Website University of Western Australia
Contact Name: Ryan Lister
Contact Mail: ryan.lister@uwa.edu.au
Department/Faculty: School of Molecular Sciences
Deadline: 20-01-2026
- Lead the development, optimisation, and implementation of molecular synthetic biology technologies for programmable plant trait engineering.
- Full-time appointment on a fixed term basis until June 2028.
- Base salary range: Level A, $83,499 – $112,371 p.a. plus 17% superannuation.
About the area
The Plant Synbio Innovation Centre (PSIC) is based within the School of Molecular Sciences at UWA. As the WA node of Plant SynBio Australia under Bioplatforms Australia and the NCRIS program, PSIC will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research capabilities in plant synthetic biology, and agricultural biotechnology. The facility houses state-of-the-art molecular biology infrastructure and operates in collaboration with national PSBA nodes at ANU, La Trobe University, and Adelaide University. As the WA node, the PSIC is responsible for discovering, developing, and delivering plant synthetic biology componentry, technologies, datasets, and high throughput testing capabilities. PSIC’s activities span high-resolution plant cell atlas generation, regulatory network and genomic ‘parts’ discovery, development of high-throughput upstream screening pipelines to rapidly assess Synbio constructs and components, and implementation of molecular tools for both fundamental research and applied crop-engineering programs. This position will be based in the Bayliss Building on UWA’s Crawley campus, working closely with research, industry, and government partners to develop and deliver cutting-edge plant synbio technologies and services.
About the opportunity
- Lead the development, testing, and application of advanced molecular synthetic biology tools for plant genome, gene activity, and cell engineering.
- Design, test, and validate programmable gene circuits, RNA/DNA editing systems, regulatory components, and transgene insertion technologies in transient and stable plant systems.
- Collaborate on research-service projects across academia and industry, ensuring reproducible workflows, scalable methods, and high-quality datasets for the PSBA network.
About you
- PhD in plant molecular biology, synthetic biology, genome engineering, biotechnology, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated expertise in molecular cloning, construct design, and genetic engineering techniques relevant to plants.
- Experience developing or applying programmable regulators, gene-editing tools (e.g., CRISPR, base/prime editors), synthetic gene circuits, or other molecular synbio technologies.
- Ability to design, optimise and troubleshoot molecular workflows, including promoter/element selection, construct assembly, and functional validation.
- Demonstrated experience analysing molecular or functional genomics data relevant to technology validation.
Note: A current National Police Clearance Certificate, and Finance Check will be required by the successful applicant.
To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Ryan Lister at ryan.lister@uwa.edu.au
How to apply
Please apply online via the Apply Now button and address the selection criteria in your submission in a separate document. For information to assist you with compiling statements to answer the selection criteria, please visit Addressing the selection criteria.
You may submit a statement describing any personal circumstances relevant to your application. This can include academic/professional interruptions or achievements relative to opportunity.
Closing date: 11:55 PM AWST on Tuesday, 20 January 2026
This position is open to international applicants.
If you have queries relating to your application, please contact the individual named in the advertisement. Alternatively, please contact the Talent team at people@uwa.edu.au with details of your query. To enable a quick response, please include the 6-digit job reference number.