Postdoctoral Scientist

Make a difference through medical research

At the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR), our researchers are working on important health challenges and developing better ways to prevent and treat disease.

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Scientist to join the Autoimmune Gene Therapeutics Group within the Centre for Immunology and Allergy Research (CIAR).

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious early-career  postdoctoral scientist (0-3 years from PhD) seeking to develop scientific independence, lead research projects and build a track record the next step in their research career.

The Autoimmune Gene Therapeutics Group is developing next-generation gene therapies for autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. A major focus of the group is understanding and overcoming immune responses to adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies, a critical challenge limiting their broader clinical application. Working at the interface of gene therapy, immunology, rheumatology and genomics, you will have the opportunity to lead innovative projects aimed at improving the efficacy and translational potential of gene-based therapeutics. You will work closely with other researchers within the laboratory, clinicians at Westmead Hospital and national and international collaborators.

This is a full-time, fixed-term position until 31 December 2027, offering $93,498 base salary + superannuation.

Why you'll like working at WIMR

WIMR is a collaborative research environment where people have the opportunity to work on research that has a real purpose.

Some of the benefits include:

• Purpose-driven work – Be part of research that aims to improve health outcomes.
• Salary packaging – Access generous not-for-profit salary packaging benefits, including up to $15,900 for everyday living expenses and up to $2,650 for meal entertainment and holiday accommodation.
• Professional development – Opportunities to build your research experience, publication record and grant-writing skills.
• Collaborative environment – Work with scientists, clinicians, research students and professional teams.
• Research facilities – Access WIMR's research facilities, core technologies and technical support.
• Westmead location – Conveniently located within the Westmead Health Precinct with good public transport access.
• Employee Assistance Program

What you'll be doing

As a Postdoctoral Scientist, you'll be involved in both the day-to-day research and the development of your own projects.

• Lead independent research projects with a high degree of scientific ownership and responsibility in the Autoimmune Gene Therapeutics Group.
• Plan and carry out laboratory experiments.
• Develop and test new research ideas and approaches.
• Work with molecular and cellular biology techniques and mammalian cell culture.
• Analyse and interpret research data.
• Work with clinical and pre-clinical samples in line with ethics and safety requirements.
• Contribute to papers, presentations, grant applications and fellowship opportunities.
• Work with other researchers, clinicians and collaborators.
• Help train and support research assistants and students.
• Take part in laboratory meetings and research discussions.
• Keep accurate research records and manage research data appropriately.
• Follow WIMR's research, ethics, WHS and laboratory safety requirements.

About you

• A PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Gene Therapy, Rheumatology, Genomics, Cell Biology or a related area.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for scientific discovery
• Experience conducting scientific research independently.
• Evidence of initiative and problem-solving
• Good knowledge of molecular and cellular biology techniques.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture.
• Experience analysing and interpreting scientific data.
• A developing publication record.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while positively contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience in immunology, autoimmune disease, rheumatology, gene therapy, AAV, viral vectors, genomics, next-generation sequencing, or clinical samples would be an advantage.
• Experience applying computational, machine learning or AI-based approaches to biomedical research would be highly regarded.

Why WIMR?

WIMR is one of Australia's leading independent medical research institutes and is located within the Westmead Health Precinct.

Our researchers work closely with Westmead Hospital, the University of Sydney and other research partners, giving our teams the opportunity to work across both laboratory and clinical research.

We value excellence, collaboration, integrity, respect and inclusivity, and we want people to feel supported as they develop their careers.

Apply now

This is a full-time, fixed-term position until 31 December 2027, offering a base salary of $93,498 per annum, plus superannuation.

Applicants must have full working rights in Australia for the duration of the contract.

If you're an ambitious early-career scientist seeking the opportunity to lead impactful research and published high-quality science, we'd like to hear from you.

Please submit your CV and cover letter outlining your experience and why you're interested in joining WIMR.