Post-Doctoral Fellow (Immunology) - School of Pathology in Edinburgh

Employment Type: Part Time, 7 hours per week

Duration: 12 months fixed term

Remuneration: Research Level A $113K- $121K pro rata (based on experience) + 17% super + annual leave loading

Location: Kensington Campus, New South Wales.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must hold unrestricted work rights to be considered for this position.

About Us

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 20 universities in the world (QS top 20) and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of Senior Lecturer Dr Deborah Burnett, this Post-Doctoral Fellow position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research investigating how the adaptive immune system recognises and responds to foreign and self‑antigens. The successful candidate will employ a broad suite of immunological and molecular tools—such as flow cytometry, cell‑culture, single‑cell RNA sequencing, data analysis and in‑vivo models—to interrogate B cell responses in human samples and pre‑clinical systems. This research aims to generate mechanistic insight into immune tolerance and autoimmunity, with translational relevance to infection, vaccination, and immune‑mediated disease.

This position is ideal for an early‑career postdoctoral researcher with strong technical expertise, excellent organisational and communication skills, and a passion for scientific discovery. You will join a supportive, collaborative and productive research environment that encourages independence and fosters career development.

Key Skills Required

• A PhD in immunology or a related biomedical science discipline, ideally with a focus on adaptive immune responses.
• Demonstrated technical experience in techniques relevant to exploration of the adaptive immune response including processing and analysing human and/or animal samples, multi‑colour flow cytometry, cell sorting, ELISA, PCR, molecular cloning and RNA sequencing workflows (e.g., single‑cell or bulk).
• High attention to detail and excellent record keeping in both laboratory notebooks and digital data management systems.
• Ability to work independently, take scientific initiative, and drive projects forward, while also contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build professional relationships with collaborators, students, and technical staff.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, and capacity to learn new techniques.
• High levels of emotional intelligence, with a professional, respectful, and self‑aware approach to teamwork and collaboration.

Desirable

• Experience in managing mouse colonies, including ethical and procedural compliance.
• Prior experience working in a research team studying B cell biology, immune tolerance, or autoimmune mechanisms.
• Experience with bioinformatics pipelines for analysing transcriptomic or repertoire sequencing data.

Benefits And Culture

• Career development opportunities
• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
• 10 days paid cultural leave per year
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)

More information on the great staff benefits and culture can be found here.

How To Apply

To be considered for this role, you must address the Selection Criteria which are outlined in the “Skills and Experience” section of the position description. Applications that do not address these criteria will not be considered. For more information, refer to the Position Description available on Submit your application including your resume & cover letter online before Sunday 8th March 2026 at 11:55pm. A copy of the Position Description can be found on.

Pre-Employment Checks

Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity, preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre‑employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for. These pre‑employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender‑Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

Get In Touch

Aarti Talent Acquisition Associate

Please apply through the application portal and not via the contact above.

UNSW is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.