Postdoctoral Research Associate - Faculty of Engineering

Unist; Sydney; On-site; AUD 118,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sydney’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to advance fungal process systems engineering for plastics biodegradation and circular bioprocesses. You will work under Professor Ali Abbas, combining mechanistic modelling with AI and laboratory validation.

You will coordinate daily research group activities, plan work, manage lab operations and ensure delivery of approved activities while contributing to

Qualifications

• PhD in chemical engineering, biotechnology, computational science or related.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate mechanistic and hybrid AI models of fungal growth, polymer degradation and bioreactor performance.

Skills

Mechanistic modelling

AI / ML applications

Python

Experimental design

Data analysis

Team coordination

Autonomous experimentation

Education

PhD in chemical engineering or related

Tools

Laboratory automation

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Research Field Chemistry Engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 13 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Australia Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

• Full time, fixed term until 30 June 2028
• Shape the future of sustainable plastics through AI and biotechnology
• Base Salary $117,936 - $125,896 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney, established in 1946, offered the first university-level chemical engineering program in Australia. The School is committed to teaching excellence and our graduates are highly regarded and sought after by employers in Australia and overseas. The School is research-intensive and considered a world leader in many cutting edge areas of chemical and biomolecular engineering.

We are currently seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work under the supervision of Professor Ali Abbas, to advance fungal process systems engineering for plastics biodegradation and circular bioprocesses. The role combines mechanistic modelling and AI with laboratory validation, including developing self-driving laboratory workflows for autonomous discovery and process optimisation.

The appointee will also coordinate the day-to-day operation of the research group under Professor Abbas's direction, supporting research planning, laboratory operations, team coordination and delivery of the group's approved research activities.

In this role you will:

• develop and validate mechanistic and hybrid AI models of fungal growth, polymer degradation and bioreactor performance.
• apply machine learning and optimisation to guide experiments and improve fungal process performance.
• design and undertake laboratory experiments with biological and analytical collaborators to validate computational predictions.
• develop automated workflows connecting experimental design, execution, data analysis and model updating.
• contribute to publications, reproducible code and datasets, and project reporting.
• coordinate day-to-day research group activities, including work plans, group meetings, milestone tracking and follow-up of agreed actions.
• coordinate laboratory access, equipment readiness, consumables and experimental scheduling with relevant technical staff, supporting safe and efficient operations.
• support research students and junior researchers through practical mentoring, onboarding and coordination of experimental and computational activities.
• assist the CI with project reporting, publication coordination, funding applications and partner engagement within the approved research scope.
• undertake teaching and education related activities in accordance with the Faculty of Engineering local area workload policy requirements for research focused academic staff.

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate who has:

• a completed PhD in chemical engineering, biotechnology, computational science or a related discipline.
• demonstrated experience in mechanistic modelling, numerical simulation or optimisation of biological or process systems.
• experience applying AI or machine learning to scientific problems, with proficiency in Python or equivalent programming tools.
• experience in experimental design and validating computational predictions against laboratory data
• research outputs appropriate to career stage and opportunity.
• desirable experience in fungal (or other microbial) biotechnology, plastics biodegradation, laboratory automation or autonomous experimentation.
• demonstrated experience coordinating research activities or laboratory workflows, including supporting researchers and tracking project deliverables.
• desirable experience in tertiary level teaching and education related activities.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University's obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. 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.

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