Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

Full-time (100%), fixed-term position up until 30 November 2029. Full time equivalent base salary will be in the range $97,268 - $104,348 + 17% super (HEW Level 6). Based at our St Lucia campus location.

About This Opportunity. Join a collaborative crop biotechnology research environment supporting the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Strategic Sorghum Alliance and the Better Sorghums project. As a Senior Research Technician, you will contribute to research aimed at improving the nutritional quality of sorghum for animal feeds and human foods. Working alongside postdoctoral researchers and the broader sorghum biotechnology team, you will play a hands-on role in delivering innovative crop research while sharing your expertise and continuing to develop your technical skills.

Key responsibilities will include:

- Undertake advanced crop gene editing research, including plant tissue culture, genetic transformation and phenotyping of gene-edited plants in glasshouse or field conditions.
- Set up, monitor and demonstrate experiments and equipment use, maintain accurate research records and contribute to the development of research and analytical protocols.
- Maintain high standards of laboratory practice, including equipment maintenance, research housekeeping, sample and chemical management, waste disposal, safety and compliance with approved ethics protocols.
- Contribute to research outputs and collaborative reports and manuscripts, while supporting the development of early-career research engineers, scientists and technicians.

About You

A relevant degree in plant science, biotechnology, genetics or molecular biology, together with subsequent relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training and experience.

Demonstrated research knowledge and technical expertise in plant biology and molecular biology.

Hands-on expertise in plant tissue culture and gene editing, including experience working in a plant tissue culture laboratory.

Significant experience contributing to crop biotechnology projects with defined delivery milestones.

Advanced technical capability in plant genetic transformation and detailed phenotyping of plants under glasshouse or field conditions.

Experience in cereal phenotyping would be highly regarded.

Knowledge of relevant research and scientific safety requirements and procedures, including quarantine, waste disposal, labelling and risk assessment.

Well-developed problem-solving and organisational skills, with the ability to plan,



prioritise competing tasks and meet deadlines, both independently and as part of a team.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to produce clear documentation and collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders in a research environment.

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, working together to create a better world. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available. Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible working options, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on-campus childcare, affordable parking, and salary packaging.

Other Information Pre-employment checks may include:

Verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, professional registration (e.g. AHPRA), criminal history checks, mandatory immunisations, First Aid and/or CPR certification, and Blue Card checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

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.

We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [email protected] or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close Thursday 26 November 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-70242).

Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for Monday 7 December.

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants,



who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country.

At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide. As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million).

Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries.

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UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential.

We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed.

Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work.

For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.

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📌 Research Technician - Crop Biotechnology (Brisbane)
🏢 The University of Queensland
📍 Brisbane