Research Fellow, Rare Disease, Circadian Medicine and Oral Health Full-time

Research Fellow in “Development of Animal Models of Oral Rare Diseases and Implementation of Human Studies for Circadian Oral and Systemic Disorders”

Role type: Full-time; Fixed-term for 12 months

Faculty: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Department/School: Melbourne Dental School

Salary: Level B – $124,656 – 148,023 p.a. plus 17% super

Lead innovative research in rare orodental diseases / Integrate circadian biology with oral health / Develop precision diagnostics and treatments

Apply now to drive cutting-edge research that will transform our understanding and treatment of rare orodental and craniofacial disorders

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

Your next career opportunity

In this role, you will drive translational research on rare orodental disorders and craniofacial biology. You will integrate preclinical models, clinical cohorts, and multi-omics to discover circadian-informed oral health biomarkers. You will gain leadership experience within the Precision Health Lab and Melbourne Dental School's collaborative research community.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Design and execute preclinical and clinical studies on rare orodental and craniofacial conditions, including detailed oral phenotyping.
• Lead biomarker discovery and validation using saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and multi-omics to enable precision diagnosis.
• Apply circadian biology approaches to craniofacial tissues, integrating molecular, cellular, and temporal analyses across preclinical and clinical samples.
• Supervise and mentor students and junior researchers, coordinating lab operations, ethics submissions, and data management processes.
• Disseminate research through high-quality publications, presentations, outreach, and competitive grant applications to expand programme funding.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Hold a PhD and DDS, with substantial postdoctoral experience in dental or craniofacial research.
• Bring at least ten years' dental research experience, including tooth development and rare orodental disease mechanisms.
• Demonstrate deep expertise in chronobiology, circadian regulation, and multi-omics applied to craniofacial and oral tissues.
• Apply advanced animal models, microscopy, molecular biology, and next-generation sequencing to investigate disease pathogenesis.
• Show a strong record of competitive grant funding, publications, and collaborative projects with clinicians and scientists.
• Balance autonomy and teamwork, managing complex projects, mentoring others, and adapting to evolving research priorities.

For further information please refer to the attached PD.

What we offer you! We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfillment, including:

• Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
• Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance
• Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance
• Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

For more information check out our benefits page!

Your new team – Melbourne Dental School

The Melbourne Dental School renowned for its excellence in dental and oral health education, clinical training, and translational research, with a strong tradition in dental research and an established international reputation in several research areas.

Research in the School is an integral component of staff and student activities underpinning both the undergraduate and graduate curricula. The major research activities of the school are conducted via three Divisions and four major research groups, which range from translational biomedical science to clinical studies and pedagogical research.

The School is equally committed to providing exceptional dental education and training. With a focus on innovative teaching methodologies and a student-centred approach, the School offers a Bachelor of Oral Health, Doctor of Dental Surgery, and Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (multiple specialisations). The curricula are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become competent and ethical dental professionals.

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 our Indigenous Employment & Development team at korin-korin@unimelb.edu.au.

Visa sponsorship is available for this role.

Application essentials:

• Visit “apply with us” to learn more about the process, including tips and FAQs.
• You must have current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• 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 your responses to the Selection Criteria, found in the Position Description.

Want to know more?

• For queries related to this specific position, contact Petros Papagerakis
• For questions related to our recruitment process email Vanessa Phan 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: 4 September 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.

Position Description: PD_3535839_Research Fellow_Rare disease.docx

PD_3535839_Research Fellow_Rare disease.pdf