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Research Assistant (2 positions)

Research Assistant - Australian Beef Cattle Digital Supply Chain Proof of Concept Project

The Australian Beef Cattle sector has the potential to reap significant benefit from the growth in the Asian middle class and its increasing demand for high quality protein.

For the sector to realise this opportunity it needs to position itself to sustainably (economic, environmental and social), produce a consistent supply of high quality beef, with proven provenance, into these growth markets.  This will be reliant on significant improvement and disruption to the current supply chain under which the sector operates.

The aim of the Australian Beef Cattle Digital Supply Chain Proof of Concept project is to successfully design, develop and test a digital supply chain platform.  The platform will be delivered to industry via Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Two (2) Research Assistants are required to develop relevant predictive analytics in relation to this project.  These positions will report to the ACEMS Chief Operating Officer within the QUT Node for supervision, workload management and for Performance Planning and Review (PPR).

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop appropriate analytic tools for the project.
• Contribute statistical expertise in focus groups.
• Contribute to the development of relevant software.
• Assist with research outputs, including writing reports and preparing presentations.
• Participate effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Work collaboratively with project participants and key stakeholders.
• Other duties related to the project, as agreed with the project supervisor.
• Compliance with health and safety policies, procedures, hazard reporting and safe work practices.

Type of appointment

Two (2) positions will be offered on a fixed-term, full-time basis for 6 months.

Information for applicants

These positions have been identified as roles which could be undertaken either by a person with undergraduate qualifications with several years’ work experience; or by a person with post-graduate qualifications with limited work experience.

The University reserves the right to appoint at either HEW5 or HEW6 level.  

QUT Gardens Point campus.

Selection Criteria

• Education, training and/or qualifications equivalent to a degree in statistics or computer science or related field in conjunction with exceptional relevant experience; OR a post-graduate qualification with limited relevant  experience.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate and communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders both internal to QUT and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to connect and collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team  as well as work autonomously.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organisation skills including the ability to effectively manage multiple tasks within agreed deadlines.

Remuneration and Benefits

The classification for these positions is HEW5 or HEW6 depending on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience:

Higher Education Worker Level 5 (HEW5) which has an annual remuneration range of $75,885 to $85,590pa.  Which is inclusive of an annual salary range of $64,123 to $72,325 pa, 9.5% superannuation and 17.5% recreation leave loading; or Higher Education Worker Level 6 (HEW6) which has an annual remuneration range of $88,027 to $95,315pa.  Which is inclusive of an annual salary range of $74,385 to $80,543pa, 9.5% superannuation and 17.5% recreation leave loading.

Beyond personal and professional fulfilment, a career at QUT brings a broad range of tangible benefits. With competitive remuneration including superannuation, the University offers real and generous benefits.

QUT is a high quality and flexible organisation that is proud of its excellent employment conditions which include but are not limited to:

• Reduced working year scheme
• Parental leave provisions
• Study support encompassing leave and financial assistance
• Comprehensive professional development
• Salary Packaging

Further benefits can be found at the Working at QUT page .

This position is open to applicants who have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of the fixed-term appointment. Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

For further information about the position, please contact Kerrie Mengersen, Distinguished Professor on 3138 2063 or Email k.mengersen@qut.edu.au .

How to Apply

To express your interest in this position we encourage you to email the contact above, with your CV together with a two page Statement of Claims on how your skills and capabilities meet the selection criteria.

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Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

About the employer.

QUT is a major Australian university with a global outlook and a real-world focus. We are one of the nation’s fastest growing research universities and our courses are in high demand. Our graduates include eight Rhodes Scholars, five of these awarded in the past six years.

We are an ambitious and collaborative institution that seeks to equip our students and graduates with the skills they'll need in an increasingly disrupted and challenged world. We are transforming the student experience we offer our 50,000 students and we place a premium on the international and national accreditation of our various professional degrees.

Our internationally award-winning Science and Engineering Centre is home to The Cube, acknowledged as one of the world’s largest digital interactive learning and display spaces. We established the world's first Creative Industries Faculty, and we invest heavily in collaborative learning and interdisciplinary research environments.

QUT Statistics 2016

Student enrolments 48,833 Full time students 36,611 International students  7,847 Course completions 11,543 Staff 12,517 (individuals employed in the 2016-2017 financial year) Alumni  247,428 Total university revenue $985 million

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• Graduate Spotlight: Wala Draidi

What was your PhD in?

My PhD focused on integrating machine learning with Bayesian statistics, applied to a case study on children’s health development. My research aimed to identify areas where children were most vulnerable in terms of their development. Studying children’s health is important because early identification of developmental vulnerabilities can lead to timely interventions, which are important for improving long-term outcomes. Over three years, I was able to publish five journal articles in high-ranked journals based on my PhD research.

How did you come to do a PhD on this? Did things change along the way?

