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