Research Associate

• One of Australia's leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work.

The School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Science (BABS) teaches undergraduates, mentors postgraduate research students and conducts research in the disciplines of biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, environmental microbiology, medical microbiology and immunology.

The Research Associate (Level A) is expected to contribute towards the research effort of UNSW and to develop their research expertise through the pursuit of defined projects relevant to their particular field of research. The Research Associate will join the Biomedical AI Laboratory (led by A/Professor Vafaee). The Research Associate will be part of a collaborative and friendly research team conducting cutting-edge research to positively impact society.

About the role

• $113K - $121K plus 17% Superannuation and annual leave loading
• Fixed Term – 10 months
• Part time (35 hours per week)

The role of Research Associate reports to Associate Professor Fatemeh Vafaee and has no direct reports.

Specific responsibilities for this role include:

• Contribute independently or as a team member in collaborative research with a focus to enhance the quality of research outcomes in the discipline area.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary research at the intersection of biology, medicine, and computational science, effective teamwork and coordination of research outcomes with relevant stakeholders.
• Foster innovation in research by developing novel approaches and leading research initiatives, ensuring the consistent delivery of impactful results and advancements
• Conduct research (as per the norms of the discipline) and/or enable research teams to create scholarly output that is recognised by peers.
• Undertake specific research project/s under the guidance of a research leader and contribute to development of research activities.
• Support the dissemination of research outcomes through appropriate channels and outlets.
• Undertake discipline-appropriate research activities, e.g., literature reviews, data collection, development and validation of methodologies, analysis, and result generation, leading to high-quality reporting and manuscript preparation.
• Participate in and/or present at conferences and/or workshops relevant to the project as required.
• Assist with the supervision of research students in the research area where required.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.

About the successful applicant
(Selection Criteria)

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A PhD in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant research or professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in the analysis and interpretation of omics datasets, with strong expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning methodologies.
• Proven experience in the analysis of single-cell and multi-omics data, with a solid understanding of underlying biological principles.
• Proficiency in the implementation and optimisation of modern AI models (e.g., BERT, GNN, VAE, GANs, GPT, LLMs).
• Hands-on experience with NGS bioinformatics pipelines and associated analytical workflows.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake high quality academic research and conduct independent research with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated track record of publications and conference presentations relative to opportunity.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines and build effective relationships.
• Evidence of highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with a diverse range of stakeholders and students.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW's aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

You should systematically address the selection criteria listed within the position description in your application.

Please apply online - applications will not be accepted if sent to the contact listed.

Contact:
Fatemeh Vafaee
E: 
Applications close: December 8th, 2025

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