Research Assistant in Environmental Science

Position Type: Full-time (100%), fixed-term for up to 12 months
Salary: $93,491.78 – $100,296.98 + 17% superannuation (HEW Level 6)
Location: St Lucia Campus and the University Mine – Indooroopilly

About This Opportunity

We’re seeking a Senior Research Assistant to play a key role in advancing the Dust and Respiratory Health Program. This is an exciting opportunity to apply your expertise in occupational hygiene, mining, mineralogy, microscopy, occupational health, or related disciplines to research that makes a difference.

As part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team, you’ll provide specialist technical and research expertise across the entire research life cycle—helping deliver high-quality outcomes in a rapidly expanding field with significant growth potential.

If you’re experienced, motivated, and ready to contribute to research that improves health and safety, we’d love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct fieldwork at participating mine sites, including collection and management of paired respirable and inhalable dust samples and real-time monitoring data.

• Liaise professionally with mine site personnel, contractors, and equipment operators to support safe and efficient field activities.

• Assist with laboratory-based chamber experiments and comparison trials.

• Ensure data quality control, maintain laboratory and field records, and comply with all UQ and site-specific safety requirements.

• Compile, clean, and manage large datasets from microscopy and real-time monitoring, performing trend and statistical analyses where required.

• Contribute to technical reporting, fact sheets, publications, and conference materials, communicating effectively with project partners and stakeholders.

• Travel to regional and remote locations as required for fieldwork; a valid driver’s licence is essential.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds from around 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 student life, you will contribute to activities with lasting impact on the community.

Benefits

• Up to 26 weeks paid parental leave/paid primary care leave

• 17% superannuation + 17.5% annual leave loading

• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid options, flexible hours, and purchased leave

• Health and wellness benefits: fitness passport, free flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, Employee Assistance Program access

• Career development opportunities, internal-only vacancies, Study for Staff program

• On-campus childcare options

• Affordable parking (from $6.40/day)

• Salary packaging options

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, occupational hygiene, engineering, chemistry, geology or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• Demonstrated experience in industrial, mining, or environmental settings.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with mine site personnel and industry partners.

• Proven ability to collect, manage, and analyse scientific or technical data with attention to detail and accuracy. Scientific laboratory experience desirable.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.

• Current driver’s licence and willingness to travel to regional and remote locations for fieldwork.

The successful candidate may be required to complete pre-employment checks, including right to work in Australia.

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment. Employer-sponsored work rights are not available.

Questions?

For more information, please contact:
Dr Nikky LaBranche: n.labranche@uq.edu.au

For application inquiries, contact the Talent Acquisition team: talent@uq.edu.au
(Include the job reference number in the subject line.)

Want to Apply?

To be considered, please upload:

• Resume

• A cover letter summarising how your background aligns with the About You section

UQ is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you require an alternative application method 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. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate potential. The panel considers both performance and potential relative to opportunity.

Applications close:

Tuesday 6 January 2026 at 11:00pm AEST (R-58634)
Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week commencing Monday 12 January 2026.

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com