The School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES) at the University of Sydney is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Biology and AI Modelling to be based at the Plant Breeding Institute on the University’s Camden Campus. SOLES has an international reputation for education and research, with well-funded external research collaborations across industry. The University of Sydney has significant strengths in plant breeding, crop production, plant biology and genetics, and agricultural robotics.
This role offers an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated computational biologist to join a multidisciplinary research team investigating plant–pathogen interactions through integrative computational modelling. You will develop and apply quantitative and data-driven models to study protein interactions and their context-dependent behaviour, linking computational predictions with condition-specific biological responses.
You will have access to large-scale biological datasets, high-performance and cloud-based computing resources, and work in close collaboration with experimental biologists and external computational partners. The successful applicant will demonstrate clear potential to become a leader in their field, with a strong research trajectory focused on computational modelling of molecular interactions and regulatory processes to generate mechanistic insight into host–pathogen biology.
Your research interests will complement and/or enrich existing strengths in the Institute and School in plant breeding, molecular biology, genetics and pathology. You will contribute to current research programs, particularly in resistance gene and avirulence gene cloning, functional studies, and host–pathogen interactions, and articulate a clear vision for collaboration within SOLES, across the University of Sydney and beyond.
Your key responsibilities will be to:
- develop and apply computational models to investigate protein–protein and protein–ligand interactions in plant–pathogen systems
- integrate diverse omics datasets to infer molecular interactions and regulatory processes
- design, implement and maintain reproducible, scalable computational pipelines for large biological datasets
- optimise workflows for high-performance computing (HPC) and cloud-based environments
- collaborate closely with experimental research teams to translate model outputs into testable biological hypotheses
- contribute to scientific documentation, including high-impact publications, research grant applications and reports
- present research findings at national and international scientific conferences.
About you
The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Postdoc Research Associate – Computational Biology who has:
- a PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, systems biology, or a related discipline
- strong proficiency in Python and R for scientific computing and pipeline development
- demonstrated experience in quantitative, statistical or data-driven modelling of biological systems
- experience developing reproducible workflows in HPC and/or containerised environments
- strong analytical capability, scientific ownership and a track record of high-quality research publications
- a clear vision for how your research complements and/or enriches the strengths of the School and Institute
- demonstrated experience in successful collaborative research projects (advantageous)
- excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, with strong time management capability.
Desirable experience
- familiarity with structure-informed or interaction-prediction modelling approaches
- experience integrating computational analyses with experimental or functional validation
- demonstrated experience in protein-centric analyses, including protein interaction networks, signalling pathway modelling, proteomics or protein target screening
- background or demonstrated interest in plant biology or plant–pathogen molecular interactions
- familiarity with molecular cloning techniques.
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Work Rights
You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.
Pre-employment checks
Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.
EEO statement
At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
How to apply
Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.
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For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Deepna Chand, Recruitment Operations by email to recruitment.sea@sydney.edu.au .
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Click to view the Position Description for this role.
Applications CloseMonday 27 April 2026 11:59 PM
