Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Process Modelling

Job no: 0056751
Location: Parkville
Role type: Full time/Part time; Fixed-term for up to three years, with possible extension
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Department/School: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Salary: Level A – $83,468- $113,262 p.a. (PhD entry Level A.6 - $105,518 p.a.) plus 17% super

• Lead digital innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing through advanced research and industry collaboration.
• Transform Australian Biopharma manufacturing with cutting-edge digital bioprocessing solutions and international collaboration.
• Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, Myki discounts, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!

About the Role

The ARC Hub for Digital Bioprocess Development (https://digitalbioprocesshub.org.au/home) is part of the Industrial Transformation Research Hub grant scheme (ITRH Scheme) and aims to assist the Biopharma industry by increasing digital innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Hub has engaged an interdisciplinary team of engineers, scientists and computing specialists to develop digitally integrated advanced manufacturing processes and a platform for industry adoption. The program will address key bioprocessing research challenges and develop new process and digital models that can predict and optimise manufacturing processes, resulting in greater yields, faster and more flexible processes and enhanced product stability. The Hub will transform biopharmaceutical manufacturing and unlock growth opportunities to forge an internationally competitive Australian Biopharma sector.

The ARC Hub for Digital Bioprocess Development is a collaborative program of significant scope and scale. It draws together expertise from The University of Melbourne, University of Technology Sydney and RMIT University, together with CSL Innovation, Patheon and Cytiva and three leading international universities, forming a substantial team. The Hub will have the critical mass of researchers and expertise needed to address key biopharma research challenges, contributing to industry outcomes and positioning Australian Biopharma manufacturing to benefit from Industry 4.0.

Chief Investigator Professor Sally Gras
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Process Modelling is part of the ARC Digital Bioprocess Development Hub Research Program. This position will model process performance using mechanistic models for cell culture coupled with the emerging techniques of machine learning and data-driven computational modelling. The project will consider the effect of process intensification; it will consider fluid flow and heat and mass transfer, as well kinetic models, integrated with data driven approaches to build new bioreactor models. A range of computational fluid dynamics and other simulation tools may be employed.

The project aims to understand, predict and optimize bioreactor performance and improve bioreactor control to produce therapeutic proteins, including via the use of process analytical technologies. It will use experimental validation to provide insights into processing and process scaling to accelerate process development and scale up.

New models will be developed for fed-batch processes using existing historical data, as well as new experiments for validation. The potential of real-time analytics and predictive modelling to improve process control and cell growth will be examined. The insights obtained will be used to develop an innovative approach to real-time platform control.

The position is based in an established group within the Department of Chemical Engineering and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute and will involve research across The University site and partner organisation CSL Innovation. The project team involves several PhD students and research assistants; the team also collaborates closely with other project teams within the Digital Bioprocess Development Hub providing excellent opportunity to publish research, whilst also having an impact on the sector.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Independently planning and carrying out research on the research project and working towards completion of the aims of the project. This will include both mathematical modelling work, and some experimental work e.g. to assess the usefulness of process analytical technologies. With training you will also undertake data driven computational work.
• Developing effective timelines and milestones based on goals of the research program.
• Liaising effectively with collaborators and a variety of internal and external stakeholders to foster collaborative partnerships and working with teams to achieve joint outputs and outcomes.
• Preparing and publishing research outcomes in conferences and journals and other scholarly outputs to a high academic standard in accordance with the research expectations of the University of Melbourne.
• Contributing to the research group and assisting in co-supervision of PhD and masters project students.

Who We Are Looking For
You will be able to demonstrate a capacity to communicate research concepts to technical and non-technical audiences. You will show excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to interact with internal and external stakeholders (academic, administrative and support staff) in a courteous and effective manner. You will also have the ability to develop, administer and see through to completion appropriately designed research projects with limited supervision.

You will also have:

• A postgraduate research degree at PhD level (or near completion) or Higher Education qualification in a field relevant to the position described above. Specifically, in chemical or biochemical engineering, mathematical process modelling or bioreactor modelling for mammalian cell culture.
• A sound understanding of the fundamentals of engineering including fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, process control and mathematical model development.
• A high proficiency in mathematics, preferably related to models.
• An understanding of bioprocessing and cell culture.
• A record of high-quality research as evidenced by publications in leading journals and at conferences commensurate with opportunity.
• Ability to perform independent research with a commitment to interdisciplinary research.
• Ability to work with industry partners to achieve applied outcomes and to work with others across the sector to achieve industry impact and sector transformation.

Ideally you will also have:

• Experience in the development of data driven models, including machine learning.
• Experience in computational fluid modelling.

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your New Team – School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
The School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering encompasses both the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Biomedical Engineering. This fusion of engineering disciplines provides a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment that is world leading in both research and teaching.

To find out more, please see https://eng.unimelb.edu.au/about/departments/school-of-chemical-and-biomedical-engineering

What We Offer You!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits page!

About the University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.

Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the employee listed on the first page of the Position Description found below, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience
• The responses against the Selection Criteria^ (found in the Position Description)

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

Please ensure that you apply through the Apply Now button at the bottom of this advertisement. However, if you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Shabon via email at [email protected], ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.

Applications close: 11 October 2024 11:55 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) / Melbourne time zone.

Position Description: PD_Postdoctoral Research Fellow 0056751.pdf