Job Description

• Advance world-class research in sustainable agriculture and plant–microbe systems.
• Collaborate globally to deliver real-world impact across horticulture, soil health and crop resilience.
• Full-time (1FTE) appointment on a fixed term basis for 3.5 years.
• Base salary range: Level A, $83,499 – $112,371 p.a. (pro-rata) plus 17% superannuation.

About the area

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a globally recognised Group of Eight university, ranked among the world’s top institutions. The School of Agriculture and Environment is in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and is internationally recognised for excellence in Agricultural Sciences, Soil Science, and Environmental Science and Engineering.

With strong PhD supervision capability, global research partnerships, and a track record of securing competitive funding, the School delivers high-impact research addressing critical challenges in agriculture, environment, and sustainability.

About the opportunity

We are on the lookout for two postgraduate Research Associates offering an exciting opportunity for an early career academic or postdoctoral researcher to contribute to innovative research at the intersection of microbial ecology, soil health and crop disease management.

Working within a multidisciplinary and internationally connected research team, you will:

• Contribute to cutting-edge research programs integrating microbiomes to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability
• Conduct collaborative research in areas such as plant–microbial interactions, metabolomics, RNAi, and soil systems
• Produce high-quality research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and synthesis papers
• Support externally funded research projects, delivering outcomes aligned with funded proposals
• Engage with industry stakeholders, including growers, to translate research into practical outcomes
• Build research capability and contribute to data management, team initiatives and postgraduate activities

These roles offers increasing autonomy, strong mentorship, and the opportunity to develop a recognised research profile in a research-intensive university environment.

About you

To succeed in this role, you will demonstrate:

• A PhD (or near completion) in soil science, plant science, microbial ecology, or a related discipline
• A proven track record of high-quality research outputs, including publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Demonstrated expertise in microbiome research, metabolomics and/or RNAi in soil or plant systems
• Experience contributing to collaborative and externally funded research, ideally with industry engagement
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and engage diverse stakeholders