Strategic Research Cluster Initiative - Faculty of Science
About the Opportunity
UNSW Faculty of Science is seeking outstanding researchers with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration to join our Strategic Research Cluster Initiative. This initiative will strengthen collaborative research capability, build critical mass in areas of strategic importance, and develop the scientific leadership needed to address the Faculty's priority Societal Challenges.
Strategic Research Clusters
Successful candidates will join one of three Faculty Strategic Research Clusters while being academically based within a host School aligned with their disciplinary expertise. This model combines the strengths of a disciplinary home with opportunities to collaborate across Schools, establish internationally competitive research programs, and contribute to innovative research-led education.
Digital-led Discovery and Design of New Materials
We are seeking researchers who utilise digital technologies, data-driven approaches and experimental methods to accelerate materials discovery and engineering. Research areas of interest include:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning for materials discovery
- Computational and multiscale materials modelling
- Biomaterials, bio-inspired materials and their underlying physics
- Tissue engineering and regenerative materials
- Functional and structural materials
- Soft matter and active matter
- High-throughput experimentation and screening
- Chemical and physical approaches to materials design
- Engineering biology and synthetic biology platforms for materials innovation
This Cluster brings together expertise across the Schools of Materials Science & Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics & Statistics, and Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences.
Environmental Resilience: Prediction, Protection and Restoration
We welcome researchers whose work improves our ability to understand, predict and protect natural and managed environments. Research areas of interest include:
- Environmental sensing, imaging and remote sensing technologies
- Environmental and non-human genomics, microbiomes and One Health
- Climate modelling and prediction
- Artificial intelligence for environmental science
- Carbon modelling and net-zero solutions
- Biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
- Habitat restoration and environmental remediation
- Environmental biotechnology and bioremediation
- Environmental policy, decision support and climate risk
- Hybrid AI and physics-based environmental and climate modelling
This Cluster connects expertise across the Schools of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Aviation.
Discovery for Human Health
We are seeking researchers who combine experimental, computational and quantitative approaches to better understand health and disease and translate discoveries into improved health outcomes. Research areas of interest include:
- Neuroscience and computational neuroscience
- Human disease and tissue modelling
- Biophysics for human health
- Advanced imaging and image analysis
- Systems biology, quantitative biology and bioinformatics
- Functional genomics and perturbation biology
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
- Precision medicine and translational therapeutics
- Artificial intelligence for health and biomedical discovery
This Cluster brings together expertise across the Schools of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, Psychology, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mathematics & Statistics.
About the Roles
A Lecturer (Level B) or Senior Lecturer (Level C) will undertake high-quality research and deliver excellent teaching while contributing to one of the Faculty's Strategic Research Clusters. The role will be academically based within a host School aligned with the candidate's disciplinary expertise and will form part of a cohort contributing to a Faculty-wide Strategic Research Cluster. The role reports to the relevant Head of School and has no direct reports.
Accountabilities
Level B:
- Undertake high-quality research aligned with a nominated Strategic Research Cluster and contribute actively to interdisciplinary collaboration within the Cluster
- Develop an internationally recognised research profile through high-quality publications and competitive research funding
- Develop research collaborations, nationally and internationally, including with external partners such as industry, government, others as appropriate
- Deliver high-quality teaching and contribute to curriculum development and continuous improvement across undergraduate, postgraduate and/or lifelong learning programs
- Supervise Honours, Masters and Higher Degree Research students, commensurate with experience
- Contribute positively to the academic life of the School, Faculty, University and Strategic Research Cluster through collegial service and administrative activities
- Foster an inclusive, collaborative and respectful academic environment consistent with the University's Code of Conduct and Values
- Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the University and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others
Level C (in addition to above):
- Provide academic leadership within the Strategic Research Cluster and contribute to the development of interdisciplinary research initiatives
- Build on and maintain a nationally recognised research profile supported by sustained competitive research funding
- Demonstrate leadership in teaching through curriculum innovation, student supervision and mentoring of colleagues
- Develop strategic partnerships with industry, government and the broader research community to enhance research impact and translation
- Contribute to the leadership and strategic development of the School, Faculty and Strategic Research Cluster
Skills and Experience (Selection Criteria)
Level B:
- A PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline
- Demonstrated research excellence in an area aligned with one of the Faculty's Strategic Research Clusters
- Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm to contribute to interdisciplinary research and to actively participate in the development of a Faculty Strategic Research Cluster
- Evidence of high-quality research outputs and the potential to develop an internationally recognised research profile
- Demonstrated ability, or clear potential, to attract competitive research funding
- Evidence of effective teaching and a commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and build productive research partnerships
- Experience in supervising, or the capacity to supervise, Higher Degree Research students
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to fostering a respectful and collaborative academic environment
- Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training
Level C (in addition to the above):
- Demonstrated national recognition and an established research profile in a relevant discipline
- Sustained success in securing competitive research funding
- Evidence of academic leadership in research, teaching and supervision
- Demonstrated success in curriculum development and innovation
- Experience developing strategic collaborations with industry, government or other external partners
Application Process
Your application should systematically address the selection criteria listed above, outline alignment with your nominated Strategic Research Cluster, and identify the UNSW Science School that best aligns with your disciplinary expertise. If you have had any interruptions in your career you are encouraged to also include an Achievement Relative to Opportunity (ARO) / Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) statement as part of your application. Please apply online – applications will not be accepted if sent directly to the contact listed.
Contact: PJ Sullivan E: pj.sullivan@unsw.edu.au
Applications close: September 1st, 2026