Research Assistant in Computational Drug Discovery Full-time NEW

Research Assistant in Computational Drug Discovery

Innovative computational contraceptive research / high-impact women's and reproductive health focus / supportive, interdisciplinary BioSciences environment

Apply now to drive data-rich contraception discovery and build your computational biology research career in a leading lab.

Investing in you – 17% superannuation, benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.

Your next career opportunity In this role you will lead computational analyses for a collaborative contraceptive discovery project. You will apply 'omics analysis, molecular simulations and machine learning to identify promising novel contraceptive candidates. You will strengthen your HPC and pipeline skills while advancing impactful reproductive and women's health research.

What you will deliver:

• Lead computational analyses of large 'omics datasets, including single-cell, spatial transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic data.
• Implement and optimise molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and protein modelling approaches for contraceptive candidate discovery.
• Develop, document and share reproducible, version-controlled analysis pipelines and notebooks using R, Python, Bash and HPC.
• Prepare high-quality figures, reports, manuscripts and datasets for collaborators, funders, public repositories and high-impact journals.
• Contribute to student mentoring, research proposals, seminars and School activities that promote diversity, inclusion and engagement.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Hold or are near completing a PhD in computational biology, computer science, data science or related field.
• Demonstrate strong R and/or Python skills, including experience with leading single-cell and bulk RNA-seq tools.
• Apply robust statistical and machine learning methods to high-dimensional data, ensuring sound modelling, normalisation and testing.
• Use HPC environments, Bash scripting and version control to deliver efficient, reproducible computational workflows.
• Show evidence of research productivity through publications, preprints or significant open-source software contributions.
• Bring enthusiasm for reproductive and women's health and readiness to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

For more information check out our benefits page!

Your new team

You will join the School of BioSciences, a vibrant community tackling global biological challenges from reproductive health to climate change. Working within the Faculty of Science, you will collaborate with experts in genomics, data science and molecular biology. The School offers outstanding facilities, diverse partnerships and a supportive culture that values curiosity, inclusion and career development.

Be Yourself The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. The diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb.

We're committed to a barrier-free recruitment process and ongoing workplace support, providing adjustments throughout. We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. Learn more about how we support an accessible recruitment process.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Visit our Indigenous staff page to learn more about our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to connect with Korin Korin, our Indigenous Employment and Development team, via korin-korin@unimelb.edu.au

Application essentials:

• Visit “apply with us” to learn more about the process, including tips and FAQs.
• This role is eligible for visa sponsorship and we welcome international applicants. If successful, we will support you through this process.
• A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.
• Please upload your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and experience as part of the application process.
• Please upload a separate document addressing the Selection Criteria outlined in the Position Description.

Want to know more?

• For queries related to this specific position, contact Brittany Goods via email at britt.goods@unimelb.edu.au
• For questions related to our recruitment process email Oliver Bukasa at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au
• For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on +61 3 9035 3218 or at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').

Apply today, and join a community that's shaping the future.

Applications close: 18 September 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.