IBC Independent Member Expression of Interest

UNE is seeking expressions of interest from people living in the Armidale region to join the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) as volunteer independent members. This is an in‑person role to attend up to six face‑to‑face meetings per year at UNE Armidale.

To remain accredited with the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) and be able to deal with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), UNE has established and maintains an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). To have a properly constituted IBC, at least one member of the Committee must be independent from the organisation.

An independent member is someone who can exercise unfettered and independent judgement in relation to their participation in the IBC. Even previous staff and students of UNE can be considered independent and so are encouraged to apply if a position on the IBC is of interest to them.

Responsibilities and Duties

Duties of IBC members, including independent members, comprise:

  • Attending and participating in at least 75% of scheduled annual IBC meetings (in person at UNE Armidale). The UNE IBC meets approximately 4 times per year, for up to 2 hours at a time.
  • Reviewing applications (e.g., to conduct research with GMOs) and supporting documentation prior to committee meetings.
  • Optional attendance at annual facility and laboratory inspections.
  • Contributing to the review of policies and guidance documents relevant to the IBC.
  • Maintaining strict confidentiality regarding all committee business.

For more details, see the UNE biosafety webpages on the IBC, and information provided to UNE researchers about working with GMOs, as well as some other key resources.

To Apply

To express your interest in joining the UNE IBC in a volunteer, independent capacity, download and complete the associated Expression of Interest (EOI) form. EOIs will only be accepted from applicants who reside within commuting distance of Armidale, NSW. Once complete, submit your EOI and an up-to-date CV to ibc@une.edu.au.

If you would like more information about the position, reach out to Dr Bonnie Mayes at ibc@une.edu.au, or on 02 6773 1093.