Researchers - Strategic Research Cluster Initiative

• Strategic Research Cluster Initiative - Faculty of Science
• Job no: 542135
• Work type: Full Time
• Location: Sydney, NSW
• Categories: Senior Lecturer, Lecturer
• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best
• Flexible working arrangements and support for carers

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work. 

UNSW is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

• Lecturer (Level B) / Senior Lecturer (Level C), plus 17% superannuation and annual leave loading
• Continuing academic appointment
• Full-time (35 hours per week)
• Approximately 10 positions available
• Located in Sydney, Australia

The Faculty of Science is seeking outstanding researchers with a strong commitment interdisciplinary collaboration to join our Strategic Research Cluster Initiative.

The Faculty of Science at UNSW is one of Australia's leading scientific research and teaching communities. As part of its 10-Year Strategy and UNSW's Progress for All strategy, the Faculty is making a significant investment in interdisciplinary research excellence through the establishment of Strategic Research Clusters. This initiative will strengthen collaborative research capability, build critical mass in areas of strategic importance, and develop the scientific leadership needed to address the Faculty's priority Societal Challenges. More information on the Strategic Research Cluster Initiative can be found here: Shape the Future of Science

Successful candidates will join one of three Faculty Strategic Research Clusters while being academically based within a host School aligned with their disciplinary expertise. This model combines the strengths of a disciplinary home with opportunities to collaborate across Schools, establish internationally competitive research programs, and contribute to innovative research-led education. They will benefit from:

• Membership of a Faculty-wide Strategic Research Cluster
• Opportunities to build interdisciplinary collaborations across Schools and disciplines
• Research development, mentoring and career support
• Access to competitive internal funding opportunities
• A vibrant and inclusive research environment.

UNSW Science is committed to gender equity across our academic workforce. As part of this initiative, UNSW Science is seeking to achieve a recruitment outcome of at least 50% women through proactive attraction and equitable recruitment practices. All appointments will be made on merit. We strongly encourage applications from women, and from candidates of all backgrounds who will contribute to a diverse, inclusive and collaborative Faculty. 

Strategic Research Clusters 

1. Digital-led Discovery and Design of New Materials 

Help shape the future of materials discovery by combining computational, theoretical and experimental approaches to design the next generation of functional materials. We are seeking researchers who utilise digital technologies, data-driven approaches and experimental methods to accelerate materials discovery and engineering. Research areas of interest include:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning for materials discovery
• Computational and multiscale materials modelling
• Biomaterials, bio-inspired materials and their underlying physics
• Tissue engineering and regenerative materials
• Functional and structural materials
• Soft matter and active matter
• High-throughput experimentation and screening
• Chemical and physical approaches to materials design
• Engineering biology and synthetic biology platforms for materials innovation.

This Cluster brings together expertise across the Schools of Materials Science & Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics & Statistics, and Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences

2. Environmental Resilience: Prediction, Protection and Restoration 

Advance the resilience and protection of our environment through improved environmental sensing and prediction with remote sensing, AI, environmental genomics, One Health, climate modelling, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. We welcome researchers whose work improves our ability to understand, predict and protect natural and managed environments. Research areas of interest include:

• Environmental sensing, imaging and remote sensing technologies
• Environmental and non-human genomics, microbiomes and One Health
• Climate modelling and prediction
• Artificial intelligence for environmental science
• Carbon modelling and net-zero solutions
• Biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
• Habitat restoration and environmental remediation
• Environmental biotechnology and bioremediation
• Environmental policy, decision support and climate risk
• Hybrid AI and physics-based environmental and climate modelling.

This Cluster connects expertise across the Schools of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Aviation.

