Senior Research/Research Technician - Dairy Material Science & Technology

The School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences at Massey University is seeking applications for a 12-month fixed term position of Senior Research Technician/Research Technician. This is a full-time position based on the Manawatu campus in Palmerston North.

Mo tenei turanga mahi | About the role

Join an exciting and growing research programme focused on advancing our understanding of dairy physical chemistry and materials science. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in establishing and developing laboratory capabilities from the ground up, supporting innovative research that will help shape the future of dairy science. Working within a collaborative team environment, you'll provide expert technical support, contribute to cutting-edge experimentation, and help drive the development of new analytical and high-throughput research capabilities.

In this role, you will

Provide specialised technical support for research in dairy physical chemistry, protein chemistry and materials science.

Play a key role in establishing and developing laboratory capability within a new and ambitious research programme.

Set up, operate, maintain and troubleshoot a range of analytical and materials characterisation equipment, including HPLC, SDS-PAGE, DSC, rheology and light-scattering techniques.

Prepare samples and conduct experiments using established methodologies while supporting the development and validation of new experimental protocols.

Process, analyse and manage experimental data, ensuring accuracy and integrity of research outcomes.

Contribute to the preparation of research findings for reports, presentations and scientific publications.

Collaborate closely with researchers, postgraduate students and external partners to deliver high-quality research outcomes.

Support the development of automated and high-throughput experimentation platforms, including liquid-handling systems, robotics, equipment integration and automated data acquisition processes.

Promote safe laboratory practices and contribute to the continuous improvement of laboratory systems, processes and capabilities.

Mou | About you

You are a technically skilled and collaborative laboratory professional with a passion for supporting high-quality research. You enjoy working in a hands-on environment, solving problems, and contributing to innovative scientific outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you will have

A Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, food science, chemical engineering, or a related discipline. A Master's or PhD in a relevant field (desirable).

An equivalent combination of qualifications and significant laboratory experience will also be considered.

Experience supporting laboratory-based research, ideally in analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, or materials characterisation.

Experience operating, maintaining and troubleshooting scientific instrumentation.

Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative research team.

Exposure to, or an interest in developing skills in, laboratory automation, robotics, liquid handling, or instrument integration (advantageous).

Ko nga hua o te turanga? | What's in it for you?

You'll join a collaborative, future-focused team who support world-class teaching and research across the University. Based on our beautiful Manawatu campus, you'll enjoy a supportive work environment with a healthy work-life balance and access to campus cafes, gym facilities, and green spaces.

You will also receive up to 6.75% employer contribution to the UniSaver Superannuation Scheme, five university holidays each year in addition to annual leave and a subsidised Southern Cross Healthcare plan for you and your whanau.

The salary will depend on experience but will be in the range of Grade 5 ($60,069 - $84,876).

Apply now and make an impact that matters!

Further enquiries should be directed to Remco Kornet, Fonterra-Massey Chair in Dairy Materials Sciences & Technology at [email protected].