My journey to a PhD started with my love for mathematics, which I studied at Al-Najah University in Palestine, where I also completed my master’s degree. I’ve always been passionate about making pure mathematics more practical and accessible to others. That’s when I had the incredible fortune of meeting Professor Kerrie Mengersen, who became my PhD supervisor. Working under her guidance has been a dream come true. Things changed along the way. When I started, I had a clear idea of where I wanted to go, but as I dug deeper into the research, new questions and opportunities emerged that I hadn’t anticipated. This led me down paths I never expected to explore, and that’s what makes research so exciting. The journey evolved in ways I couldn’t have predicted, which kept me engaged and constantly learning.

How was your PhD journey?  Any surprises?

My PhD journey was full of learning and growth. I started with little knowledge of spatial modeling and R coding, but I took advantage of various courses offered by QUT and attended workshops provided by the Centre to improve my skills. By the end of the journey, I had developed strong programming skills in languages like R and Python, and I became proficient in creating visualizations using Shiny apps and GIS. The progress I made was one of the biggest surprises and a highlight of my PhD experience.

Did you anything else at QUT besides your PhD?

I was involved in quite a bit at QUT beyond my PhD. My husband and I both started our PhDs at the same time, which was a challenging but rewarding experience, especially with a young child. Balancing family life with academic responsibilities was tough, but I’m incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of my husband and child—they were my rock throughout this journey. In addition to my PhD work, I took on roles as a tutor at both UQ and QUT, teaching several courses in math and statistics. This not only honed my teaching skills but also deepened my understanding of the subjects. I also worked as a research assistant on other projects, which broadened my research experience. Collaborating with others was a highlight of my PhD journey. These collaborations led to one publication in a high-ranked journal, with two more papers currently under revision. I’m especially excited about my ongoing collaboration with the UQ team, which we hope will result in another impactful publication. The journey was demanding, but the support from my family and the opportunities to engage in such diverse activities made it an incredibly fulfilling experience.

How was your experience with the Data Science Centre?

My experience with the Data Science Centre was nothing short of transformative. Being part of such a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment pushed me to grow in ways I never anticipated. The Centre was more than just a place to develop my skills in data science – it was a community of passionate, brilliant minds who were always eager to share their knowledge and offer support. I also had the chance to build meaningful friendships with people who were just as excited about data science as I was. Looking back, I realise how much I’ve evolved both as a researcher and as a person. The encouragement and support I received at the Centre played a major role in my accomplishments, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. The connections I made and the skills I developed there are something I’ll carry with me throughout my career.

What’s next – or what are you doing now?

Currently, I’m a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Queensland, building on the skills I gained during my PhD. My work involves modeling spatial-temporal analysis for health data, which allows me to apply my expertise to real-world health issues. I’m excited about this role because it deepens my understanding of health data and lets me contribute to impactful public health research. I’m looking forward to continuing my research, collaborating with experts, and making a meaningful contribution to public health.

Congratulations, Wala!

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The secret world of the dunnart

They live in a secret underground world, hidden down the cracks of the hardened clay soil of outback Queensland – small as a mouse, cute as a bilby and sometimes as ferocious as a tiger.

Julia Creek dunnarts were once thought to be extinct, but now ecologists are on a mission to find and protect them.

Associate Professor Andrew Baker and Dr Emma Gray from the QUT School of Biology and Environmental Science are leading the team researching these tiny-but-feisty Australian carnivorous marsupials.

The Julia Creek dunnart (officially known as Sminthopsis douglasi ) is one of 18 dunnart species and the only one confined solely to Queensland.

Their population size and distributional range are unknown, but they have been found in the Mitchell grasslands and cracking clay soils of the Julia Creek region, east of Mount Isa in the state’s semi-arid north-west.

A race against time

Professor Baker and Dr Gray’s research focuses on finding the fastest and most efficient ways to locate the elusive Julia Creek dunnart, which is listed as endangered in Queensland.

“It’s a race against time because we are losing so many mammals in Australia,” Professor Baker said.

“We have a biodiversity crisis – a human-caused mass extinction event – so we want to identify the best ways to find these animals as quickly as we can.

“If we can’t find them, we can’t protect them.

“My hope for the bigger picture is that the best detection methods we identify can then also be used to more easily locate and protect populations of other threatened animals.”

From peanut butter and bacon traps to airborne DNA

Finding dunnarts in the remote Julia Creek landscape is easier said than done.

QUT researchers are using a mix of methods – some are tried and true, but others are new techniques.

The most ‘old school’ method is the faithful Elliott trap, a small metal box, which has a one-way door and is loaded with a tasty treat.

“We use peanut butter and bacon – peanut butter is kind of the universal bait for any sort of small mammal,” Dr Gray said.

“The traditional method with Elliott traps is great because you get to hold the captured animal in your hand, you can confirm the identification, take measurements, pit-tag them to track recaptures and take tissue samples if needed.

