Postdoctoral Research Fellow

PRIMARY DETAIL- Salary Package: From $106,089 (LEVEL A.6) to $141,790 (Level B) p.a. plus 17% employer's superannuation and annual leave loading
- Appointment Type:  Full-time, 1-year fixed term
- Location: Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus (North Ryde)

Join a multi-disciplinary team pushing the boundaries of synthetic genomics.

The Role

The School of Natural Sciences is currently seeking a suitably qualified Research Fellow to join a multi-disciplinary team within the Australian Genome Foundry. This multifaceted role involves showcasing high-throughput biofoundry technology in a cutting-edge yeast synthetic biology and metabolic engineering project. The primary role of the position is to help coordinate and lead research in the Australian Genome Foundry alongside the Chief Scientist and Scientific Director.

The successful applicant will work with Dr Briardo Llorente and Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen to:

• Use synthetic biology to undertake complex engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolism

• Establish and showcase cutting edge biofoundry workflows, including ultra-high-throughput screens for desired phenotypes

• Co-supervise HDR students and work with biofoundry staff on the above area of research

• Initiate and maintain academic and industry collaborations, and apply for research funding

• Communicate research findings in scientific journals and at conferences

About You

You will have completed a PhD in metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, or a closely related discipline. You will enjoy contributing to impactful research outcomes and working effectively as part of an international research team. Your collaborative approach to working with others will ensure you perform effectively within a multi-disciplinary environment. If you are an excellent communicator with a proactive nature and are flexible and resilient in your approach, then this is a role you will thrive in and a team you will enjoy working with.

About Us

Located at Macquarie University and within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Australian Genome Foundry is a high-throughput strain engineering facility with a highly automated workflow. This means rather than having a researcher building one strain at a time manually, the same researcher could build hundreds or thousands of strains in parallel using our robotic platforms. The Australian Genome Foundry is capable of synthesizing complete eukaryotic chromosomes and consists of modular robotic platforms capable of automated construction and analysis of synthetic microbial strains.

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How To Apply

To be considered for this position, please apply online by submitting your CV and a separate cover letter that demonstrates how you meet the following selection criteria:

Selection Criteria:

• PhD in metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, or related discipline

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work collaboratively and work independently without close supervision

• Relevant experience with microbial strain engineering and evaluation, especially with yeast

• Ability to devise and implement synthetic biology approaches

• Experienced at molecular and microbiology protocols

Desirable

• Understanding of the fundamentals of biofoundry automation

Applicants must have Valid Australian Working rights.

*Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to progress or decline an application prior to the application closing date.*

Role Enquiries: Briardo Llorente, Chief Scientific Officer, Australian Genome Foundry via e-mail

Applications Close: 13th of October 2025 at 11:59pm AEST

If you're already part of the Macquarie Group (MQ University, , MQ Health, MGSM), you'll need to apply through your employee Workday account. To apply for this job: Login to Workday and go to the Careers App > Find Jobs.

Applications Close:

13/10/2025 11:59 PM

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