• Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation | Centre for Crop Science
• Full-time fixed-term position for through to end of February 2028
• Base salary will be in the range $117,120.53 - $138,769.70 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level B)
• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

We’re looking for a Research Fellow to join two nationally significant initiatives driving innovation in Australian agriculture: Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI) and the Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN). Hosted by UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability in collaboration with QAAFI and multiple UQ schools, these programs connect researchers with leading universities, government, and industry partners.

Reporting to the UQ Node Director, you will apply your expertise in spectrometry, hyperspectral and multispectral calibration, and field data acquisition to improve agricultural monitoring from field trials to national predictions of yield, disease, and quality traits. You will develop innovative approaches for crop yield prediction, disease detection, and protein estimation, integrating remote sensing and modelling to translate research into practical tools for sustainable and profitable agriculture.

This role offers the chance to work at the forefront of analytics-driven agriculture, collaborate with nationally and internationally recognised experts, and deliver research with real-world impact.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Teaching: Deliver short modules and practicals for undergraduate and postgraduate students, maintaining high-quality outcomes and continuously improving through feedback and innovation.

• Research: Develop and apply advanced remote sensing analytics for crop monitoring, yield, quality, and disease detection, producing impactful publications and contributing to collaborative, competitive research projects.

• Supervision and Researcher Development: Mentor and guide researchers and direct reports, providing feedback and coaching to support their growth and performance.

• Citizenship and Service: Provide client-focused support, contribute to unit operations, and cultivate external partnerships that reflect UQ values.

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

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.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

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, flexible working arrangements including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You

• Completion of a PhD in Remote Sensing, Agricultural Science, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, and motivation to achieve research goals and meet deadlines in research projects
• Strong publication record in the area of proximal and/or remote sensing demonstrating capabilities in the utilisation of spectral data in applications in plant science and/or agriculture
• Experience in field spectroradiometer data collection and calibration
• Experience with hyperspectral data and the application of preprocessing techniques for agricultural analysis
• Understanding of key principles of crop physiology, crop morphology and plant phenotyping to support development of sensing technology solutions
• Knowledge of feature engineering and the development of new spectral indices
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualisation tools using software environments like Python, Google Earth Engine, ENVI, MATLAB, or R.

Desirable

• Proficiency in applying machine learning methods to multispectral and hyperspectral data for detecting crop diseases and estimating crop yield and quality
• Familiarity with radar (SAR) data and its applications in crop growth detection is desirable.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment checks, which may include verification of the right to work in Australia and qualifications. 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.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Andries Potgieter at a.potgieter@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.

Want to Apply?

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent, particularly from Australia’s First Nations Peoples. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.

Other Information

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

Applications close Sunday February 15th 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-60094).

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