As part of their support for the establishment of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology (QUBIC), the Queensland Government’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (DETSI) has provided $900,000 in funding over 3 years for Early Career Researcher opportunities at QUBIC’s UQ Node, to develop and apply quantum biotechnologies to environmental and sustainability challenges.
Fellowship funding will support:
- DETSI Quantum Biotechnology Postdoctoral Fellowships
- 2025: 1 × 12-month (1.0 FTE) fellowship. These could be taken as either 1.0 FTE for 12 months or 0.5 FTE over 2 years
- 2026: 2 × 0.5 FTE fellowships, which could be taken as 1.0 FTE for 6 months or 0.5 FTE over 12 months.
To align with the Queensland Government’s strategic objectives of accelerating the commercialisation of quantum solutions, proposed projects are encouraged to consider how their quantum biotechnology innovations are developed with practical applications in mind. These practical applications should include environmental and sustainability challenges pertinent to DETSI, including, but not limited to:
- Grow Queensland’s protected areas to ensure our state’s rich ecological gifts and natural wonders are maintained and preserved
- Strengthen environmental resilience to the changing climate and extreme weather events
- Protect Queensland’s biodiversity, threatened and native species, heritage, and natural assets
- Collaborate with a landholders, stakeholders, rangers, and community to enhance invasive species and fire management on our managed estate
- Work innovatively with industry and across all levels of government to reduce waste and boost recycling rates
- Support and work with landholders to be the environmental stewards of their properties and leaders in innovative practices
- Protect our Great Barrier Reef through genuine environmental action, partnering across governments, landholders, and industry
- Work with all sectors, including the conservation, resources, agriculture, and property sectors to continue to support sustainable growth while responsibly managing environment and heritage assets and values.
DETSI Quantum Biotechnology Postdoctoral Fellowship – Call for projects
The QUBIC Research and Translation Portfolio is seeking proposals from Chief Investigators (CIs) based at The University of Queensland (UQ) node for 1 post-doctoral fellowship, commencing in 2025 and 2 post-doctoral fellowships commencing in 2026 . The DETSI Postdoctoral Fellowships will be funded at Academic Level A06, with supervisors to cover any difference for higher-level appointments. Longer DETSI Postdoctoral Fellowship appointments, part paid by QUBIC CI researcher funds are acceptable (e.g. a one-year fellowship, half paid by the CI).
Please supply the following as part of the project proposal:
- Project title
- A description of the proposed project and statement of fellow’s suitability for achieving the aims of the project (Supervisor)
- Fellow Researcher CV
- Fellow: Statement from the applicant on how their skills and experience will benefit the project, and how their participation will impact QUBIC purpose.
DETSI Quantum Biotechnology Research Fellows are required to deliver a presentation as part of the QUBIC Seminar series on their project, and provide a final report to the QUBIC Research and Translation Portfolio (RTP) at the end of the fellowship period.
Selection criteria:
Proposals will be assessed and scored by a sub-committee established by the QUBIC Research and Translation Portfolio (RTP), including a representative from DETSI, using the following criteria:
- Quality of project
- Alignment with environment and sustainability objectives
- Industry partnership
- Translation potential
Further application guide can be found here.
Submissions for the 2025 Fellowship is due by COB Monday, 1 December, 2025
Submissions for the 2026 Fellowships are due by COB Monday, 6 April, 2026
For further information, please contact Errol Hunt or Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop.