Faculty of Science

School of Molecular Sciences

• UWA is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to be involved in research funded by the Australian Research Council within the Computational Chemistry Lab at the School of Molecular Sciences
• Great opportunity for a passionate Postdoctoral Researcher to work in the development and application of quantum chemistry and density functional theory methods within a world class research environment with access to state-of-the-art local and national supercomputing facilities
• Fixed term appointment for 12 months, full time basis
• Salary range: Level A $70,936 p.a. - $95,464 p.a. plus superannuation

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is ranked number 85 in the world in the Academic Ranking of World Universities demonstrating its strength and international competitiveness. UWA is a member of the prestigious Australian Group of Eight research-intensive universities. With a world-leading research environment, an enviable research track record, vibrant campus located on the banks of the stunning Swan River, and supported by the freedom to ‘innovate and inspire’ there is no better time to join Western Australia’s top University.

About the team

This position will be conducted within the Computational Chemistry Lab of Associate Professor Amir Karton at the School of Molecular Sciences and in partnership with its national and international collaborators. The project will involve access to state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities at the National Computational Infrastructure and Pawsey Supercomputing Centre as well as access to the local HPC resources of the Karton group which comprise of 500 cores with 15 TB of main memory and 150 TB of local scratch disk.

About the opportunity

As the successful appointee, you will be undertaking innovative and impactful research funded by the ARC Future Fellowship grant on “Quantum chemical methods: From wavefunction to density functional theory”. This project will develop and/or apply high-level quantum chemical and density functional theory methods to solve chemical problems and design functional materials and molecules.

To be considered for this role, you will demonstrate:

• PhD or equivalent in computational chemistry
• Experience in running quantum chemical and/or density functional theory simulations
• Demonstrated ability to undertake and publish high-quality and impactful research
• Demonstrated ability to write high impact manuscripts 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Ability to address complex problems creatively, and to work effectively both independently and in collaboration with other researchers
• Ability to supervise and train students

About you

To succeed in this position, you will possess a strong background in computational/theoretical chemistry and be a highly motivated researcher who has the ability to work both independently and co-operatively with proven ability to conduct high-quality research and publish high-impact manuscripts. Full details of the position responsibilities and the selection criteria are outlined in the position description. In preparing your application you are asked to demonstrate clearly that you meet the selection criteria. 

Closing date: Wednesday, 4 November 2020

This position is open to international applicants. Depending on travel restrictions due to COVID-19, working remotely may be considered.

Application Details: Please apply online via the Apply Now button.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

UWA is committed to a diverse workforce. We celebrate inclusion and diversity and believe gender equity is fundamental to achieving our goal of being a top 50 university by 2050.

• We have child friendly areas on campus, including childcare facilities. Flexible work arrangements, part-time hours and job sharing will all be considered.
• UWA has been awarded Platinum Employer Status for being a Top Ten Employer for LGBTI Inclusion by the Australian Workplace Equity Index (AWEI -2019).
• UWA has also been awarded Athena Swan Bronze Accreditation in 2020.