Research Fellow in Protein Design

• Do you have a PhD in biochemistry, biotechnology, or similar?
• Can you demonstrate a systematic approach to experimental design, laboratory practice, and record keeping?
• Have you got knowledge of, and experience in, protein engineering, particularly with AI-driven computational design tools?

About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Kairuruku - Research Fellow in Protein Design to join the group led by Professor Wayne Patrick on a two-year fixed-term, full-time contract.

The successful candidate will join a well-funded research programme at the interface of biochemistry and immunology, which aims to design new vaccines against diseases with pandemic-inducing potential. The Kairuruku - Research Fellow will implement a Design-Build-Test-Learn workflow that uses AI-driven protein design tools and high-throughput screening to evaluate novel antigens for their usefulness when deployed as RNA vaccines.

Key responsibilities:

• Design novel proteins computationally, and then conduct the relevant experiments to characterise and rank them.
• Contribute to the supervision and training of students and/or other team members.
• Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for publication.
• Engage with collaborators (locally, nationally and internationally).

About you

You are passionate about fast-paced, innovative and impactful research. You are driven to design novel vaccines against diseases with pandemic-inducing potential. You thrive at the interface between AI-driven protein design and laboratory-based experiments to test your designs. Above all, you are excited to contribute your expertise to a highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary team.

Key requirements:

• A PhD in biochemistry, biotechnology, or similar, along with evidence of high-quality research outputs.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, protein engineering. In particular, this will include experience with AI-driven computational design tools as well as functional characterisation of top-ranked designs. Relevant experience will also include high-throughput screening in vitro and/or in cultured mammalian cells.
• An organised and systematic approach to experimental design, laboratory practice and record keeping.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Able to relate to—and work synergistically with—a diverse range of staff and students within the research environment.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University careers page.

Close date for vacancy: 16 April 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Professor Wayne Patrick (wayne.patrick@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. You will be required to submit a detailed curriculum vitae (CV), which should highlight publications relevant to this project and should also include the names and contact details of three academic/scientific referees. Along with a CV, you must also submit a short cover letter explaining your motivation for the role and why you believe you will be a good fit for it.

Applicants who do not have residency or citizenship and require a visa to work at the University must clearly indicate their visa status in their application and understand that if they do not have a current, relevant visa, they will need to secure this independently. 

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