The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity exists for a Research Officer to join the Cellular responses to disease and vaccination Working Group at Burnet!

This role will undertake research on the human immune response to malaria to inform vaccine development, according to agreed work plans. You will lead your own research project, and support research projects of other lab members. Methods and approaches that may be used include standard and specialised immunological assays, cell culture, flow cytometry, transcriptomics, multi-parameter imaging and analysis, and data analysis.

You will:

• Undertake laboratory research including immunoassays to dissect germinal centre responses in malaria infected and non-infected individuals
• Undertake laboratory research to optimise and apply germinal centre organoid platforms and other methods to investigate responses to malaria parasites
• Conduct data analysis of large immunology data sets
• Prepare publications and reports of project progress
• Deliver scientific presentations internally and externally
• Indirect supervision and training of junior staff and students

Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a full time (negotiable) position, initially for a three-year period with possibility of extension. Flexibility around working hours will also be provided.

Grow your Career

This position is funded via Snow Medical support to A/Prof Michelle Boyle. You will be part of a unique network of Snow Medical Fellow labs, with opportunities to lead significant projects and develop new skills in a supportive environment with a strong emphasis on scientific excellence and a focus on impactful questions. Within Snow Medical funded laboratories, Research officers will receive a competitive salary/package and investment into their leadership and professional development.

You will be expected to show scientific leadership within the themes of the host laboratory and may be provided with the opportunity to manage a small team, depending on experience. The program will support career development through mentoring, and leadership training, and provide networking opportunities.

You will also be eligible and encouraged to participate in short-term placements in other Snow Fellow laboratories to gain expertise in new techniques, bring additional skills to the host laboratory or institution, and broaden their network. Specific funding will also be available to attend international and national conferences, leadership courses, Snow Medical meetings and for grant writing support.

Let’s talk about you

The following criteria are essential requirements:

• PhD in a relevant field or Masters in biostatistics or equivalent
• Bachelor degree in a relevant field (in biological or health sciences)
• Experience in laboratory-based biomedical research
• Ability to lead projects to completion with excellent publication record
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and collaborate with others, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills

The following experience is preferable but not essential:

• Advanced skills in statistics and data analysis of large data sets (including in R, Python etc)
• Experience in the field malaria or other infectious diseases, or human immunology research

The Burnet experience…

We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do – achieving a more equitable world through better health.

We offer:

• A monthly accrued day off for full-time staff
• 14 weeks paid parental leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous salary packaging
• Opportunities for career and professional development

Who are we?

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation passionate about social justice, equality and evidence-based research.

Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 400 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues. Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Disease Elimination, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness, and Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result.

Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Bring your whole self to work

At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE). If you have a reasonable adjustment, support, or access requirement at any stage of the recruitment process, we encourage you to let us know by emailing [email protected] using the subject line: Research Officer - Immunology enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Sounds great! How do I apply?

Click Apply Now and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Statement addressing the selection criteria (as outlined above and in the position description)

Applications not including responses to the selection criteria will not be considered.

A position description and further information is attached.

As part of our commitment to gender equity, we have included a question in the application process on gender. This will allow us to monitor and report on gender in relation to our recruitment process.

Burnet is a child safe organisation. The successful applicant will be required to apply for a National Police Check and/or Working with Children. Current Australian working rights are required for all applicants.