Position Number: 0058905
Location: Parkville
Role type: Full-time; Fixed-term for 12 months
Faculty: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/School: Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School
Salary: Academic Level A – $83,468 – $113,262 p.a. plus 17% super

• Contribute to the development of a strong bioinformatics research program focused on identifying cancer biomarkers and developing predictive models for personalized therapeutic strategies.
• Leverage your expertise in bioinformatics, machine learning, and computational biology to drive innovative research that could revolutionise cancer treatment, working within a collaborative project spanning multiple departments and institutes.
• Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, Myki discounts, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!

About the Role
The Research Officer will join an NHMRC-funded project aimed at developing novel therapeutic strategies and predictive biomarkers in pancreatic cancer.

You will implement machine learning approaches to identify clinically meaningful biomarkers by analysing genomic, transcriptomic, and drug response data generated from organoids in pancreatic cancer patients.

The goal is to match individual patients with the most effective drugs for their tumors.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Contribute to the development of a strong bioinformatics research program in cancer biomarkers.
• Independently plan and carry out experiments to complete research project aims.
• Develop timelines and milestones for the research program.
• Write up experimental results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Who We Are Looking For
You will possess a postgraduate degree in bioinformatics, mathematics, computer science, or a related field, with experience in running bioinformatics workflows on high-performance computing clusters and working with high-throughput transcriptome sequence data sets.

You are proficient in the R programming language and have experience in machine learning or statistics.

You will also have:

• Excellent ability in data analysis, problem-solving, and maintaining accurate research records.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks to achieve project objectives within timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated through research presentations and manuscript submissions.
• The ability to work as part of a research team and interact effectively with academic, administrative, and support staff.

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your New Team – Department of Clinical Pathology
The Department of Clinical Pathology at the University of Melbourne focuses on graduate education, research, and engagement in pathology, primarily located in the advanced Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. It collaborates extensively with various departments and research institutes to enhance cancer outcomes, particularly by studying the molecular defects of tumours and their implications for treatment. In addition to its cancer research, the Department also contributes to broader areas of clinical pathology education, teaching in the Doctor of Medicine program and supporting a vibrant community of Honours, Masters, and PhD students.

What We Offer You!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits page!

About the University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.   

Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the employee listed on the first page of the Position Description found below, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents: 

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience
• The responses against the Selection Criteria^ (found in the Position Description - these will be asked during your application, you do not need to upload a separate document.)

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

Please ensure that you apply through the Apply Now button at the bottom of this advertisement. However, if you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Lachlan Bryce via email at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au, ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.