Strategic Research Cluster Initiative - Faculty of Science

This role is based in Sydney, Australia, offering a vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community and inclusion. UNSW is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, welcoming applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Flexible working arrangements and support for carers are available.

About the Role

A continuing, full-time academic appointment (35 hours per week) at the Lecturer (Level B) or Senior Lecturer (Level C) level, with approximately 10 positions available. The successful candidates will join one of the Faculty of Science’s Strategic Research Clusters while being academically based within a host School aligned with their disciplinary expertise. This model supports interdisciplinary collaboration, research excellence, and innovative research-led education.

Benefits include:

• 17% superannuation and annual leave loading
• Membership of a Faculty-wide Strategic Research Cluster
• Opportunities to build interdisciplinary collaborations across Schools and disciplines
• Research development, mentoring, and career support
• Access to competitive internal funding opportunities
• A vibrant and inclusive research environment

UNSW Science is committed to achieving a recruitment outcome of at least 50% women through proactive attraction and equitable recruitment practices. All appointments will be made on merit.

Strategic Research Clusters

The Faculty of Science is seeking outstanding researchers to join one of three Strategic Research Clusters:

Digital-led Discovery and Design of New Materials

Combine computational, theoretical, and experimental approaches to design the next generation of functional materials. Research areas 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

Advance the resilience and protection of our environment through improved environmental sensing, prediction, and restoration. Research areas 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, and Aviation.

Discovery for Human Health

Advance human health through interdisciplinary research spanning molecules, cells, tissues, physiology, and behaviour. Research areas 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.

Responsibilities

Lecturer (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 and government.
• Deliver high-quality teaching and contribute to curriculum development and continuous improvement across undergraduate, postgraduate, and/or lifelong learning programs.
• Supervise Honors, 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.

Senior Lecturer (Level C) (in addition to the 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.

Requirements

Lecturer (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.

Senior Lecturer (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.