Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Prime opportunity to work on interdisciplinary technique development to advance the state-of-the-art in dynamic structural biology
- Fulltime, 3-year position at our Hawthorn campus
- Academic Level B salary + 17% super

**Join the Swinburne Department of Physics and Astronomy**

**About the Role**
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Swinburne University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join Assoc. Prof. Nadia Zatsepin’s group in the Optical Sciences Centre to establish a new lab focused on method development in serial crystallography and grow X-ray free-electron laser science in Australia.

The focus will be two-fold: developing serial crystallography at the Australia Synchrotron and developing time-resolved serial crystallography to capture the structural dynamics of E. coli disulfide bond-forming enzyme A (DsbA) during its enzymatic cycle. DsbA plays a crucial role in oxidative protein folding and is a potential drug target to combat antimicrobial resistance. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to both technical advancements in crystallographic methodology as well as deepening our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing disulfide bond formation.

The appointee is expected to communicate research results in international refereed journals and conferences, contribute to beamtime and grant funding proposal writing, mentor and co-supervise undergraduate, Masters and PhD students, work with mínimal supervision, as well as manage the crystallisation laboratory space independently. If you are interested in cutting-edge method development in biophysics, molecular mechanisms, and advancing drug discovery, we encourage you to apply.

**About You**
**To be suitable for this role you will need to have experience in the below key accountabilities**:

- Strong background in macromolecular crystallography, ideally with experience in time-resolved or serial crystallography
- Proficiency in crystallographic data analysis software (e.g., CrystFEL, Phenix, CCP4, XDS).
- Record of publications, conference presentations and publications and/or technical contributions demonstrating research capabilities
- Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate results and interpretation clearly to an interdisciplinary audience

Further information about this role can be found in the attached position description.

**Qualifications**
PhD in crystallography, structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, X-ray physics or similar.

**About Swinburne University of Technology**
Swinburne’s strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university - one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

**About the Optical Sciences Centre**
The Optical Sciences Centre at Swinburne University is a leading research hub within the Department of Physics and Astronomy focusing on both fundamental and applied optical sciences. Our research encompasses areas such as classical and quantum photonics, light-matter interactions, nanotechnology, biomedical sciences, and quantum materials. The Department also houses the OzStar and Ngarrgu Tindebeek supercomputers hosted in the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (CAS).

**Location**
Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city with a mild climate and many cultural and sporting events. Mountains, ocean and wine growing regions are easily accessible. This position is located at the Hawthorn Swinburne campus with excellent food options and public transport connections. The incumbent may also be required to travel to collaborator laboratories (e.g. La Trobe University in Bundoora, and Monash University and Australian Synchrotron in, Clayton) and have opportunities to visit international collaborator laboratories (Germany, Spain or USA), as well as conducting experiments at synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser facilities overseas (e.g. the US, Germany, Switzerland, Japan or South Korea).

**To Apply**
Please submit your CV and cover letter (2 pg) briefly addressing the key selection criteria for this position.

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click ‘apply’ and you will be redirected to Swinburne’s Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

**Applications Close: Friday 28th March 2025, 11pm**

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

**Diversity, Equity and Inclusion**
Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology working together to build a better world. Central to our