“But the grassland where the Julia Creek dunnart can be found is potentially quite large, and setting Elliott traps everywhere is not practical. To cover that amount of ground we need some more rapid methods.

“One thing we are trying is detection dogs.

“The dogs were trained by Amanda Hancock at Carnarvon Canines for six months off-site, with dunnart odour swabs we had collected.

“We had our first field trial with the dogs in June and it was very successful.

“The dogs passed all their simulated tests in the grassland landscape. And, even better, they were able to detect Julia Creek dunnart odour at the field site. We subsequently set five Elliott traps at the detection site and overnight were able to catch a dunnart, who we examined, named Simba and released.

“It usually takes us hundreds of trap nights and days of effort to catch a dunnart … So, it was an incredibly successful trip and fantastic results with the dogs.”

Dr Gray said another method used by the research team involved barn owls, which were natural predators of small mammals.

“They can’t digest the hard parts of mammal skeleton so we sift through the regurgitated owl pellets to see if we can find dunnart remains, which then proves they live in that area,” she said.

In April, the team also trialed environmental DNA (eDNA) filters for the first time.

“They haven’t been used out in the field like this before, to my knowledge – they are usually applied in more controlled environments,” Dr Gray said.

“We put air filters on a star picket with a little computer fan that sucks the air through the filter paper. In theory, DNA of different species floating in the air across the grasslands will get trapped on the filter paper.

“It’s a really exciting method to potentially detect a species via its DNA. But it’s so specialised that we have to send the samples to America to be analysed, so we’re still waiting to find out if it was successful or not.”

The final method helping in the dunnart search is camera trapping.

“We leave a baited camera out for a month or more that records photos when it’s triggered by an animal attracted to the bait,” Dr Gray said.

“It's a good method because we don't have to physically capture the animal to identify it, and the cameras are active every night. Although you then must sort through the photos – sometimes millions of them!”

A natural career path

Dr Gray says she followed a natural career path to the dunnarts’ world.

“I always loved animals,” she said.

“As a kid, I wanted to become a vet. But I did a placement in Grade 10 and quickly realised I didn’t want to operate on animals … I wanted to see them out in the wild in their natural setting.

“I had a really good science teacher in high school and he introduced me to the idea that ecology could be a job.”

Dr Gray went on to study a Bachelor of Applied Science at QUT, majoring in ecology, and then an Honours and PhD with Professor Baker as her supervisor.

After that, she worked as an ecological consultant in Dubbo and Brisbane.

“But I’d kept in touch with Andrew over the years and one day he took me out to lunch and said he had some funding for this Julia Creek dunnart project and invited me to apply as a postdoc,” she recalled.

“I jumped at the chance because I really love small mammals – that’s what I’m passionate about.

“I think academia is probably one of the only jobs where you have the time to delve deeply into questions. It’s really a curiosity thing for me. You are trying to answer those fundamental questions about a species – where they occur and what they do.

“Dunnarts are so cryptic – and I find that fascinating.

“They are generally nocturnal, so not a lot of people see them – they shelter in soil cracks and are really hiding in plain sight.”

Professor Baker, like many ecologists, credits David Attenborough documentaries for inspiring him as a child.

“Mammals drew me from a young age via TV – I guess they are furry and sometimes cute, but other times ferocious,” he said.

“At the end of Year 12 in 1987, I was torn between science and archaeology.  I was enthralled by the Indiana Jones movies, so I naturally chose the latter.

“But I lasted just six weeks in the course, faced with a range of dry texts and nary a primeval underground lair stocked with artefacts in sight. So I dropped out.”

He then worked and travelled for a while, before starting a science degree at QUT in 1990. He studied mammals in his third year, fish behaviour in his honours year and bird genetics for his PhD.

“In 1998, after completing my doctorate, I landed a part-time job at the Queensland Museum and met someone who would change my life – Dr Steve Van Dyck (one of Australia’s best mammal taxonomists),” he said.

“I ended up back at QUT as an academic in 2004. Several years later, Steve interested me in some antechinus projects, and I have been full steam ahead on mammals ever since.”

Team dunnart

Professor Baker and Dr Gray are working with many collaborators for their dunnart project, including Greg Mifsud, Dr April Reside, Professor Susan Fuller, Carnarvon Canines, Southern Gulf NRM, and Dr Faith Walker. Other researchers include students Alice Bakker, Eloise Tighe, Cameron Charley, Dana Ford, Charlotte Woods, Emily Gugenberger, Kate Moffatt and Charlotte Patterson, with extra field work assistants also volunteering their time.

The research is principally funded by Multicom Resources as part of an Offset Management Plan conceptualised by Multicom Resources and Epic Environmental and approved under the  Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) for the Saint Elmo Vanadium project (EPBC 2017/8007). Additional funding and resources are provided by QUT. DESI rangers and the Guwa Koa Aboriginal Corporation have provided key access and on-ground support for the team to study protected populations of the species, and a range of landholders have generously provided access so the team can search for dunnarts on private land.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.

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