Senior Research Associate - Materials Science and Engineering

UNSW; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 133,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

UNSW’s School of Materials Science and Engineering invites applications for a Senior Research Associate. The role focuses on independent or collaborative research in advanced materials, with emphasis on physical property characterisation, thin-film fabrication, solid-state and wet-chemical synthesis, and printing technologies.

It is a fixed-term, full-time appointment for four years. You will manage key laboratory infrastructure, mentor HDR students, and help develop independent funding

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience managing and operating laboratory infrastructures for material research.
• Experience supervising HDR students at Master and PhD levels.
• Commitment to up-to-date discipline knowledge and developments.
• Track record in functional materials research with high quality outcomes and leadership.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage UNSW key laboratory infrastructure, user training and scheduling for printing equipment.
• Conduct monitoring, maintenance, and calibration of equipment and facilities.
• Establish partnerships with leading manufacturing companies and collaborations with other research organisations.
• Ensure compliance with UNSW health and safety policies and guidelines and participate in safety training.
• Mentor HDR students and supervise research projects; develop independent proposals.
• Design research projects and seek competitive funding opportunities.

Skills

Lab management

Research supervision

Materials synthesis

Thin films

Energy materials

Education

PhD in Materials Science and Engineering

Tools

Property measurement

Thin-film fabrication

Solid-state synthesis

Printing equipment

Job description

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

This Job is based in Australia

• One of Australia’s leading research & teaching universities
• Vibrant campus life with a strong sense of community & inclusion
• Enjoy a career that makes a difference by collaborating & learning from the best

At UNSW, we pride ourselves on being a workplace where the best people come to do their best work.

The School of Materials Science and Engineering is one of the top ranked Materials programs in the Asia-Pacific regions and strongly positioned in every facet of materials science and engineering. It offers undergraduate programs in Materials Science and Engineering (Honours), as well as a number of combined degree programs with Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Commerce.

The Senior Research Associate is expected to carry out independent and/or team research under the broad scope of advanced materials and manufacturing, with a specific focus in, but not limited to, physical properties characterisations of functional materials, advanced material fabrications with solid state reaction, vacumm-depsotions, and printing technologies. The position will focus on developing next-generation advanced high-throughput fabrications of multifunctional materials for electronic, energy harvesting, catalytic and many other applications.

About The Role

• $133K - $156K plus 17% superannuation and annual leave loading
• Fixed Term – 4 years
• Full-time (35 hours per week)

Specific Responsibilities For This Role Include

• Engage in individual and/or collaborative research in a manner consistent with disciplinary practice.
• Create scholarly impact in the discipline, which is recognised by peers in the advancement of disciplinary knowledge.
• Conduct research/scholarly activities under limited supervision, either independently or as a member of a team (as per the norms of the discipline).
• Establish a personal research portfolio and start developing independent research proposals.
• Contribute to the development of applications for competitive funding under the guidance of senior colleagues.
• Participate as co-investigator or chief investigator in competitive grant applications or show evidence of active participation in research collaborations funded by competitive grants.
• Design research projects.
• Mentor and guide students and colleagues and develop the next generation of academics through involvement in supervision of HDRs (as per the norms of the discipline).
• Manage UNSW key laboratory, user training and create an effective system-based schedule to ensure efficient usage for the day-to-day activities of printing equipment. The activities in laboratory management include to create and update safety work procedures, Risk Management Forms and managing relevant safety protocols in the laboratories.
• Conduct all required monitoring, maintenance, and calibration to ensure functioning of equipment and facilities.
• Establish partnerships with the leading manufacturing companies.
• Strengthen collaborations with other research organisations.
• Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values.
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the School and University and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others.

About The Successful Applicant

(selection criteria)

To Be Successful In This Role You Will Have

• A PhD in Materials Science and Engineering or related discipline, and/or relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and operating key laboratory infrastructures for material research, such as physical and magnetic property measurement systems, thin-film fabrications, solid-state and/or wet-chemical material synthesis facilities, and printing equipment.
• Demonstrated experience supervising higher-degree-research students at both Master and PhD levels.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated track record in research in the area of functional materials (e.g., thin solid films, electronic materials, energy materials, and catalysts) with outcomes of high quality and high impact with clear evidence of the desire and ability to continually achieve research excellence as well as the capacity for research leadership.
• High level communication skills and ability to network effectively and interact with a diverse range of students and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team, collaborate across disciplines and build effective relationships.
• Evidence of highly developed interpersonal and organisational skills.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

Applications close: October 22nd, 2026

Pre-Employment Checks

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Find Out More About Working At UNSW At Www.unsw.edu.au

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.