Postdoc Research Fellow/Research Fellow in Soft Matter Rheology and Lubrication - Chemical Engineer

The School of Chemical Engineering is an international leader in the chemical engineering field and has an excellent international reputation which has been built over four decades at the University. With 39 academic staff, including 21 professors, the School provides quality programs and leadership in chemical engineering education, research and development, and expert consulting to support the process industries. The School conducts undergraduate teaching in the disciplines of chemical, biological, environmental, materials and metallurgical engineering and teaches into postgraduate programs in growing fields including water, sustainable energy and petroleum engineering. The School's project-centered curriculum was chosen in a RAE & MIT study as one of six global exemplars in leading engineering education. UQ Chemical Engineering was ranked in the top 35 worldwide in the 2017 QS subject rankings for chemical engineering and received top ranking (5/5) in research excellence in 2015 ERA exercise. The school is entering an exciting phase building on recent successes in individual industry-linkages and larger international-research partnerships, a new building being constructed, a range of senior staff examining transitions to emeritus roles, and a new diverse and inclusive school culture being developed. We are interested in new staff to join us in this exciting journey to further increase our local and international impact in learning and discovery in chemical engineering. Specifically this role embodies the ambition for the school to build further excellence in teaching and research into unconventional petroleum engineering especially given its major role in the State. Information about the Faculty and the School may be accessed on the Faculty's web site at http://www.uq.edu.au/chemeng

The role

The successful applicant will be expected to engage in research on an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant “Multiscale viscoelastic lubrication of soft matter systems”.  The Project aims to develop new principles of viscoelastic lubrication in soft contacts. New insights into friction behaviour arising from complex fluid-substrate interactions are expected to be generated using techniques and interdisciplinary approaches that bridge rheology, tribology and surface science. The intended outcome is a phenomenological lubrication model that interprets the contribution of viscoelastic effects occurring across multiple length and time scales. This should provide significant benefits to diverse fields including advanced materials and complex fluids, engineering tribology, biolubrication and food structure design.  The scaling models discovered in the project will enable a transformational ability to interpret the many studies currently utilising soft tribology, including those in biotribology for biomedical applications and in food engineering where it is emerging as a design tool to create innovative consumer acceptable foods. Outputs will enhance innovation and growth in these and other fields for societal benefits (health, nutrition, well-being) and significantly advance the knowledge base.  The project is led by Professor Jason Stokes in the School of Chemical Engineering.

The person

Applicants should possess qualifications in relevant disciplines. You should also have demonstrated capability to undertake research in areas aligned to the project such as rheology, tribology and surface science with knowledge on complex fluids and soft matter systems; ability to mentor or supervise research students; ability to work collaboratively with colleagues; high level communication skills and a passion for academic activities including research.

The University of Queensland values diversity and inclusion and actively encourages applications from those who bring diversity to the University. Please refer to the University's Diversity and Inclusion webpage (https://staff.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/human-resources/diversity) for further information and points of contact if you require additional support.  

This role is a full-time position; however flexible working arrangements may be negotiated.

Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to the contact person listed below. 

Remuneration

This is a full-time fixed term appointment at Academic level A/B depending on experience and qualification.

• The remuneration package for appointment at Level A will be in the range $66,283 - $89,285p.a., plus employer superannuation contributions of up to 17% (total package will be in the range $77,551 - $104,464p.a.).
• The remuneration package for appointment at Level B will be in the range $93,985 - $111,607P.a., plus employer superannuation contributions of up to 17% (total package will be in the range $109,963 - $104,464p.a.).

The University of Queensland also offers other competitive options including salary sacrificing, on campus childcare, leave packaging and discounted private health insurance as well as many other benefits.

Enquiries

To discuss this role please contact Prof Jason Stokes on +61 7 336 54361 or Jason.stokes@uq.edu.au

To submit an application for this role, use the Apply button below. All applicants must supply the following documents: Cover letter, Resume and Selection Criteria responses.

For information on completing the application process click here.

Closing date -16th January 2019, (11:55 PM) E. Australia Standard Time