Senior Scientist

• Flexible appointment available as either one full-time position (1.0 FTE) or two part-time positions operating under a job-share arrangement for a Senior Scientist
• Provide scientific leadership and operational oversight for a world-leading translational research laboratory
• Base Salary $131,108 p.a. (pro-rata for part-time appointments) + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Centre for Organ Assessment, Repair & Optimisation (COARO) is seeking experienced Senior scientists to provide scientific leadership and day-to-day operational oversight of an established translational research laboratory focused on ex vivo perfusion of human organs.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly funded and rapidly growing research program that has developed a world-leading platform enabling long-term ex vivo organ preservation for up to seven weeks under near-physiological conditions. This unique platform creates opportunities to investigate organ repair, regeneration, and metabolic adaptation over extended, clinically meaningful timescales.

The laboratory is entering a significant growth phase, including the world's first clinical trial of long-term organ preservation prior to transplantation. These positions represent the first dedicated biological leadership appointments within the program and will play a critical role in defining the mechanistic framework underpinning sustained organ repair and regeneration.

Key research areas include understanding organ metabolism during extended ex vivo perfusion, organ repair, remodelling and regeneration, with an initial focus on liver research while extending to other organs including kidney and pancreas.

Appointment Structure:

This opportunity may be appointed as either:

• one full-time Senior Scientist position (1.0 FTE), or
• two part-time Senior Scientist positions working collaboratively under a co-leadership model.

Specialist Area 1: Cellular Metabolism and Mitochondrial Physiology

You will bring deep scientific expertise in cellular metabolism, mitochondrial biology, and physiology to investigate the metabolic and physiological changes occurring during extended ex vivo organ preservation.

Specialist Area 2: Cellular Repair and Regeneration

You will bring expertise in tissue repair mechanisms, regeneration biology, and cellular recovery pathways to investigate organ regeneration and functional recovery within ex vivo systems.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• provide scientific leadership and domain expertise in metabolism, physiology, repair, or regeneration biology
• lead hands-on experimental design, execution, optimisation, and troubleshooting
• analyse and interpret biological samples using molecular and cellular techniques including western blotting and microscopy
• process, analyse and integrate complex multiomic datasets including metabolomics, lipidomics and transcriptomics
• contribute to the development of the laboratory's scientific strategy, hypotheses, and research priorities
• provide oversight and coordination across multiple research streams
• supervise PhD students and early-career researchers
• coordinate day-to-day laboratory operations and research activities
• collaborate effectively with engineers, scientists, and technical staff in a multidisciplinary environment
• contribute to publications, grant reporting, and the ongoing growth of the research program
• maintain oversight of project progress, deliverables, and experimental outcomes
• integrate findings across projects to generate meaningful biological insights.

About you

• PhD with postdoctoral research experience demonstrating scientific independence
• demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: cellular metabolism, mitochondrial biology, organ injury, tissue repair or regeneration biology
• strong publication record in high-impact peer-reviewed journals
• proven ability to design, conduct and interpret complex experimental studies
• experience working with and integrating multiomic datasets
• demonstrated contribution to sustained, multi-phase research programs
• experience within translational, biomedical, or clinically adjacent research environments, ideally involving human tissue or organ systems
• demonstrated ability to maintain oversight of multiple projects while managing experimental detail
• outstanding organisational, communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and collaborative research environments
• commitment to mentoring and developing early-career researchers.

Desirable

• experience working within collaborative or co-leadership models
• demonstrated ability to balance scientific leadership and hands-on research activities
• established commitment to supervision, mentoring, and research training

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations 

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University.  Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a university community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.
For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

• Please include in your application cover letter:
• Your top 5 publications highlighting your specific role/contribution to each
• Detailed relevant experience in cellular metabolism, cellular regeneration, mitochondrial biology, or related areas
• Key relevant technical and analytical skills
• Any management or supervision experience with students and staff

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Danielle Selinger Recruitment Consultant by email to [email protected]

© The University of Sydney
The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Thursday 19 November 2026 11:59 PM