Senior Research Officer (Mathematical Biologist)

An excellent opportunity is available for a Senior Research Officer (Mathematical Biologist) to join the Snow Centre for Immune Health at Australia’s pre-eminent biomedical research institute.

About the Position
The Snow Centre for Immune Health (SCIH) has a global mission to improve the lives of people with immune diseases, using a new approach to immune health. The centre, co-led by WEHI and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, will bring together leading Australian and international researchers with a shared mission to transform how we research and treat the immune system. Our goal is to accelerate discoveries into the underlying features and markers of immune health, to identify disease causes early and target appropriate treatment. The Centre has been established in partnership with the Snow Medical Research Foundation.

We are seeking an innovative and experienced Mathematical Biologist to help design and build the mathematical models and software tools underpinning SCIH's work. Methods under development will be used to evaluate real-world data from hundreds of individuals to explore causes of immune disease. Scientists at the SCIH are developing a quantitative theory for immune cell decision making that explains cell population dynamics using statistical models and agent-based simulation. This work is providing new insights into the underlying causes of diseases of the immune system such as autoimmunity and immune deficiencies. The Centre’s models and new computational tools enable researchers to investigate and measure how multiple fates, such as cell division, differentiation or death, are regulated and altered by drugs, gene changes and regulatory signals. The successful candidate will work closely with basic scientists and clinician scientists to design experiments and interpret data that may directly lead to improved patient outcomes.

Selection Criteria
Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• A PhD in an applied mathematics-based discipline such as bioinformatics, statistics, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, etc.

• An excellent academic record and achievements

• Demonstrated ability and potential for excellence and productivity in research

• Excellent attention to detail, ensuring that data, methods and theories are accurate, of high-quality and accessible to other researchers

Personal Qualities:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate with people across disciplines

• Excellent attention to detail, ensuring that data, methods and theories are accurate, of high-quality and accessible to other researchers

• Self-motivated and opportunistic

• Excellent time management

Desirable Knowledge and Skills:

• Extensive experience in scientific language such as Python, R, Julia or Matlab

• Experience in dynamic model building, preferably in a biological area.

• Knowledge of cell biology and/or immunology

• Experience in high performance computing for simulation and data analysis

• Knowledge of numerical methods

Terms of appointment
This position is for two years in a full-time capacity. Salary is Research Employee (RE) Level B depending on experience ($117,596 - $139,636). Up to 17% superannuation and very attractive salary packaging options are available.

General enquiries can be directed to Prof Phil Hodgkin – hodgkin@wehi.edu.au

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 the job ad (in pdf format).

Application Closing Date: 14 July 2025