About the Position
An excellent opportunity is available for a Research Assistant to join the King Lab within the Genetics and Gene Regulation Division at Australia\'s pre-eminent biomedical research institute.
The King Lab aims to understand how defects in gene regulatory networks are involved in human immune-mediated diseases such as autoimmunity and immunodeficiency. To achieve this, the King Lab takes an interdisciplinary approach by leveraging biochemistry, chromatin-based assays, single-cell genomics, immunology, and bioinformatics to make fundamental discoveries about gene regulation in health and disease.
This position will focus on the application of functional genomics to cultured immune cell lines and primary human immune cells to dissect basic principles of non-coding gene regulation in the immune system. It will require experience with mammalian cell culture, lenti/retrovirus production, flow cytometry and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated (epi)genome-editing strategies. There will be the opportunity to develop experience in both experimental and computational aspects of cutting-edge genomics techniques such as single-cell transcriptomics.
The successful candidate will join a collaborative and highly supportive research team of seven (4 PhD students, 2 post-doctoral researchers, 1 research assistant) and will benefit from an extensive network of local and international collaborators, including biochemists, immunologists, bioinformaticians, and clinician scientists. They will be encouraged to develop new research directions that complement existing themes within the lab and will have the opportunity to establish and contribute to collaborative research projects and gain supervision experience.
Selection Criteria
Essential Knowledge and Skills:
- A BSc with Honours or Masters in molecular biology, genetics, and/or immunology is required.
Experience with the following methods is essential:
- Sterile tissue culture (including maintenance of mammalian suspension and adherent cell lines)
- Routine molecular biology and cloning techniques (PCR, DNA/RNA purification etc)
- Production and quality control of lenti/retroviral gene delivery strategies
- Flow cytometry
Desirable Knowledge and Skills:
- CRISPR/Cas9-mediated (epi)genome-editing strategies
- Functional genomics assays (ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and/or CUT&TAG;)
- Bioinformatic analyses of functional genomic datasets
- Coding in Unix, R, Python or other suitable languages
Personal Qualities:
This position will suit an enthusiastic and motivated individual with an independent work ethic, proven project management experience and a collaborative mindset. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also required, including the ability to write for publication and presentation of research at conferences.
Terms of Appointment
This position is available for 2 years in a full time capacity. Salary is Research Support Employee Level 5 ($82,108-$94,209). Up to 17% superannuation and very attractive salary packaging options are available.
General enquiries can be directed to Hamish King - (emailprotected). A position description 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: Wednesday 1 October 2025
WEHI - Brighter together
WEHI is where the world's brightest minds collaborate and innovate to make discoveries that will help us to live healthier for longer. Our medical researchers have been serving the community for more than 100 years. We bring together people with different skills and experience who are committed to long-term discovery. Our teams of researchers are committed to solving the most complex health problems, making transformative discoveries for cancer, infectious and immune diseases, developmental disorders and healthy ageing.
WEHI is a place where people are able to shine. People who are inquisitive, who are committed, who are passionate. People who want to make a difference. And we are committed to ensuring they have the tools to flourish, personally and professionally. We are a community of researchers, students and professional service staff who work towards achieving discoveries that improve human health. We are driven by collaboration, curiosity and creativity. We are committed to making a positive difference to the lives of people in Australia and around the world. We are WEHI. We are brighter together.
WEHI's commitment to diversity and inclusion
At WEHI we strive to foster a flexible working environment that encourages individual differences and promotes collaboration and creativity. We recognise that talent does not sit within a single identifiable group in our society and that WEHI's ability to shape contemporary scientific thinking and deliver leading professional services relies on a diversity of thought within our organisation. Our action to promote gender equality has been recognised with an Athena SWAN Bronze Award from Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) and we offer a range of support for women researchers.
Our commitment to celebrating diversity and addressing inequities is further demonstrated through our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Gender Action Plan, Reconciliation Action Plan and our WE-Pride network for LGBTQIA+ staff and students. We actively encourage applications from, people with a disability, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people and people with diverse genders and sexualities. Should you require support during the recruitment process due to special needs or consideration, please contact the People and Culture team.
WEHI's commitment to Indigenous employment
WEHI is working to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be engaged at the scientific frontier, making exciting discoveries and decisions about the future of health in this country, and part of a leading professional services workforce supporting the realisation of these discoveries. We are committed to creating a culturally protected workplace and offering career development and leadership opportunities to First Nations staff and students. We strongly encourage any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr