Postdoctoral Research Associate / Research Fellow in Neurodegeneration

Full-time, 2-year fixed-term role, with the possibility of extension

An exciting opportunity to join the Snow Vision Accelerator Program either as a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Postdoctoral Research Fellow, based at Bell Group, Snow Vision Accelerator, Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health

Base Salary Academic Level A $113,400 - $121,054 or Academic Level B $127,436 - $132,212 + 17% superannuation

About The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Snow Vision Accelerator, a groundbreaking partnership between the University of Sydney and Snow Medical, backed by a $50 million investment from the Snow family over 10 years. Our mission is to develop life-changing treatments for glaucoma and other optic nerve diseases that cause irreversible blindness.

Learn more about the Snow Vision Accelerator: https://www.snowmedical.org.au/vision-accelerator

The successful candidate will join the Retinal Ageing and Mitochondrial Quality Control Lab, led by Dr Katharina Bell, which focuses on understanding how mitochondrial quality control and ageing contribute to optic nerve degeneration, in particular glaucoma. This project will be conducted in collaboration with Prof. Christian Behl (University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany), an expert in the Biochemistry of Neurodegeneration and Ageing. The successful candidate will be provided with the excellent opportunity to spend some time with the Behl Group “The Autophagy Lab”. The research will further span cutting-edge imaging technologies, single-cell sequencing, metabolomics, proteomics and experimental models ranging from human neurons to mouse and non-human primates.

You will be part of a dynamic, collaborative research team working alongside scientists and clinicians across the Snow Vision Accelerator, based in the state-of-the-art Charles Perkins Centre.

Your key responsibilities as an Academic Level A Postdoctoral Research Associate will be to:

• Conduct original research in mitochondrial turnover and quality control in the context of ageing and glaucoma, with a focus on translational drug discovery.
• Lead projects independently and as part of a team.
• Collaborate with teams across the Snow Vision Accelerator and actively contribute to its mission.
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Provide informal mentoring and guidance to junior team members, including undergraduate and PhD students.
• Foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity of thought, collaboration, excellence, and outcome-driven work.

Your key responsibilities as an Academic Level B Postdoctoral Research Fellow (in addition to the above) will be to:

• Provide training, mentoring, and guidance to PhD students, as well as supervise professional and academic researchers.
• Attend and contribute to portfolio meetings, whilst developing research collaborations and engaging in translational research.
• Facilitate or contribute to industry and forums of public debate, and organise public events, seminars, and conferences.

About you as an Academic Level A Postdoctoral Research Associate:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences, or a related field.
• Strong experience working with primary neurons and other primary cells.
• Expertise in autophagy and mitophagy assays.
• Experience working with iPSC-derived neuronal cultures.
• Experience with pathway analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Proven record of producing original, high-quality research that has resulted in peer-reviewed academic publications.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines.

• Desirable Skills:

• Experience with handling animal or human tissue samples
• have experience with neuroinflammatory retinal processes.
• Experience with handling animal or human tissue samples
• have experience with neuroinflammatory retinal processes.

About you as an Academic Level B Research Fellow (in addition to the above):

• Minimum 2 years of productive post-doctoral experience in a relevant field.
• Proven record of original, high-quality research within the field of interest (autophagy/mitophagy/mitochondrial quality control) that has resulted in first-author peer-reviewed academic publications.

• Hands-On Omics Experience.

• Strong pathway analysis skills.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-Employment Checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

Eeo Statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How To Apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.  

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Roshik Prasad, Recruitment Operations by email to roshik.prasad@sydney.edu.au

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The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Sunday 19 October 2025 11:59 PM