Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience

The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience, located on the main University campus, is Australia's leading biosciences research institute. Established in 2000, the Institute is home to over 420 staff and is located in thriving Brisbane, a city consistently ranked as one of the world's most vibrant and livable cities.

The Institute, ranked in the Top 20 globally for life sciences research, pursues a multidisciplinary approach to solving some of the world's most serious challenges in the fields of health, disease and sustainable solutions for our cities, fuels and foods. The Institute is housed in a single building and is organized into technological platforms (Divisions) and research themes (Centres). The Divisions support state-of-the art facilities including the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, which houses new cryo-electron microscopes; the NMR facility containing 500, 600 and 900 MHz machines; the Mass Spectrometry Facility accommodating a wide array of instrumentation; suites for work with a variety of model organisms; a plethora of next generation DNA sequencing technologies and the southern hemispheres leading program in complex genetic traits. The Research Centres accommodate 36 groups using a combination of genomics, chemistry and cell biology to take life science discoveries from the genome to drug design and application in the areas of antimicrobial resistance, inflammation, pain, cardiovascular disease and rare and developmental diseases.

The quality of our internationally recognised researchers underpins our research excellence. Over the past five years, our group leaders have attracted nearly $250 M in research funding. They have leveraged funding from over 40 different national and international research sponsors including significant support from federal and state government sources. The success rate in federal funding schemes is amongst the highest in all of Australia. The accomplishment of our staff is reflected by the consistent contribution they make to the prestigious Nature science index and by the fact five are listed in the prominent 2018 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers List.

A corner stone of the Institute is the strong emphasis on ensuring our discovery science has impact by translating our research discoveries to meet industry, community and clinical needs. The Institute has generated more than 30 patent families and has spun out multiple companies. The impact of our work is illustrated by two biopharmaceutical companies founded in the Institute, Protagonist Therapeutics Ltd and Inflazome Ltd. The former company entered into a $1 B worldwide agreement to co-develop a drug for inflammatory bowel disease and the latter recently received $70 M to develop treatments for inflammatory diseases. Our ambition to strengthen our translational portfolio continues. For example, in the last 12 months researchers from the IMB:

• Were part of a successful push to put endometriosis on the national agenda to improve understanding, treatment and support of this debilitating disease
• Identified genetic factors contributing to the risk of developing diseases like endometriosis and motor neurone disease, advancing our understanding of these disorders on a global scale
• Discovered a new type of cell in the brain that mops up cellular waste and may provide protection against stroke and dementia
• Discovered a small protein in spider venom that could prevent the devastating brain damage caused by stroke
• Discovered we could shrink brain tumours using existing breast cancer treatments
• Found a promising potential treatment for breast cancer that blocked cancer spread and improved survival rates in models
• Discovered a molecular trigger for inflammation that could lead to new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and neurodegenerative diseases
• Furthered research in development of new medicines for treating inflammatory diseases, including allergies, by building molecular switches that can control immune response
• As part of a global team, identified a new gene behind a rare form of inherited childhood kidney disease
• Combated superbugs by creating a new diagnostic, repurposing old drugs and continuing to crowdsource the next antibiotic
• Developed the first new therapy in over 30 years to be used successfully in patients to treat antibiotic resistant infections
• Helped an Australian family-owned company create the first mass-produced organic insecticide from peptides found in the Butterfly Pea plant
• Initiated a program to use algae to produce clean water, livestock feeds, foods, fuels and medicines

Details of the research interests of the Institute may be accessed on the Institute's website at: https://imb.uq.edu.au/

The Institute recognises and values equity and diversity, and encourages applications from any individual who meets the requirements of this position irrespective of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age or other protected attributes.

IMB strives to provide an inclusive working environment, and along with the University is committed to supporting staff with family and caring responsibilities by providing policies, programs and initiatives to help balance work and family responsibilities.

Specific initiatives at IMB can be found at (https://imb.uq.edu.au/about/equity-and-diversity-imb)

The role

Our laboratory is working to understand how macrophages control inflammation and the dysregulation of inflammatory responses in many common inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.  The appointee will lead a project to analyse and identify new regulatory proteins and pathways (e.g. SCIMP, Nature Communications 2017) within Toll-like receptor signalling networks that control inflammation. The work will involve multiple approaches including proteomics, structural biology, protein biochemistry, cell imaging and in vivo mouse models. The successful appointee will work both independently and as part of a productive team in the Stow group at IMB, UQ. You will have access to a dedicated support network and superb research facilities and the opportunity to publish high-profile findings. Involvement in applications for research funding, supervision of higher degree research students and active participation in conferences are anticipated. The project will involve multidisciplinary collaborations with other groups at UQ, in Melbourne and elsewhere.

The person

Applicants must hold a PhD in immunology, cell biology or biochemistry and demonstrate expert knowledge in one of these areas. Applicants should have skills in molecular and cellular biology, biochemical or immunological techniques. Additional skills in cell imaging and familiarity with mouse disease models will be an advantage.  Applicants should also have a strong desire to gain career momentum through successful and high impact research, have good general research skills, a strong methodological background, excellent statistical and analytic skills, very good writing abilities, and the capacity to work with multidisciplinary research teams.

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.

Remuneration

This is a full-time, fixed term appointment for 2 years at Academic level A. The remuneration package will be in the range $83,295- $89,285 p.a., plus employer superannuation contributions of up to 17% (total package will be in the range $97,456- $104,464 p.a.).

Enquiries

To discuss this role please contact Professor Jenny Stow on j.stow@imb.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.