Research Assistant

Marina Pajic and Christine Chaffer lead an innovative multidisciplinary Precision Cancer Medicine Program. Their research builds on the genetics and plasticity mechanisms of cancer, to better understand how the surrounding tumour environment controls and drives the aggressive nature of this disease, metastasis of the cancer, and resistance to treatment. With this new insight, their teams are developing novel, tailored therapeutic interventions, whereby cancers are selected for optimal treatment based on their overall molecular “fingerprint”. Their program studies cancer using advanced molecular and cellular biology, immunology & imaging methodologies. With close clinical collaborators, they are translating the most promising treatment strategies into clinical trials.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Research Assistant (RA) is responsible, under direction, for generating new biological insights into the dynamics of cancer cell - stromal microenvironment interactions in cancer and how these could be manipulated to improve therapeutic response in this lethal disease. The research assistant will analyse tumour-stromal signalling in human cancers using spatial -omics approaches and develop novel treatment strategies for this disease. Furthermore, the RA will plan and perform experimental work to assess the implications of novel stromal biology on tumour progression and resistance.

**Salary**: Up to $85,245 + 14% superannuation + salary packaging
Employment Type: 2 years maximum term contract

SNAP SHOT OF BENEFITS
- Generous salary packaging to save you income tax on your wages thereby boosting your monthly take home pay (max. $15,900 general expenses + $2,650 meals/accom)
- Ample opportunities for on-going training and development
- Stimulating, diverse and highly international research environment
- Flexible work arrangements e.g. location, start / finish times etc
- 18 weeks paid parental leave for both parents including paid superannuation
- A range of additional leave types to meet your personal needs including cultural leave, conference leave, community service and study leave
- Discounted Health Insurance
- Lifestyle discounts with our community partners

WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Design and manage own experiments and report and discuss findings back to supervisor
- Regularly attend extra seminar meetings and conferences
- Contribute towards research projects through to lead authorship of abstracts and publications in high impact journals
- Develop research-related material for the benefit of collaborators, with appropriate guidance from senior staff, and assist in the design and/or the operation of specialised laboratory and technical equipment or the conduct of advanced research procedures
- Proactively and efficiently contribute to the administrative functions associated with lab management
- Organise resource and equipment issues
- Other duties as assigned

ABOUT YOU
- Essential_
- Bachelors’ Degree in Science or Medicine, with 1st class Honours
- Relevant experience (at least 5 years) in cancer cell biology or immunology
- Experience with animal models of disease
- Experience with cell biology, immunofluorescence, CRISPR knockout, imaging, flow cytometry
- Molecular biology skills
- Ability to rapidly learn new techniques
- Results-oriented
- Excellent time management and ability to prioritise tasks
- Display innovative and proactive abilities
- Comfortable with moderate decision making
- Desirable_
- Previous experience analysing RNA-sequencing or related techniques
- Possess strong computing skills including bioinformatic analysis, particularly with regard to RNA-seq methodologies
- Expertise/knowledge in the field of cancer immunology or tumour microenvironment

ABOUT GARVAN

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research is an independent Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Sydney, delivering scientific and clinical impact on a global basis and in partnership with organisations that share our vision. We are proud to be one of Australia’s largest and most highly regarded MRI’s.

Our vision is global leadership in discoveries to impact and our enduring purpose is to impact human health, by harnessing information encoded in our genome.

We seek to see our world-class discovery research achieve life-changing impacts, not only for individual patients with rare diseases, but for the many thousands affected by complex, common disease.
- Garvan promotes a diverse workplace and is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging._

HOW TO APPLY

**Salary**: Up to $15,900.00 per month