Postdoctoral Research Associate Role at University of Newcastle Australia
The University of Newcastle is offering an exciting research job opportunity for an early-career scientist to join the Neilan Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Diversity. This research associate position focuses on cutting-edge synthetic biology and microbial engineering research aimed at developing sustainable, carbon-negative biomanufacturing platforms. Based at the Callaghan Campus in Australia, this role provides an excellent environment for innovation, collaboration, and real-world research impact.
Job Details:
- Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term (3.5 years)
- Category: Academic, Level A
- Location: Callaghan Campus, NSW 2308, Australia
- Salary: $103,748 plus 17% superannuation and leave loading
- Number of Positions: 1
- Research Area: Synthetic biology and microbial engineering
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, 3rd February 2026 (11:59 pm AEDT)
About The University of Newcastle:
The University of Newcastle is a globally recognised institution ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide and among the top 40 universities for impact. The School of Environmental and Life Sciences is a multidisciplinary academic community dedicated to solving global environmental and biological challenges. The university promotes excellence, equity, sustainability, and innovation while offering strong industry and government collaborations to ensure meaningful research outcomes. Explore more Research job offers.
Educational Requirements:
- PhD in molecular biology, biotechnology, microbiology, or a related discipline
- Strong academic background with recent high-quality research publications
Key Responsibilities of Research Associate Role:
- Conduct advanced research in synthetic biology and microbial engineering
- Develop photosynthetic platforms using cyanobacteria for biochemical production
- Prepare research manuscripts, reports, and presentations
- Collaborate with academic colleagues and contribute to research group activities
- Support internal academic service responsibilities and industry engagement
Skills Required for Research Associate Role
- Expertise in synthetic biology techniques
- Experience in microbial culturing and advanced cloning
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively in a research-intensive environment
Benefits of the Research Associate Role
- Competitive academic salary with 17% superannuation
- Flexible working arrangements
- Generous leave entitlements, including parental and cultural leave
- Access to professional development and global research collaboration
- Opportunity to live and work in coastal Newcastle with excellent lifestyle benefits
