Microscopy Officer

• Institute for Molecular Bioscience
• Full-time fixed-term position for up to 2 years
• Full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $97,268.85 - $104,348.98 + 17% super (HEW Level 6)
• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

As Microscopy Officer, you will be at the heart of discovery, partnering with the Microscopy Platform Manager to deliver world‑class optical, fluorescence and confocal microscopy services at IMB. Working alongside passionate researchers and state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure, you will help turn complex biological questions into clear, high‑impact insights. Your contribution will directly enable exceptional research outcomes across the Institute, University and external partners, while fostering a vibrant culture of shared learning, operational excellence and scientific curiosity aligned to UQ’s purpose of creating change together.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating and delivering individual and group training in microscope operation, image acquisition, visualisation software and image analysis for biological research.
• Maintaining, cleaning and calibrating microscopy instrumentation to factory specifications, and supporting the day-to-day operation of the imaging platform.
• Providing responsive, helpdesk style troubleshooting for minor equipment and software issues, and escalating complex matters as required.
• Managing platform assets and records, including stocktakes, consumables ordering, user training logs, work records and associated charges.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of facility procedures, documentation, and user support resources.
• Supporting the safe and effective operation of the imaging platform in accordance with institutional policies and laboratory standards.

About You

You will bring a strong technical foundation, a service-oriented mindset and a genuine enthusiasm for supporting others to do their best science. You will also demonstrate:

• A degree in a biological or biomedical discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education or training.
• Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining optical microscopes, including fluorescence and confocal systems, in a research setting.
• Practical laboratory experience relevant to microscopy, such as histology techniques including fixation, embedding, sectioning and staining or immunofluorescence sample preparation and labelling.
• Proven expertise in applying advanced biomedical or life science microscopy techniques to analyse structure, morphology and function.
• Well-developed organisational, interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to prepare professional documentation on complex matters.
• Experience delivering training or teaching users in microscope and equipment operation, or the capability and confidence to develop these skills.
• Desirable experience with widefield and confocal microscope systems as well as image processing and quantification methods for multi-dimensional datasets.
• Familiarity with Windows-based administrative systems, scientific image analysis software, scripting, or programming languages relevant to image acquisition and analysis (e.g., Python, ImageJ/Fiji macros, MATLAB).

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, working together to create a better world. Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available.

Enjoy up to 26 weeks paid parental and primary care leave, 17% super, 17.5% leave loading, flexible and hybrid working options, health and wellbeing programs, a heavily discounted Study for Staff program, on‑campus childcare, affordable parking, and salary packaging.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Nicholas Condon at n.condon@uq.edu.au.

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

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.

Other Information

Pre-employment checks may include: verification of the right to work in Australia. 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 talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.

Applications close Sunday 29 November 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-70573). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the week commencing Monday 7 December 2026.

Acknowledgment of Country:

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.

Why Choose UQ?

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.

Career Development and Support:

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.

Diverse and Inclusive Community:

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.

Join the UQ Community:

Whether you are a recent graduate, an Academic, or an experienced professional, UQ offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow and succeed. 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.