Job Title
Research Officer/Senior Research Officer
Job Description
An excellent opportunity is available for a Research Officer or Senior Research Officer in Protein Biochemistry/Structural Biology to join the Australian Centre for Targeted Therapeutics (ACTT) at Australia's pre-eminent biomedical research institute.
About the position
The Australian Centre for Targeted Therapeutics (ACTT)'s vision is to transform the lives of patients through a new class of medicines that unlock previously 'undruggable' targets.
Led by WEHI, the ACTT will drive a drug development pipeline in collaboration with project partners, Monash University and the Children's Cancer Institute, with the aim to operate ACTT through a biotech spinout company, Ternarx Pty Ltd. ACTT is enabled by a $15 million Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Frontier Health and Medical Research Grant to pursue its research and development efforts.
Located at WEHI's Bundoora Biotech Centre, ACTT will focus on the development of new targeted protein degrader (TPD) drugs against validated cancer-driving proteins and other indications as well as a TPD platform technology.
An exciting opportunity exists for a talented and motivated researcher with strong interest in early drug discovery and translational research. This position will be focused on all aspects of protein biochemistry, biophysics (SPR) and structural biology (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM) within ACTT's hit validation, hit-to-lead and degrader drug development efforts. The successful candidate will be a member of ACTT's structural biology and biochemistry (SBB) team and work in close coordination with ACTT's Medicinal Chemistry and Screening Biology teams.
Roles and Responsibilities of the position
* Degrader drug characterisation using biophysical techniques (e.g. SPR).
* Determine and analyse crystal structures of binary and ternary degrader/target protein complexes to inform structure-based drug discovery efforts.
* Work on hit-to-lead and lead optimisation development in collaboration with the Medicinal Chemistry and Screening Biology teams
* Take on a leadership role within the growing protein biochemistry team to train and supervise team members
* Present research findings to internal collaborators and key stakeholders.
Selection Criteria
Experience and qualifications:
* A PhD in a relevant discipline.
* Demonstrated record of achievement within academia or industry (e.g. as evidenced by first-author publications, patents, evidence of drug discovery leadership).
* To be considered as Senior Research Officer: A minimum of 3 years relevant experience post-PhD in academia or industry.
Knowledge and skills:
* Practical expertise in structural biology (crystallography or cryo-EM) sample preparation, data collection, processing and model building, ideally with targeted protein degraders incl. ternary complexes
* Expertise in biophysical binding assay design, implementation and analysis (e.g., SPR, FRET, AlphaLISA), ideally with targeted protein degraders incl. ternary complex formation.
* Expertise in protein biochemistry (construct design, recombinant protein expression and purification), ideally with E3 ligases.
Personal qualities:
* Demonstrated ability to plan and execute experiments to meet deadlines in a highly paced drug discovery environment.
* Attention to detail regarding up-to-date and accurate maintenance of lab book records specifically with regards to patentable IP.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to work constructively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
* Demonstrated understanding of intellectual property principles and the requirement to maintain confidentiality in a competitive, industrial, research environment.
* Willingness to cooperate with and train other team members in relevant skills.
Terms of appointment
This position is available until 30 Mar 2027 in a full-time capacity. Salary is Research Employee Level A (104,071 - $111,707) or Level B (117,596 – $139,636) 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 Bernhard Lechtenberg –
A position description for a Research Officer (level A) is available here.
A position description for a Senior Research Officer (level B) is available here.
How to apply
Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a document addressing the key selection criteria in pdf format.
Application closing date: Friday 13 March 2026