Organisation Unit: School of Civil Engineering Position Number: 3027343 Type of Employment: Full time, continuing Classification: Academic Level B
BACKGROUND
Organisational Environment The Federal Governments 2012 Excellence in Research for Australia exercise confirmed The University of Queensland as one of the nations top three universities, measured by the quality of its comprehensive range of specialised research fields. ERA reported that research at UQ is well above world standard in more specialised fields than at any other Australian university: this reflects UQs leading global role in many areas of discovery. UQs outstanding critical mass offers researchers significant interdisciplinary capability.
UQ integrates its research strengths with excellent teaching and learning and has won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university. International university rankings highlight UQs excellence: Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Jiao Tong), Times Higher Education, QS and National Taiwan University Ranking all rank UQ in the top 100. UQ is one of Australias Group of Eight, and a founding member of Universitas 21, an international consortium of leading research- intensive universities.
UQs 45,500-strong student community includes more than 10,000 postgraduate scholars and more than 11,000 international students from 162 countries. The University has more than 7,000 academic and professional staff and a $1.6 billion annual operating budget. Its major campuses are at St Lucia, Ipswich, Gatton and Herston, in addition to teaching and research sites around Queensland and Brisbane city. The University has six faculties and eight institutes. The institutes funded by government and industry grants, philanthropy and commercialisation activities have built scale and focus in research areas that UQ regards as strategically important.
The School of Civil of Engineering
The School of Civil Engineering has a long and proud record of academic achievement and involvement with the profession and industry and is among the leaders in civil engineering education and research in Australia and has world standing in several research areas. Its mission is to provide a cohesive learning environment enabling quality education, leadership with a desire to meet technological challenges and an ability to work with a wide range of people.
The School currently employs 28 academic staff who contribute to its teaching and research programs, and staff numbers are growing rapidly. The Schools total annual income is over $28M.
The School contributes to teaching in the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) with over 900 students enrolled in years 2, 3 and 4 of the BE in the fields of Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental Engineering. There are also over 80 students enrolled in research higher degrees. The School has extensive laboratory facilities located along with the staff in the new Advanced Engineering Building (AEB) at UQs St Lucia Campus, covering structures, hydraulics, geomechanics, concrete and environmental engineering which are used for teaching, research and commercial testing.
The Centre for Solid Waste Bioprocessing
The Centre is a joint initiative between Remondis and UQ and its goal is to become an internationally leading research Centre in solid waste management, particularly in organic waste degradation and bioconversion processes. A description of the current personnel and facilities in the Centre can be found at www.cswb.uq.edu.au.
The facilities include a dedicated research laboratory in the AEB. The laboratory has been specifically designed for organic waste bio-processing with the following features: Walk-in freezer, to accommodate large representative waste samples Walk-in refrigerator, to similarly accommodate large samples Constant temperature room PC2 standard laboratory with rigorous risk management practices, including H 2 S, flammable gas sensors and alarms. Reticulated gases to the laboratory including H 2 , argon, N 2 and CH 4 for analyses and experimentation Fume cupboards, laminar flow hoods and a 4m x 1.2m fume hood for large scale aerobic experiments 4 x 200L temperature controlled reactors with online high precision measurement of CO 2 , CH 4 and O 2 fluxes in and out of the reactors, for operation in either anaerobic or aerobic modes. Gas chromatography faciilties for analysing CH 4 , CO 2 , H 2 and O 2 from the % to the ppm range. Further information and details of the research interests of academic staff may be accessed on the schools web site at http://www.civil.uq.edu.au
For further information, please contact Professor Bill Clarke on +61 7 3365 6464 or william.clarke@uq.edu.au
Information for Prospective Staff Information can be found at https://www.uq.edu.au/uqjobs.
Schedule 10 of The University of Queensland Enterprise Agreement 2010 2013 outlines the position classification standards for Levels A to E.
DUTY STATEMENT
Primary Purpose of Position The successful applicant will have an emerging track record in the field of Bioprocess Engineering, either related to the production of commodities including methane, transport fuels and H 2 from 2 nd
generation feedstocks including municipal waste, or related to environmental bioremediation applications. The appointee will be encouraged to establish their own vibrant research program, supported by the Centre, competitive funding rounds and other industry sources. They will contribute to the expansion of organic resource engineering activities within the School of Civil Engineering and enhance links with industry. They will work closely and collegiality with other academic staff and develop synergies with allied disciplines at UQ, particularly through links with the School of Chemical Engineering, the Advanced Water Management Centre. The appointee will also teach into the Civil Engineering teaching programs and to facilitate growth, innovation and enterprise within the academic unit.
Duties Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Research Grow the Centre by grants and consulting Promote the profile of the Centre through publications, professional development courses in applied areas such as solid waste management and bioengineering and participate on professional committees such as waste management industry bodies and journal editorial boards. Recruit and supervise Doctoral research students Publish research outcomes in high quality, high impact journals and conferences
Teaching Teach into the undergraduate Civil and Environmental Engineering program at UQ, including participation in courses such as Wastewater and solid waste management Environmental Modelling Sustainable Built Environment Groundwater and surface water modelling
Service Foster the Schools relationships with industry, government departments, professional bodies and the wider community. Provide professional engineering consulting and services.
Administration Perform a range of administrative functions in the School Contribute to the processes that enable the academic team to manage the work of the School, including participate in School decision-making and serve on School committees Comply with the Universitys Code of Conduct (see the Universitys web site at http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/1.50.01-code-conduct) Adopt sustainable practices in all work activities and comply with associated legislation and related sustainability responsibilities and procedures developed by the University (see the Universitys web site at http://www.uq.edu.au/sustainability/responsibilities
Occupational Health and Safety Comply with requirements of Queensland occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation and related OH&S responsibilities and procedures developed by the University or School. (see the Universitys web site at http://www.uq.edu.au/ohs/index.html?page=133956)
Reporting Relationships The position reports to the head of School.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Qualifications Essential PhD in Chemical, Environmental, Bioreaction or Civil Engineering with relevant experience.
Knowledge and Skills Essential Demonstrated expert knowledge in an aspect of bioprocess engineering, such as o bioreactor operation and control o the use of bio-electrochemical systems for producing desired products o meta-genomic analysis of fermentation or digestion systems o environmental bioremediation o biofuel production. Desirable Demonstrated modelling ability. This could include: o kinetic, mass balance models for bioprocessing systems o the use of metabolic flux analysis together with empirical models to predict the composition of fermentation products from mixed cultures o incorporation of physicochemical effects in systems limited by mass transfer, such as biofilms. Demonstrated use of phylogenetic and metabolite analyses to infer the function of mixed microbial cultures.
Experience Essential Evidence of effective research contributions, through publications in international peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Evidence of leadership in research, including o Supervision of either undergraduate or postgraduate students. o Evidence of an ability and willingness to pursue research opportunities, including attempts to obtain research funding. Evidence of developing research collaborations
Desirable Demonstrated teaching skills, in the preparation and delivery of tutorials or lectures in undergraduate, postgraduate or short course classes.
Personal Qualities Essential A high level of drive and enthusiasm. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and research students, including those from different disciplines, as well as with administrative and technical staff. Demonstrated high-level interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills. Ability to promote the Schools activities within the University and the external community. Seminar Applicants invited for interview will be expected to present a seminar in conjunction with the selection interview process.
The University of Queensland is an equal opportunity employer.
Smoking is prohibited in all University buildings.