Job Title
Research Officer/Senior Research Officer
Job Description
An exciting opportunity is available for a Research Officer or Senior Research Officer to join the Cancer Division (Ashley Laboratory) at Australia’s pre-eminent biomedical research institute.
About the Position
The Ashley Laboratory at WEHI is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead and develop translational research programs focused on innate immunity in central nervous system (CNS) tumours, particularly glioma.
The successful candidate will investigate how tumour-intrinsic innate sensing pathways influence glioma biology, immune escape, and therapeutic response. Building on extensive translational work in brain tumour immunology conducted in both Australia and the United States, the laboratory is focused on understanding how key genomic alterations in glioma shape inflammatory signalling and create opportunities for immune-based therapies.
The successful candidate will help define how modifications in nucleic acid sensing pathways, interferon responses, chromatin regulation, and immune cell recruitment effects glioma.
The position will also contribute to ongoing studies examining developmental pathways in glioma and strategies to restore innate immune responsiveness therapeutically. Additional projects will explore emerging innate immune sensors and related pathways, and their broader roles in inflammatory signalling, DNA damage responses, tumour evolution, and therapy resistance.
The research program integrates molecular and cellular biology, functional immunology, genomics and epigenomics, single-cell approaches, and translational tumour models to define how innate sensing pathways shape glioma evolution and therapeutic vulnerability.
The successful candidate will work within a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment alongside clinician-scientists, computational biologists, and cancer immunologists across WEHI, the Brain Cancer Centre, national and international collaborators. The role is expected to provide scientific leadership within the laboratory, contribute to grant and manuscript preparation, and assist in the supervision and mentorship of students and junior researchers.
Selection Criteria
Knowledge and Skills:
A relevant doctoral qualification or equivalent.
An excellent academic record and achievements.
Demonstrated ability and potential for excellence and productivity in research.
Research experience that has resulted in publications, conference papers or reports.
Proven interpersonal and collaborative skills in achieving research outcomes.
Personal Qualities:
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work constructively within a team environment.
Excellent attention to detail, ensuring that data, new methods and theories are accurate, of high-quality and accessible to other researchers.
Ability to manage time effectively and be reliable and approachable.
Terms of Appointment
This position is available for two years in a full time capacity. Salary is Research Employee Level A6-8 ($107,194 - $115,059) or Level B ($121,124 - $143,826) dependent on experience. Very attractive salary packaging options are available for general living expenses, meal entertainment, novated leasing and more. 12% superannuation payable, plus up to a further 5% after the first 6 months of service via our matching superannuation scheme.
General enquiries can be directed to [email protected].
A position description for a Research Officer is available here.
A position description for a Senior Research Officer is available here.
How to Apply
Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a document addressing the selection criteria in pdf format.
Application Closing Date: The closing date for this advertisement is 30 July 2026, however we will be reviewing applications as they are received, and WEHI reserves the right to appoint a suitable candidate prior to the closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing this opportunity.
