Post-doctoral Systems Immunologist

WEHI - Walter & Eliza Hall Institute – Parkville VIC

Full time

7d ago , from WEHI - Walter & Eliza Hall Institute

Job Description

An exciting opportunity is available for a Post-doctoral Systems Immunologist to join the Immunity Division (Mueller Laboratory) at Australia's pre-eminent biomedical research institute.

About the Project

We are seeking a talented and motivated Postdoctoral Scientist to join a multidisciplinary research team investigating the systems immunology of naturally acquired malaria immunity in Papua New Guinean (PNG) children. This project builds on well-characterised longitudinal cohorts and severe malaria case control of children in PNG and leverages high-dimensional immunological profiling to define the cellular, molecular, and systems-level correlates of protection againstPlasmodium falciparumandPlasmodium vivaxmalaria.

Using state-of-the-art approaches — including high-dimensional flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics and multi-omics data integration — the project aims to:

• Characterise the development and maintenance of humoral and cellular malaria immunity in children over time.
• Identify systems-level immune signatures that distinguish protected from susceptible children.
• Elucidate the impact of repeated malaria exposure, age, and co-infections on immune maturation.
• Translate immunological findings into candidate biomarkers for vaccine development and disease monitoring.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of infectious disease epidemiology, global health, immunology, and data science, contributing to globally important work on a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.

Job Title

Post-doctoral Systems Immunologist - Paediatric Malaria

Job Description

An exciting opportunity is available for a Post-doctoral Systems Immunologist to join the Immunity Division (Mueller Laboratory) at Australia's pre-eminent biomedical research institute.

About the Project

We are seeking a talented and motivated Postdoctoral Scientist to join a multidisciplinary research team investigating the systems immunology of naturally acquired malaria immunity in Papua New Guinean (PNG) children. This project builds on well-characterised longitudinal cohorts and severe malaria case control of children in PNG and leverages high-dimensional immunological profiling to define the cellular, molecular, and systems-level correlates of protection againstPlasmodium falciparumandPlasmodium vivaxmalaria.

Using state-of-the-art approaches — including high-dimensional flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics and multi-omics data integration — the project aims to:

• Characterise the development and maintenance of humoral and cellular malaria immunity in children over time.
• Identify systems-level immune signatures that distinguish protected from susceptible children.
• Elucidate the impact of repeated malaria exposure, age, and co-infections on immune maturation.
• Translate immunological findings into candidate biomarkers for vaccine development and disease monitoring.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of infectious disease epidemiology, global health, immunology, and data science, contributing to globally important work on a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute high-dimensional immunological assays (incl. flow cytometry, single-cell sequencing / proteomics, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays) on clinical PBMC and plasma samples from the PNG cohorts.
• Perform rigorous bioinformatic and statistical analyses of multi-omics datasets.
• Integrate data across multiple immunological platforms (transcriptomics, proteomics, antibody profiling) to generate systems-level insights.
• Work collaboratively with PNG-based field and laboratory partners to ensure high-quality sample and data integrity and provide training and support for a newly planned prospective immunome cohort study.
• Contribute to the intellectual direction of the project and generate hypotheses independently.
• Write and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals; present at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to grant applications and help mentor junior researchers (research assistants, PhD students).

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• PhD in Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Systems Biology, Computational Biology, or a closely related field (awarded or near completion).
• Demonstrated experience in human immunology, with hands-on expertise in at least one high-dimensional platform (flow cytometry, CyTOF, single-cell RNA-seq, or equivalent).
• Proficiency in bioinformatic analysis using R and/or Python, including familiarity with relevant