Research Officer

Role Type: Full time 12-month contract

Salary: $109,334 - $117,360 per annum plus superannuation

The opportunity:

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Computational Biologist to join our innovative research team at the Neural Stem Cells Laboratory, Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI). This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of stem cell and brain disease research in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

As a postdoctoral computational biologist, you will drive the analysis and integration of large-scale functional genomics datasets – with an emphasis on single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, and proteomics – to uncover new insights into human brain development and pathology.

You will collaborate closely with wet-lab researchers, contribute to multiple ongoing projects, and play a key role in shaping the Lab's computational capabilities. The role is highly interdisciplinary and will connect you with leading experts across MCRI, Royal Children's Hospital, and international partners through reNEW.

About your new team

The Velasco Lab is focused on deciphering the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, using human stem cell-derived 2D and 3D neural organoid models and multi-omics approaches.

Your responsibilities include:

Analyse and integrate multi-omics datasets (scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, proteomics).

Benchmark in vitro organoid models against in vivo datasets.

Build and apply pipelines to infer gene regulatory networks.

Develop, document, and maintain computational tools for internal use.

Design and interpret experiments in collaboration with wet-lab scientists.

What we need from you:

You are an independent and enthusiastic scientist with:

A PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science or related field (or equivalent experience).

Demonstrated proficiency in R and/or Python, or related languages.

Strong experience in analysing single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, proteomics, and multi-omics integration.

Ability to work independently as well as part of an interdisciplinary team.

A track record of publishing high-quality research and presenting at scientific meetings.

Any specific questions related to this position should be directed to A/Prof Silvia Velasco at

What's in it for you?

Be part of MCRI's Stem Cell Medicine Theme, where world-class researchers work to translate stem cell discoveries into treatments for childhood diseases.

Engage with the international stem cell research community through reNEW, a partnership with the University of Copenhagen and Leiden University Medical Center.

Work in one of the world's top paediatric medical research institutes, embedded within a collaborative ecosystem including the Royal Children's Hospital and University of Melbourne.

Who we are

Murdoch Children's Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem-solving to address challenging queries in child health. Committed to inclusivity and respect, we foster a positive working environment that values diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and a dedicated supporter of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), we uphold principles of equal opportunity and diverse representation.

We are committed to the safety of children and young people and takes a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse, exploitation and harm. Child safety is prioritised in our decision-making at all levels of the Institute.

Join Us

If you believe this role is a good fit for you, please apply by submitting:

Your resume

A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

Ensure these documents are combined into a single PDF file.

We welcome individuals of diverse genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations in our workplace. We actively encourage talented individuals from all walks of life to apply for our job openings. Our commitment lies in fostering a workplace that is barrier-free and inclusive, aiming to attract the most skilled candidates.

For any questions related to the recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Recruitment team at Ensure that you include the position number and job title in the subject line. Please refrain from sharing your application to this email address.

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

No recruitment agencies please.

Position Description

Applications close: 24 October 2025 AUS Eastern Daylight time