The Opportunity An exciting opportunity is available for a Senior Laboratory Scientist to join the Global Women's and Newborn's Health team at Burnet Institute In this role, you will play a key role in supporting laboratory research, biomarker discovery and diagnostics development aimed at improving sexual, reproductive and maternal health outcomes for women and girls. Working across multiple international research projects, you will provide scientific and technical expertise, coordinate laboratory activities and contribute to innovative research with global impact. You will also:
• Coordinate and manage laboratory activities across multiple research studies, ensuring compliance with study protocols, timelines and quality standards.
• Oversee laboratory operations, including quality management systems, standard operating procedures, equipment maintenance and biospecimen management.
• Provide scientific and technical oversight of laboratory assays, including proteomics, microbiology and immunological techniques.
• Conduct and contribute to research data analysis, scientific publications, technical reports and competitive grant applications.
• Supervise, mentor and train laboratory staff, researchers and students while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and international research partners. Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a full-time, 12-month fixed-term position, based at Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, with flexible working arrangements available, subject to operational requirements. Let's talk about you The following criteria are essential

requirements:
•

Qualifications:
A Bachelor of Science (Honours) in biochemistry, microbiology or a related discipline, and a PhD in women's sexual and reproductive health biomedical research or a closely related field.
• Laboratory expertise: A minimum of six years' post-PhD laboratory experience, with demonstrated expertise in clinical research laboratory practices, biospecimen management, biobanking, quality assurance and laboratory assays.
• Leadership and supervision: Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring and training laboratory staff, researchers and students,



with the ability to maintain high laboratory and research quality standards.
• Analytical and organisational

skills:
Strong analytical, problem-solving and organisational capabilities, with the ability to manage competing priorities, troubleshoot complex laboratory issues and coordinate multiple research activities.
• Communication and collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated initiative, adaptability and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary research teams. Additional experience that would be valuable includes:
• Experience in proteomics, biomarker discovery, diagnostics development, clinical microbiology or immunological assays.
• Experience coordinating international research collaborations, preparing scientific publications and contributing to competitive grant applications. The Burnet experience… We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do
- achieving a more equitable world through better health.

We offer
• A monthly accrued day off for full-time staff
• 14 weeks paid parental leave
- no qualifying period
• Study leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous salary packaging
• Opportunities for career and professional development Who are we? Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit organisation passionate about social justice, equality and evidence-based research. Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 600 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues.



Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Disease Elimination, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness, and Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result. Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Myanmar and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Bring your whole self to work At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE). If you have a reasonable adjustment, support, or access requirement at any stage of the recruitment process, we encourage you to let us know by emailing [email protected] Sounds great How do I apply? Apply below and attach the following documents:
• Resume
• Cover Letter Applications close at 11:59pm AEDT on Friday, 27 Nov, 2026 As part of our commitment to gender equity, we have included a question in the application process on gender. This will allow us to monitor and report on gender in relation to our recruitment process. Burnet is a child protected organisation. The successful applicant will be required to apply for a National Police Check and/or Working with Children Check, as applicable. Current Australian working rights are required for all applicants.

📌 Senior Lab Scientist (Melbourne)
🏢 Burnet Institute
📍 Melbourne