3. Discovery for Human Health 

Advance human health through interdisciplinary research spanning molecules, cells, tissues, physiology and behaviour. We are seeking researchers who combine experimental, computational and quantitative approaches to better understand health and disease and translate discoveries into improved health outcomes. Research areas of interest include:

• Neuroscience and computational neuroscience
• Human disease and tissue modelling
• Biophysics for human health
• Advanced imaging and image analysis
• Systems biology, quantitative biology and bioinformatics
• Functional genomics and perturbation biology
• Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
• Precision medicine and translational therapeutics
• Artificial intelligence for health and biomedical discovery.

This Cluster brings together expertise across the Schools of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, Psychology, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mathematics & Statistics.

We welcome applications from interdisciplinary researchers whose expertise aligns with the intent of one of the Clusters.

About the roles

• Lecturer (Level B) / Senior Lecturer (Level C), plus 17% superannuation and annual leave loading
• Continuing academic appointment
• Full-time (35 hours per week)
• Approximately 10 positions available
• Located in Sydney, Australia

A Lecturer (Level B) or Senior Lecturer (Level C) will undertake high-quality research and deliver excellent teaching while contributing to one of the Faculty's Strategic Research Clusters. The role will be academically based within a host School aligned with the candidate's disciplinary expertise and will form part of a cohort contributing to a Faculty-wide Strategic Research Cluster. The role reports to the relevant Head of School and has no direct reports. 

Accountabilities

Level B:

• Undertake high-quality research aligned with a nominated Strategic Research Cluster and contribute actively to interdisciplinary collaboration within the Cluster.
• Develop an internationally recognised research profile through high-quality publications and competitive research funding.
• Develop research collaborations, nationally and internationally, including with external partners such as industry, government, others as appropriate.
• Deliver high-quality teaching and contribute to curriculum development and continuous improvement across undergraduate, postgraduate and/or lifelong learning programs.
• Supervise Honors, Masters and Higher Degree Research students, commensurate with experience.
• Contribute positively to the academic life of the School, Faculty, University and Strategic Research Cluster through collegial service and administrative activities.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and respectful academic environment consistent with the University's Code of Conduct and Values.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the University and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.

Level C (in addition to above):

• Provide academic leadership within the Strategic Research Cluster and contribute to the development of interdisciplinary research initiatives.
• Build on and maintain a nationally recognised research profile supported by sustained competitive research funding.
• Demonstrate leadership in teaching through curriculum innovation, student supervision and mentoring of colleagues.
• Develop strategic partnerships with industry, government and the broader research community to enhance research impact and translation.
• Contribute to the leadership and strategic development of the School, Faculty and Strategic Research Cluster.

Skills and Experience (Selection Criteria)

Level B:

• A PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated research excellence in an area aligned with one of the Faculty's Strategic Research Clusters.
• Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm to contribute to interdisciplinary research and to actively participate in the development of a Faculty Strategic Research Cluster.
• Evidence of high-quality research outputs and the potential to develop an internationally recognised research profile.
• Demonstrated ability, or clear potential, to attract competitive research funding.
• Evidence of effective teaching and a commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and build productive research partnerships.
• Experience in supervising, or the capacity to supervise, Higher Degree Research students.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to fostering a respectful and collaborative academic environment.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

Level C (in addition to the above):

• Demonstrated national recognition and an established research profile in a relevant discipline.
• Sustained success in securing competitive research funding.
• Evidence of academic leadership in research, teaching and supervision.
• Demonstrated success in curriculum development and innovation.
• Experience developing strategic collaborations with industry, government or other external partners.

Application Process

Your application should systematically address the selection criteria listed above, outline alignment with your nominated Strategic Research Cluster, and identify the UNSW Science School that best aligns with your disciplinary expertise.

If you have had any interruptions in your career you are encouraged to also include an Achievement Relative to Opportunity (ARO) / Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) statement as part of your applicable.

Please apply online via the "Apply Now" button – applications will not be accepted if sent directly to the contact listed. 

Contact for enquiries:

PJ Sullivan

E: pj.sullivan@unsw.edu.au using the subject line: Researchers - Strategic Research Cluster Initiative enquiry via EthicalJobs.