• Based in College of Health at the Adelaide CBD
• Full-time, 24 month fixed term contract
• Salary Range: $81,293 - $109,307 per annum (plus 17% superannuation)
• Join an NBCF-funded interdisciplinary cancer research program

Role Summary  

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Integrative Network Modelling Laboratory within SAiGENCI’s Computational Systems Oncology program. This position is supported by a National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Investigator Initiated Research Scheme grant focused on developing and validating innovative multi-low-dose (MLD) combination therapies for PI3K-driven breast cancer.

At Adelaide University, we create the opportunities you need to achieve your ambitions – because when you thrive, we thrive. 

We are transforming education for contemporary learners and global citizens. Building on a proud legacy and shaped by bold ambition, it’s a place of excellence and equity, where our vibrant community of staff are united by our purpose to inspire Australia’s future change-makers and create a better tomorrow.

Work that matters 

Combination therapies can overcome adaptive resistance but often fail clinically due to toxicity. This project takes a different approach: systematically identifying and validating multi-low-dose regimens that co-target key oncogenic nodes to maintain efficacy while reducing toxicity and resistance. The role will contribute to experiments and analysis that map signalling ‘escape routes’ and generate quantitative datasets to support predictive, generalisable therapy prioritisation.

The Project

• Profile signalling network rewiring after PI3K-pathway inhibition using time-course perturbation experiments in PI3K-altered breast cancer models
• Generate quantitative signalling datasets using approaches such as western blotting and multiplexed assays; contribute to phosphoproteomics-ready sample preparation workflows where required
• Support in vitro validation of prioritised MLD regimens (dose–response, viability/proliferation, migration, apoptosis, colony formation), including longer-term resistance selection experiments where appropriate
• Contribute to in vivo and patient-derived model validation activities through close collaboration with partner groups (e.g., xenograft and organoid teams)
• Work closely with computational modellers to ensure experimental design and readouts inform model calibration and therapy prioritisation

The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Nguyen and a multidisciplinary project team spanning leading research institutions, including Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Monash University, the Monash Organoid Program, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Working closely with computational researchers, the role will help generate experimental insights that inform predictive modelling and therapeutic discovery.

Curious to learn more? Explore the full role description below to discover more about this opportunity.  

The team 

The South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI) is a world-class cancer research institute within the College of Health at Adelaide University. SAiGENCI brings together leading researchers in immunology, genomics, and cancer biology with a shared mission to understand and defeat cancer.

Visit the AU website to learn more about the College of Health.

Our people  

Our people are guided by purpose, curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning. We embrace authenticity, innovation and collaboration, and harness diverse thinking in our pursuit of excellence.

The Integrative Network Modelling Laboratory within SAiGENCI’s Computational Systems Oncology Program, led by Professor Lan K. Nguyen, brings together biologists, mathematicians, and data scientists to advance integrated approaches to cancer drug discovery. Combining wet laboratory research with advanced computational modelling, the team is internationally recognised for its contributions to cancer signalling research.

Learn more about our people, what we stand for and what we offer at Careers at AU.

Experience 

To join our community and thrive in this role, you will likely have the following skills and experience: 

• PhD (or near completion) in a relevant discipline with application to cancer biology and/or therapeutic discovery
• Strong hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture and experimental design for drug perturbation studies
• Experience measuring pathway signalling responses (e.g., western blotting, immunofluorescence, quantitative assays) and interpreting results in a pathway/network context
• Ability to produce well-controlled, reproducible datasets and to communicate results clearly through figures, reports and presentations
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work across multiple tasks while meeting project milestones

Desirable

• Experience with phosphoproteomics and/or multiplexed signalling platforms (e.g., RPPA)
• Experience with breast cancer models, PI3K-pathway therapeutics, adaptive resistance or combination therapy discovery
• Competence in quantitative analysis using R/Python (or equivalent) and reproducible workflows
• Interest in integrative systems approaches linking experimental datasets to mechanistic/predictive modelling

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity 

We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels respected and valued. Adelaide University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and people of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements and providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. 

Launch your future with Adelaide University now 

Simply click on the Apply Now button and upload: 

• your current CV 
• a cover letter

The online application form will list the specific selection criteria that you need to address. 

Submit your application by 11:30pm Sunday 31 May 2026

For further information about this opportunity, please contact (492941) 

Georgia Borg 
Recruitment Consultant 
+61 8 8302 1700 | careers.adelaideuniversity@adelaide.edu.au  

Applications welcomed from Australian or NZ citizens, Australian permanent residents and those who have the legal right to work in Australia for the term of appointment.