Research Officer

Job Title

Research OfficerJob Description

An excellent opportunity is available for a Research Officer to join the Cowman Laboratory in the Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division (ID2) at Australia’s pre-eminent biomedical research institute. 

About the Position

The position, funded by the Gates Foundation, aims to integrate structural and functional knowledge of an essential malaria protein complex to develop an effective malaria vaccine. Key responsibilities include characterizing antibody recognition to malaria antigens using a combination of biophysical techniques, as well as the design and testing of immunogens to evaluate their potential as vaccine candidates. This position will join a multi-disciplinary team, with regular consultation and support from the laboratory head (Prof Alan Cowman), project lead (Dr Stephen Scally) and team members.

Selection Criteria

Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• A PhD in Protein Biochemistry, Structural Biology or equivalent
• Experience in the design and optimization of constructs for expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli, insect cells (Sf21), or mammalian cells (HEK 293F)
• Experience in biophysical techniques to characterize protein-protein interactions such as BLI (Octet), SPR, ITC or mass photometry
• Demonstrated experience in determining protein structures through X-ray crystallography and/or Cryo-EM
• Strong project management abilities with excellent oral and written communication skills

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in computational protein design would be highly beneficial but is not essential

Personal qualities:

• Excellent organisational and time management skills including the ability to manage competing demands
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively within a team environment
• Excellent attention to detail, ensuring that data and methods are accurate, of high-quality and accessible to other researchers
• A demonstrated interest in malaria

Terms of appointment

This position is available for 2-3 years in a full-time capacity. Salary is Research Employee Level A6 – A8 ($101,039 - $108,453). Salary is dependent upon qualifications and experience. Up to 17% superannuation and very attractive salary packaging options are available.

General enquiries can be directed Dr Stephen Scally – scally.s@wehi.edu.au or Prof Alan Cowman – cowman@wehi.edu.au.

A position description is available here.

How to apply

Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a document addressing the key selection criteria in pdf format.

Application Closing Date: 12 January 2025

We will be reviewing applications as they are submitted and scheduling interviews for strong candidates in mid January. If you are interested in this position we encourage you to apply early.