Position Summary

• Institute: Institute for Molecular Bioscience
• Employment Type: Full-time, Fixed-Term
• Duration: 2 Years
• Classification: HEW Level 6
• Salary: $97,268.85 - $104,348.98 + 17% Super
• Location: St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

Join a collaborative, inquisitive and high-performing research environment within the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, where you will contribute to world-leading scientific discovery and innovation.

The Palpant Laboratory is an internationally recognised research group within the Institute for Molecular Bioscience focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease and developing next-generation regenerative medicine approaches.

Our research integrates human induced pluripotent stem cell technologies, cardiac tissue engineering, organoid models, genomics and computational biology to investigate disease pathogenesis, identify therapeutic targets and advance precision medicine strategies.

Working within a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment, the successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research programs spanning stem cell biology, cardiac disease modelling and translational cardiovascular science, while interacting with leading academic, clinical and industry partners.

As a Senior Research Assistant, you will apply your specialist technical expertise across the research lifecycle, supporting impactful research projects and helping to create meaningful change through discovery and translation.

Key Responsibilities

Stem Cell Culture and Disease Modelling

• Lead routine maintenance, expansion and quality control of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) cultures and support generation of disease-specific cellular models.
• Perform and optimise directed differentiation of hiPSCs into cardiomyocytes and other cardiac lineage populations, including implementation of both two-dimensional monolayer and three-dimensional organoid-based differentiation platforms.
• Generate and characterise engineered cardiac tissues and cardiac organoids for disease modelling, phenotypic analysis and translational research applications.

Molecular and Cellular Analysis

• Undertake advanced cellular and molecular analyses including flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, qPCR, histology, tissue processing and sample preparation for downstream genomic and transcriptomic studies.
• Perform isolation and processing of nuclei and cellular material from stem-cell-derived cardiac tissues for high-throughput molecular profiling applications.

Protocol Development and Research Support

• Contribute to the development, optimisation and standardisation of stem cell differentiation and tissue engineering protocols, ensuring high reproducibility and experimental quality.
• Maintain detailed experimental records and assist with data management, analysis and preparation of figures, reports and manuscripts.

Laboratory Operations and Compliance

• Coordinate laboratory operations including equipment maintenance, inventory management, ordering, sample tracking and implementation of laboratory best practices.
• Assist with preparation and maintenance of ethics, biosafety and regulatory documentation and ensure compliance with institutional and legislative requirements.

Training and Collaboration

• Provide technical training, mentoring and oversight for students and new laboratory personnel in stem cell culture, differentiation methodologies and laboratory safety procedures.
• Contribute to collaborative research programs focused on human stem cell biology, cardiac disease modelling and regenerative medicine.