Jenny Mortimer

The University of Adelaide is seeking a Plant Transformation Lead (senior postdoc equivalent, Level B) to join Plant Synthetic Biology Australia (PSBA) at the Adelaide node. This position is based in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the Waite Campus, offering a 33-month fixed-term, full-time contract. The successful candidate will lead PSBA’s plant transformation services, manage projects, and supervise a team focused on transforming key crop species. The role involves hands-on laboratory work, including tissue culture and molecular biology techniques, and close collaboration with the Innovation Officer to develop new service offerings and improve methodologies. PSBA is a national network with nodes at Adelaide University, Australian National University, La Trobe University, and University of Western Australia, providing infrastructure and expertise in plant synthetic biology to accelerate agricultural productivity and sustainable bio-manufacturing. The team values innovation, collaboration, and diversity, and the Waite campus offers a vibrant and supportive environment. Applicants should have a PhD or be progressing towards postgraduate qualifications in plant science, genetics, physiology, biotechnology, or a related discipline, with extensive experience in independent research, plant transformation, and project management. The position is ideal for candidates with a strong publication record, experience supervising research personnel, and a proven ability to manage multi-stakeholder projects. Overseas applicants are welcome, and the university encourages applications from diverse backgrounds. The position is salaried (Level B), but specific financial details are not provided. The application deadline is 27 February 2026. To apply, candidates should submit a CV and cover letter via the University of Adelaide job portal. For more information, contact Professor Jenny Mortimer, Andrew Jacobs, or the PSBA team in Adelaide.

The University of Adelaide is seeking a Plant Transformation Lead (senior postdoc equivalent, Level B) to join Plant Synthetic Biology Australia (PSBA) at the Adelaide node. This position is based in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the Waite Campus, offering a full-time, 33-month fixed-term contract. The successful candidate will lead PSBA’s plant transformation services, managing projects and a team focused on transforming key crop species aligned with PSBA’s service offerings. The role involves hands-on laboratory work, including tissue culture and molecular biology techniques, and close collaboration with the Innovation Officer to develop new methodologies and service offerings. PSBA is a national network with nodes at Adelaide University, Australian National University, La Trobe University, and University of Western Australia, providing infrastructure and expertise to accelerate agricultural productivity and sustainable bio-manufacturing. The position offers opportunities for cross-university collaboration and a dynamic, supportive team environment on the beautiful Waite campus. Applicants should have a PhD or be progressing towards postgraduate qualifications in plant science, genetics, physiology, biotechnology, or a related discipline, with extensive experience in independent scientific research, plant transformation, and project management. Experience supervising research students or personnel, a strong publication record, and excellent analytical, problem-solving, and workload management skills are required. The University of Adelaide values diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and offering flexible working arrangements. To apply, candidates should submit a CV and cover letter via the University of Adelaide job portal by 11:55pm, 27 February 2026. For more information, contact Professor Jenny Mortimer, Andrew Jacobs, or the PSBA team. This is an excellent opportunity for those with a keen interest in plant synthetic biology, plant transformation, and technology development to contribute to innovative research in a collaborative academic setting.