasm, determination and ability to overcome difficulties.

  • High level of interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

  • Commitment to UQ’s values.

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship and relocation support are not available for this appointment. 

• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record and/or educational check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits. 

 
Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Alexander Klimenko. For application queries, please contact recruitment@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 
 

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

Please note that you will be asked to add all documents into the one upload box labelled ‘resume’, which is step one of the application form.
 

Other Information 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion.  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in our broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to recruitment@uq.edu.au 

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

Applications close Monday 25th September 2023 at 11.00pm AEST (R-28369).