Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Officer - Hybrid Glass X-ray Scintillators

• School of Chemical Engineering – Faculty of EAIT
• Full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to 2 years
• Base salary will be in the range $85,372.89 - $113,659.72 + 17% super (Academic Level A)
• Visa sponsorship may be offered for this position
• Based at our St Lucia Campus - Brisbane

About This Opportunity

The School of Chemical Engineering is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer to join Associate Professor Jingwei Hou's group on the NHMRC Investigator Grant "Wearable and High-Sensitivity X-ray Detectors for Managing Respiratory Diseases in Infants and Children".

The project develops hybrid glass scintillators that can be processed into flexible, wearable detectors for low-dose X-ray imaging of children. You will lead the materials work: designing, synthesising and characterising hybrid glass scintillators, and relating glass structure to scintillation performance.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Research: Develop and characterise advanced hybrid glass scintillator materials, leading synchrotron experiments, collaborating on detector prototype development, and contributing to high-impact publications, conference presentations, and research funding applications.

• Supervision and Researcher Development: Supervise HDR and undergraduate students, supporting researcher development and fostering high performance through mentoring, feedback and professional development. You will also contribute to the effective management of research support staff and help resolve workplace issues in line with University policies and procedures.

• Citizenship and Service: Contribute to a positive and collaborative research environment by supporting unit operations, maintaining compliance with health and safety requirements and engaging with internal and external stakeholders to advance the University's goals.

• Teaching: Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, delivering high-quality learning experiences and continuously improving teaching practice in response to student feedback and outcomes.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

About You

• A PhD (awarded or near completion) in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering or a related field.
• In-depth understanding of hybrid glass materials, such as MOF glasses, coordination polymer glasses or hybrid metal halide glasses, including melt-quenching and structure-property analysis.
• Hands-on experience with synchrotron techniques, from beamtime proposals through data collection to analysis.
• A publication record in relevant journals appropriate to career stage.
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience with MOF glass synthesis and characterisation, thin-film or flexible device fabrication, and structural modelling of amorphous materials, such as reverse Monte Carlo or molecular dynamics would be considered favourably.

We particularly welcome applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and others who may be underrepresented in this discipline.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged. As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad: from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

Interested?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Jingwei Hou via jingwei.hou@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, cover letter, and responses 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 and qualifications checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We may support you with obtaining employer-sponsored work rights and a relocation support package, however upfront costs will still be expected to be covered. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.

We are 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 are 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 Thursday, 5 November 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-69233).

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.