Flexible appointment available as either one full-time position (1.0 FTE) or two part-time positions operating under a job-share arrangement for a Senior Scientist
Provide scientific leadership and operational oversight for a world-leading translational research laboratory
Base Salary $131,108 p.a. (pro-rata for part-time appointments) + 17% superannuation
About the opportunity
The Centre for Organ Assessment, Repair & Optimisation (COARO) is seeking experienced Senior scientists to provide scientific leadership and day-to-day operational oversight of an established translational research laboratory focused on ex vivo perfusion of human organs.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly funded and rapidly growing research program that has developed a world-leading platform enabling long-term ex vivo organ preservation for up to seven weeks under near-physiological conditions. This unique platform creates opportunities to investigate organ repair, regeneration, and metabolic adaptation over extended, clinically meaningful timescales.
The laboratory is entering a significant growth phase, including the world's first clinical trial of long-term organ preservation prior to transplantation. These positions represent the first dedicated biological leadership appointments within the program and will play a critical role in defining the mechanistic framework underpinning sustained organ repair and regeneration.
Key research areas include understanding organ metabolism during extended ex vivo perfusion, organ repair, remodelling and regeneration, with an initial focus on liver research while extending to other organs including kidney and pancreas.
Appointment Structure:
This opportunity may be appointed as either:
one full-time Senior Scientist position (1.0 FTE), or
two part-time Senior Scientist positions working collaboratively under a co-leadership model.
Specialist Area 1: Cellular Metabolism and Mitochondrial Physiology
You will bring deep scientific expertise in cellular metabolism, mitochondrial biology, and physiology to investigate the metabolic and physiological changes occurring during extended ex vivo organ preservation.
Specialist Area 2: Cellular Repair and Regeneration
You will bring expertise in tissue repair mechanisms, regeneration biology, and cellular recovery pathways to investigate organ regeneration and functional recovery within ex vivo systems.
Your key responsibilities will be to:
provide scientific leadership and domain expertise in metabolism, physiology, repair, or regeneration biology
lead hands-on experimental design, execution, optimisation, and troubleshooting
analyse and interpret biological samples using molecular and cellular techniques including western blotting and microscopy
process, analyse and integrate complex multiomic datasets including metabolomics, lipidomics and transcriptomics
contribute to the development of the laboratory's scientific strategy, hypotheses, and research priorities
provide oversight and coordination across multiple research streams
supervise PhD students and early-career researchers
coordinate day-to-day laboratory operations and research activities
collaborate effectively with engineers, scientists, and technical staff in a multidisciplinary environment
contribute to publications, grant reporting, and the ongoing growth of the research program
maintain oversight of project progress, deliverables, and experimental outcomes
integrate findings across projects to generate meaningful biological insights.
About you
PhD with postdoctoral research experience demonstrating scientific independence
demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: cellular metabolism, mitochondrial biology, organ injury, tissue repair or regeneration biology
strong publication record in high-impact peer-reviewed journals
proven ability to design, conduct and interpret complex experimental studies
experience working with and integrating multiomic datasets
demonstrated contribution…