About the opportunity The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) is looking for three Research Assistants to join the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at Phage Australia, Westmead.

These roles will support our phage therapy clinical service pipeline, contributing to research focused on developing new treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.

We are recruiting across three areas:

- Research Assistant – Diagnostics

- Research Assistant – Biobanking

- Research Assistant – Genomics

Each position offers hands-on experience in a specialised area of phage therapy research, working alongside scientists and other laboratory professionals.

We are keen to hear from people with a relevant science background who enjoy practical laboratory work, are organised and take pride in producing accurate, high-quality work.

These roles are offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract, commencing January 2027, with a base salary of $80,412 per annum, plus superannuation.

The roles

1. Research Assistant – Diagnostics

Reporting to the Laboratory Operations Coordinator, you will support phage screening, diagnostics and the preparation of therapeutic bacteriophages.

Key responsibilities:

- Perform phage screening, susceptibility testing and phage matching.

- Isolate, propagate and maintain bacteriophage and bacterial cultures.

- Support diagnostic testing and laboratory experiments.

- Assist with the preparation and production of therapeutic phages.

- Maintain laboratory reagents, cultures and supplies.

- Record experimental results and maintain laboratory documentation.

- Assist with developing and documenting laboratory protocols.

What you'll bring:

- A relevant tertiary qualification in microbiology, molecular biology, biotechnology or a related field.

- Experience working in a PC2 laboratory.

- Phage and bacterial culture experience (desirable).

- Molecular biology techniques (desirable).

- Experience working under a Quality Management System (QMS) (desirable).

2. Research Assistant – Biobanking

Reporting to the Biobank & Quality Manager,



you will support the processing and storage of clinical trial samples and the management of our bacteriophage bank.

Key responsibilities:

- Process clinical biospecimens, including blood, urine and sputum.

- Support phage bank curation and the maintenance of bacterial and phage collections.

- Perform phage isolation, propagation and cryopreservation.

- Assist with phage stability studies and host range assessments.

- Maintain sample records and update biobanking databases.

- Support the storage, tracking and handling of clinical samples.

- Work closely with the diagnostics and production teams.

What you'll bring:

- A relevant tertiary qualification in microbiology, biomedical science, biotechnology or a related field.

- Experience working in a PC2 laboratory.

- Experience in human biospecimen processing, biobanking or clinical sample handling.

- Knowledge of aseptic techniques and data management.

- Knowledge of Valuable Clinical Practice (GCP) and QMS (desirable).

3. Research Assistant – Genomics

Reporting to the Genomics Team Lead, you will support the genomics component of our phage therapy pipeline through a combination of laboratory and bioinformatics work.

This role is approximately 50% laboratory-based and 50% computational, with training and supervision provided for established bioinformatics workflows.

Key responsibilities:

- Perform DNA and RNA extractions from bacterial and phage samples.

- Conduct nucleic acid quality control, including quantification, purity and integrity assessments.

- Support general laboratory operations and reagent preparation.

- Manage sequencing data transfers and run established bioinformatics pipelines.

- Monitor analysis progress and report any issues.

- Maintain accurate laboratory and bioinformatics records.

- Assist with workflow documentation and reporting.





What you'll bring:

- A relevant tertiary qualification in molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, bioinformatics or a related field.

- Experience working in a PC2 laboratory and performing DNA and/or RNA extractions.

- Basic knowledge of Linux and bioinformatics.

- Understanding of common sequencing file formats, including FASTQ and FASTA.

- Basic scripting skills in R, Python or Bash (desirable).

Why join WIMR?

You'll be joining a collaborative research environment where your work contributes to developing new approaches to treating bacterial infections.

At WIMR, you'll have the opportunity to:

- Work alongside experienced scientists, researchers and clinicians.

- Develop your laboratory and technical skills.

- Gain experience in an innovative area of medical research.

- Be part of a team working towards better treatment options for patients.

Additional benefits include:

- Not-for-profit salary packaging.

- Novated leasing options.

- Employee Assistance Programme.

- Convenient location within the Westmead Health Precinct, close to public transport, including the Parramatta Light Rail.

About WIMR The Westmead Institute for Medical Research is a leading medical research institute based in Westmead, NSW.

Our researchers work across a range of health areas, including cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders.

We are committed to translating research discoveries into better treatments and health outcomes through collaboration, innovation and high-quality research.

We value excellence, integrity, collaboration and inclusivity, and welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Important: Please state clearly in your cover letter which role you are interested in applying for:

1. Research Assistant – Diagnostics

2. Research Assistant – Biobanking

3. Research Assistant – Genomics

You are welcome to apply for more than one position. If doing so, please indicate your preferred role.

WIMR is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

📌 Research Assistants – Genomics, Diagnostics & Biobanking (Westmead)
🏢 The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR)
📍 Westmead