Casual Senior Research Assistant

• School of Chemical Engineering – Faculty of EAIT

• Casual position with an hourly rate in the range of $54.28 to $60.33, plus superannuation of 12% (HEW Level 5)

• This project will be for approximately 3 months - average of 10-15 hours per week

• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity 

This is an exciting casual position as a Senior Research Assistant. In this role you will provide research support and subject matter expertise in support of an interdisciplinary team working on questions associated with climate change, sustainability, and resource systems and the challenges of transitioning towards low-carbon energy systems.

The successful candidate should be capable of bridging academic, policy, and applied domains at a level warranting co-authorship. You will support team members to distil Excel-based optimisation models into high-quality academic papers and policy briefs for a variety of audiences. This role requires a deep understanding of disciplinary conventions and the ability to adapt argumentation, tone, and structure to meet diverse editorial and institutional standards. You will need to demonstrate the capacity to "code-shift" between research, policy, and practitioner audiences.

You will join an interdisciplinary research team led by Dr Nadja Kunz. The project will be implemented in an advanced, well-equipped and supportive research environment within the School of Chemical Engineering (ranked #1 in Australia for chemical engineering). They will be based in the modern and recently built, Liveris Building, where they will have an opportunity to work with a diverse student body.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Assists in the design of research studies, under supervision of senior staff.

• Assists in the conduct of research and data analysis.

• Troubleshoots issues with Excel-based optimisation models.

• Develops visuals to distil Excel-based models to a general audience.

• Conducts literature reviews and contributes towards co-authored research publications.

Research and administrative support

• Undertakes literature searches and reviews.

• Assists with routine team administration.

• Assists with preparing reports, graphs, figures and presentations on research outcomes at different stages of the research cycle outcomes.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over 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 the student life, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as access to exclusive internal-only vacancies and affordable parking from just $6.15 a day.

About You

• Completion of a bachelor's degree level qualification (diverse fields of study are considered); or completion of a Diploma with relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

• Excellent practical research skills and experience in relevant research methodology or techniques required for this body of research.

• Experience using Microsoft Excel.

• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.

• Ability to work independently on routine procedures.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Well-organised, methodical and self-motivated.

• Previous experience in a similar role would be considered favourable.

The successful candidate may be required to complete background checks including, right to work in Australia, criminal history and education checks.

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Nadja Kunz via

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at , stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line. 
 

Want to Apply? 

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the 'About You' section  

• Resume 

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We are committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact

Other Information 

As a casual employee, and in line with Fair Work, please note that there is no commitment to ongoing work in this position. 

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who do not meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

Applications close on Wednesday, 12 November 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R

Please note applications will be reviewed as received. Candidates may be interviewed prior to the job closing date. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. The University of Queensland reserves the right to close this application process early.