Post-doctoral Research Officer - Children's Medical Research Institute - ResearchCareer

First listed on: 24 December 2020

  • Make an important contribution to the health of children through medical research
  • Work with one of Australia’s most respected national and independent medical research institutes
  • Located in Westmead, one of Sydney’s and Australia’s major biomedical research hubs  

Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) was Australia’s first dedicated paediatric research facility and is now one of the world’s most highly regarded independent medical research centres. Our research focuses on the areas of embryonic development, eye genetics, cancer, neuroscience, gene therapy and vectorology and now stem cell medicine.

CMRI’s research programs are supported by state-of-the-art facilities and committed research and support staff. Our achievements are made possible by a loyal network of community supporters, highly engaged donors and the very successful Jeans for Genes® fundraising campaign.

 Dr Anai Gonzalez-Cordero has recently formed her own lab leading the Stem Cell Medicine Group (https://www.cmri.org.au/stemcellmedicine) to investigate the mechanisms of inherited retinal degenerations using iPS cells and organoids to understand retinal, auditory and brain degenerations, study human eye and ear development and test new therapeutic approaches such as gene therapy and drug screening.

Excitingly, Dr Gonzalez-Cordero was also appointed to set up and manage a Stem Cell & Organoid Service Facility. This Facility aims to provide access and expertise in Stem Cell technology to numerous investigators fostering collaborations between various areas of research in the Institute and around Australia.

Project: The research project available aims to investigate the pathophysiology of deaf-blinding Usher disease using iPS cells. Benefitting from an established study set-up we aim to combine stem cell technology, ‘omics’, and genome editing gene therapy to determine the mechanisms leading to ocular degeneration in Usher syndrome and to develop new therapeutic approaches.

Environment: The candidate will be part of the recently established Stem Cell Medicine Group and closely collaborate with the Stem Cell & organoid Facility. We have extensive experience in the stem cell biology and their differentiation towards organoids. In our lab retinal organoids are utilized for disease modelling and cell therapy purposes.

We have access to state-of-the-art research facilities within Westmead Hub.

Candidate: The successful candidates must hold a PhD in a related subject (applications from candidates who have recently submitted their thesis will be considered). Successful applicant(s) will have relevant skills on stem cells, molecular biology and wet lab. Candidate(s) will need to demonstrate academic excellence and personal drive. The position requires someone that is enthusiastic, focused and has passion for cutting edge research.

This appointment is available for up to 3 years and continuing tenure is subject to satisfactory performance, the availability of funding and the requirements of research projects within the Unit.

 You will be provided with a competitive remuneration package in accordance with qualifications and experience. Additional benefits include the provision of a Public Benevolent Institution salary packaging scheme and participation in an employer-contributed superannuation fund.

Applications should include a cover letter (citing PV2028), curriculum vitae and contact details (phone/email) of three professional referees and be forwarded to recruitment@cmri.org.au

We will interview suitable candidates as applications are received. The closing date for applications is 21st January 2021. Due to current border restrictions, applicants are required to be Australian citizens or Permanent Residents, or have unrestricted working rights and be currently resident in Australia.  

Please direct enquiries regarding the position to Dr Anai Gonzalez Cordero, Group Leader, agonzalez-cordero@cmri.org.au.