Postdoctoral Researcher/ Senior Research Officer – Computational Biology

The Opportunity

Imagine human–AI teams working alongside scientists and clinicians to turn complex data into testable hypotheses overnight and to move those insights into better experiments, clearer interpretation and faster decisions for families. This work is already underway in our lab.

We're assembling a strike team of three exceptional postdoc researchers to design autonomous discovery systems that reveal the biology behind challenging childhood diseases.

Rare diseases affect 400 million people worldwide; most still lack answers. Autonomous AI can compress months of genomic and literature analysis into hours, scale evidence review across thousands of studies, and explore many hypotheses in parallel so researchers and clinicians can focus on strategic decisions and patient care.

Every solution you build moves us closer to answers for real families. You'll join a team developing novel AI frameworks and next-generation diagnostic tools, in a supportive environment designed to launch your career plus Perth's outstanding lifestyle and connected research ecosystem.

Your tasks will include the following:

• Build discovery engines that autonomously generate and test hypotheses across single-cell, genomic, and clinical data.
• Develop explainable AI that clinicians trust and families can understand.
• Design systems that learn from every case to accelerate future discoveries.
• Lead ambitious, high-impact projects with world-class clinical and computational teams, with full intellectual ownership.
• Publish influential research, supervise students, and contribute to grant applications as a named investigator.
• Leave with publications, data, collaborators, and leadership experience to advance your next step in academia, biotech, or industry.

Conveniently based at Perth children's Hospital, this is a full time, 3 year position, with the possibility of an extension.

About You

To be successful in this role, you should possess the following skills and experience:

• PhD in Computational Biology, AI, Bioinformatics or related field (or biomedical PhD with strong computational skills).
• Fluency in modern AI/ML and emerging paradigms (agents, explainability).
• Track record of computational solutions to biological problems.
• Clear communicator across disciplines.

Desirable:

• Experience in explainable AI, causal inference or autonomous systems
• Publications in AI, genomics, single-cell or precision medicine
• Background in rare disease, cancer or immunology
• Bold problem-solving—and a personal connection to the mission

We are driving inclusion and diversity as part of the way we work and embrace the diverse career and life experiences of our staff. If you meet a number of the requirements (and not all), we encourage you to submit your application. We also encourage you to address any career disruptions (if applicable) you may have had in your cover letter.

About Us

At The Kids Research Institute Australia, we are committed to building a workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. We actively recruit, support and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, people of all ages, and those with diverse lived experiences. We also provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

If you meet many, but not all, of the role requirements, we encourage you to apply. We also welcome you to mention any career breaks in your cover letter to help us understand your journey.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in how we:

• Support staff-led inclusion and allyship groups.
• Offer flexible work practices that recognise different needs and life stages.
• Provide training, development and mentoring opportunities to increase inclusive leadership and create an environment where all staff can thrive.
• Partner with communities to strength cultural awareness and belonging.
• Ensure adjustments and accessible practices are available for diverse community groups.
• We continually strive to measure our progress and improve where we can.

Alongside our inclusive culture, you'll enjoy:

• Extra annual leave at Christmas and Easter.
• Salary packaging and entertainment benefits.
• Health and wellbeing programs with weekly events.
• Flexible and hybrid working options.
• Recognition and professional development opportunities, including LinkedIn Learning.
• Modern offices with sit-to-stand desks and end-of-trip facilities.
• Staff discounts on travel, IT, stationery, and access to corporate health insurance.

How to Apply

If this role feels like the right fit and an exciting new opportunity for you,

Please include a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) that specifically addresses the skills and experience outlined in the "About You" section.

Applications will only be accepted through our career portal. If you are experiencing technical difficulties or require reasonable accommodations in completing your application, please contact

Contact Name: Sasha Grist

Contact Email:

Closing Date: 01/10/2025 - We reserve the right to hire prior to the closing date.