Postdoctoral Fellow

Classification: Academic Level A
Salary package: $91,546 - $114,906 per annum plus 17% superannuation
Term: Full-Time, Continuing (Contingent Funded) 
Note: This position will be primarily based at the NSW DPIRD at Wagga Wagga, with annual placements at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa

This position is continuing (contingent funded). The funding that supports this project has an expected end date of June 2031.

The Position

This position offers a rare opportunity to contribute to Australia’s preparedness for wheat blast, an emerging global threat to food security, while developing as a future national leader in this space. The role integrates field and glasshouse phenotyping, pre-breeding, and genetic and molecular analysis within a highly collaborative program spanning Australia and Brazil. Based at the NSW DPIRD Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, the appointee will undertake extended annual placements at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, gaining hands-on experience at the centre of wheat blast emergence. Designed as a development-focused role, the position provides structured training, international exposure, and ownership of key research outputs, equipping the successful candidate with the unique, end-to-end expertise needed to build and lead wheat blast capability in Australia.

The Person

We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with a strong foundation in plant pathology, plant breeding, or genetics and a clear ambition to build a career in field crop disease research and pre-breeding. The successful candidate will be a hands-on, adaptable scientist, excited to integrate field and glasshouse phenotyping with genetic analysis and marker development, and eager to develop new skills across these areas. They will thrive in a collaborative, international environment, working closely with partners in Australia and Brazil, and will bring a genuine enthusiasm for travel and immersive field-based research, including annual extended placements at the centre of wheat blast emergence in Brazil. Strong communication skills, a proactive approach to research, and a commitment to building Australia’s biosecurity capability are essential.

The College

The ANU College of Science and Medicine encompasses the disciplines of: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Environment and Society, Mathematics, Physics, and Science Communication and is also home to a number of cross-disciplinary and specialist Institutes and Centres.  Staff and students within the ANU College of Science and Medicine conduct research and deliver a research-led education program that encompasses the breadth of the sciences, supported by extensive international networks and by world-class facilities. 

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For further information please contact, Professor Peter Solomon, T: +61 2 6125 3952, E: peter.solomon@anu.edu.au.  

ANU values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to people of all backgrounds and identities.  For more information about staff equity at ANU, click here. For enquiries about the application process, or if you require reasonable adjustment to apply for this role, please contact the hiring manager on the above listed details.

Application information

In order to apply for this role please make sure that you upload the following documents:

• A statement addressing the selection criteria.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) which includes the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees you can complete these online when prompted in the application form.
• Other documents, if required.

Applications which do not address the selection criteria may not be considered for the position.

Please note: The preferred candidate must have rights to live and work in Australia, and will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment declarations and background checks relevant to the role they have applied for, in accordance with the Background Checking Procedure and the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence.