Postdoctoral Research Fellow

a USA government funded project “EMergent
Ecosystem Response to ChanGE Biology
- bii.github.io/). The appointees’ primary role
will be to assist in developing novel
workflows to the project’s large datasets (e.g.
>4Tbp of metagenomes).

Analyses will focus on understand ecosystem
- climate feedbacks in Stordalen Mire, a
thawing permafrost peatland in arctic
Sweden. Rapid warming in the Arctic is
driving permafrost thaw, and new availability
of formerly-frozen soil carbon for cycling and
release to the atmosphere, representing a
potentially large but poorly constrained
accelerant of climate change.

The successful applicant will undertake
bioinformatic research to determine how
microbial communities are changing at the
strain-level in response to global climate
change. This effort will develop novel “big
data” approaches, using the increasingly
massive quantity of public metagenome data
available to inform pan-genome analyses,
complemented by short and long read
sequencing technologies. This research
program will build upon significant the
expertise and tools available at CMR (e.g.
work in concert with other bioinformatics
- focused post-doctoral fellows and students. It
is anticipated that methods developed will
become widely used in microbial ecology and
result in high impact publications, and that
ecosystems will drive our understanding of
microbial feedbacks to climate change.

This position reports to CMR team leader Dr
Ben Woodcroft and Prof Gene Tyson for
supervision, workload management and for
Performance Planning and Review (PPR).

**Key responsibilities include**:
metagenomic profiling approach
developed in the Centre.
- Developing bioinformatic analysis

techniques and tools.
- Assisting with supervision of research

students within the Centre.
- Establishing and maintaining effective

collaboration with other researchers.
- Preparing and publishing research

outcomes in relevant referred international
journals and present research outcomes at
seminars and conferences.
- Maintaining complete and accurate manual

and electronic research records.
- Conducting periodic literature searches,

reviews and retrieval of information.
- Contributing to regular laboratory

meetings.
- Implementing and administering University

policy within the Faculty with respect to
equitable access to education and
workplace health and safety.
- Complying with health and safety policies,

procedures, hazard reporting and safe
work practices.
- Implementing and administering University

policy within the Faculty with respect to
equitable access to education and
workplace health and safety.

To ensure job flexibility the successful
- appointee may be required to:
- perform any other duties as nominated by

the University consistent with the relevant
classification descriptors detailed in the
Enterprise Agreement. Staff undertaking
any new duties will receive training;
- participate in job rotation or multiskilling in

consultation with their supervisor;
- work across campuses

To be appointed as a Postdoctoral Research
Fellow (Level A) the successful applicant must
meet the position classification standards
outlined in the QUT Enterprise Agreement
(Academic Staff).

**Type of appointment**
This appointment will be offered on a fixed
- term, full-time basis for twelve (12) months.

**Location**
Centre for Microbiome Research, Translational
Research Institute (TRI), Woolloongabba,
Brisbane.

Selection Criteria
1. Education, training and/or relevant

experience equivalent to the completion of
postgraduate qualifications, or progress
towards postgraduate qualifications in
bioinformatics, computer science,
phylogenetics, or microbial genomics.

2. Strong, demonstrated ability to program in

Python and/or other high
- or low-level
programming languages, ideally with
publicly accessible examples of code
available (e.g. via GitHub).

3. Experience in handling data-heavy
pipelines or programs.

4. Demonstrated ability to work
collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary
team, along with proven ability to
autonomously organise and prioritise tasks
and workflows to meet project deadlines.

5. High level communication skills, including
clear and effective verbal communication,
demonstrated written communication skills
and strong interpersonal skills.

6. Ability to problem solve, logically plan and
coordinate research activities, and critically
assess existing literature and methods

**Remuneration and Benefits**
- The classification for this position is Academic
- Level A (LEVA) which has an annual
- remuneration range of $AUD83,894 to
- $AUD113,836 pa. Which is inclusive of an
- annual salary range of $AUD70,891 to
- $AUD96,193 pa, 17% superannuation and
- leave loading.
- Beyond personal and professional fulfilment, a
- career at QUT brings a broad range of tangible
- benefits. With competitive remuneration
- including superannuation, the University offers
- real and generous benefits.
- QUT is a high quality and flexible