PRIMARY DETAIL

Macquarie University will offer up to 10 MQLF positions, commencing between 1 January 2027 and 30 June 2027.

Salary Package: From $112,550 (Level A, Step 6) to $120,621 (Level A, Step 8) p.a., plus 17% employer's superannuation and annual leave loading
Appointment Type: Full-time, Fixed term for 3 years. (There is also a full-time, fixed-term option for 4 years, with a 25% teaching component.)

The Role

The Macquarie University Lighthouse Fellowship (MQLF) supports researchers within three years of the award of their PhD who have an outstanding track record (relative to opportunity) and/or who show evidence of excellent research potential. The Scheme provides seed funding for early career researchers, allowing them to increase their competitiveness for securing externally funded fellowships and research funding from non-University sources. In addition, the Scheme aims to accelerate and increase the pipeline of research expertise within Macquarie University Strategic Research Initiatives, existing and emerging.

About You

The Macquarie University Lighthouse Fellowship is open to early career researchers from any country within 3 years of their PhD conferral. You are eligible to apply only if:

your PhD was conferred on or after 1 March 2023; or
you can substantiate an allowable period of career interruption that would be commensurate with conferral of your PhD on or after 1 March 2023; or
your thesis was submitted on or before 31 December 2025. The Fellowship cannot commence until the PhD has been conferred (Fellowships must commence no later than 30 June 2027).

If you are not an Australian or New Zealand permanent resident or citizen, it is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate Visa before commencement of your Fellowship and ensure you meet the terms and conditions set forth by your Visa.

Your proposed research program must closely align with at least one of the Macquarie University Strategic Research Initiatives.

Please see the Funding Guidelines in the Resources section of our webpage for full eligibility details.

For potential applicants in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, and Medicine (STEMM):

The MQLF scheme is highly competitive and it is expected to have a success rate less than that of nationally-competitive funding opportunities, such as the ARC DECRA scheme and the NHMRC Investigator Grant scheme. Successful applicants typically have a record of multiple publications in the top journals for their field including as a lead author, can demonstrate the quality and significance of their research through high citation rates, or real-world impact. A record of multiple external awards, prizes and substantial research funding is also considered to be an indicator of a competitive track record.

About Us

The Faculty of Science and Engineering is a young and dynamic faculty driven by the spirit of discovery. Here we nurture the next generation of science and technology innovators. From a handful of students on the University’s first day, the Faculty now serves over 8000 students across all our courses.

Macquarie is a university engaged with the real and often complex problems and opportunities that define our lives. Since our foundation in 1964, we have aspired to be a different type of university. Over the years, we have grown to become the centre of a vibrant local and global community. Connect with us today.

We foster a values-based culture of innovation and creativity to achieve excellence in teaching and to enhance the research performance of the University. We invest in developing the careers and wellbeing of our students and staff and expect all our leaders to live our values of Caring, Integrity, Teamwork, Ambition, Innovation, and Engagement.

Macquarie’s initiative to proactively adopt a ‘Flexibility by Design’ approach to the post-pandemic future of work has been nationally acknowledged as a leader of other industries by the ‘Flex-Ready’ certification awarded to Macquarie as the only university to be so recognised in the Australian Higher Education sector.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria (please see the Funding Guidelines for full information):

APPLICANT (35%)

ALIGNMENT WITH MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGIC RESEARCH INITIATIVES (20%)

BENEFIT (10%)

PROJECT (TOTAL 35%)

Project quality and innovation (15%)
Feasibility (10%)
Sponsor relationship and research environment (10%)

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. Please refer to the Funding Guidelines and other resources on our website for key information about the scheme.

Your application must consist of the following:

2027 MQLF application form, with Project Description appended (combined as one PDF)
2027 MQLF CV and Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence Form
Evidence of PhD conferral (if awarded) or submission date

For general information about the Fellowship opportunity, please visit the website.

For any general enquiries about the Scheme not covered by the Funding Guidelines, website or associated resources please contact: MQLF@mq.edu.au

To be considered for this position you must complete all requested forms and attach as PDFs to this job application. Applications not submitted through Workday will be deemed ineligible.

*** As part of the University's recruitment process, successful candidates will be required to undergo an academic qualification check to verify their credentials.***

Applications Close:

Monday 16 March 2026 at 11:59 PM, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEDT)

If you're already part of the Macquarie Group (MQ University, U@MQ, MQ Health, MGSM), you'll need to apply through your employee Workday account. To apply for this job: Login to Workday and go to the Careers App > Find Jobs.

Applications Close: 16/03/2026 11:59 PM