Casual Research Officer (Food Process Modelling and Consequential LCA)

The University of Queensland; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 89,000 - 95,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Job summary

The University of Queensland invites applications for a Research Officer based at the St Lucia campus. This casual role offers an hourly rate between $64.28 and $68.96 plus 12% superannuation.

You will join a collaborative research environment to develop food process models and conduct consequential life cycle assessment focusing on sorghum foods such as flour, porridge and baked products. Key responsibilities include modelling with SuperPro Designer, running SimaPro scenarios, literature

Qualifications

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills and experience in process modelling and environmental assessment.
• Experience with process modelling software (e.g., SuperPro Designer) including mass/energy balances.
• Experience with LCA software (e.g., SimaPro) for life cycle inventories and consequential modelling.

Responsibilities

• Develop and adapt process models in SuperPro Designer, including mass and energy balances, resource requirements, and product recovery.
• Develop consequential LCA scenarios in SimaPro, considering system boundaries, supply, substitution and co-product effects.
• Analyse literature, supplier and project data; validate model outputs and document key assumptions and uncertainties.
• Communicate findings through sensitivity analyses, technical summaries, and research outputs; provide process inputs to the techno-economic assessment team.

Skills

Quantitative skills

Process modelling

Environmental assessment

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Relevant engineering/science degree

Tools

SuperPro Designer

SimaPro

Excel

MATLAB

Job description

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation Casual position with an hourly rate in the range of $64.28 to $68.96, plus superannuation of 12% (HEW Level 6). Based at our St Lucia location

About This Opportunity

Join a collaborative research environment where you will help assess the environmental impacts of emerging food pathways. As the Research Officer, you will develop food process models and undertake consequential life cycle assessment (LCA), with a focus on sorghum foods such as flour, porridge and baked products.

Key responsibilities will include: Develop and adapt process models in SuperPro Designer, including mass and energy balances, resource requirements, product recovery, losses and co-products. Develop consequential LCA scenarios in SimaPro, considering system boundaries, supply, substitution and co-product effects. Assess literature, supplier and project data, validate model outputs, and document key assumptions and uncertainties. Analyse and communicate findings through sensitivity analysis, technical summaries and research outputs, and provide process inputs to the techno-economic assessment team.

About You

You will bring strong quantitative and analytical skills, with experience in process modelling, environmental assessment and technical data. You will ideally have: A relevant degree in agriculture, chemical, biochemical, food process or environmental engineering, or a related quantitative discipline, with relevant experience. Experience using process modelling software such as SuperPro Designer, including mass and energy balances and unit operations. Experience using LCA software such as SimaPro to develop life cycle inventories and conduct LCA, including consequential modelling or substitution analysis. Ability to assess system boundaries, marginal suppliers, co-product treatment, scale, yield and uncertainty assumptions. Strong data management and analytical skills, including reproducible calculations and consistent management of units, datasets and model files. Ability to evaluate technical evidence, solve modelling challenges and communicate findings clearly to researchers and industry collaborators. Experience in cereal or food processing, Australian agricultural supply chains, industrial process data or model validation would be highly regarded. Familiarity with technical reporting or publications, and R, Python or MATLAB would be advantageous.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds from around the world in an environment where interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged. Working at UQ means joining an inclusive and connected community committed to creating positive change through research, education and community impact.

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. Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia, criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements. You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.

We’re dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing [e-mail] or calling [phone].

Applications close Monday 7 December at 11.00pm AEST (R-70644). 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.

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. At the University of Queensland, we are proud to be one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, consistently ranking among the top 50 universities worldwide.

As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, UQ is widely recognised for its intensive focus on research and teaching excellence – evidenced by our numerous accolades including more teaching awards than any other Australian University and reflected in UQ being the number one recipient of ARC Fellowships and Awards nationally across all scheme years (totalling 452 awards worth $339 million).

Our state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and cutting-edge research centres offer unparalleled opportunities for academic and professional growth. With five faculties, a number of globally recognised research institutes, and over 100 research centres, we attract an interdisciplinary community of more than 7000 staff, supporting more than 55,000 current students from over 137 countries.

UQ is dedicated to supporting the career aspirations of our students and staff. Our comprehensive career services provide personalized guidance, skills development, and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals. Whether you are a student seeking internships and job placements or a staff member looking for career advancement, UQ is here to support you every step of the way.

UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion aims to ensure that everyone at UQ feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential.

We are particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to UQ – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability.

Explore our current job openings, discover our programs, and become part of a community that is dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful impact for the communities in which we live and work. For more information about working at UQ and our employee benefits (such as generous leave provisions, 17% superannuation, flexible working arrangements, and health and wellness discounts) please visit Why Work at UQ.