Research Assistant - Eckersley Maslin

Req ID: 7843

Date: 21 Sept 2026

Site: VCCC (Parkville)

Location:

MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000

Company: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Unit: Eckersley Maslin

Division: Cancer Research

Department: Laboratory Research

Enterprise Agreement: Allied Health Professionals (Victorian Public Sect

Eckersley Maslin

YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE

Research Assistant - Eckersley-Maslin Laboratory

2 Years Fixed-Term, Full-Time Role - 80 hours per fortnight with monthly ADO's.
Up to $77,734.00 (1RA1)- $115,527.00 (1RA10) per annum - depending on qualifications and experience.
Attractive salary packaging options are available.

At Peter Mac we aim to continuously improve cancer care, research and education across all cancers and for all people affected by cancer: changing lives, breaking new ground. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, Excellence, Compassion and Innovation. Welcoming people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences is critical to fostering innovation, cultivating compassion, attracting and retaining top talent and providing the best possible cancer care for our patients.

About the role

We are seeking a Full Time Research Assistant to support ongoing research in the Eckersley-Maslin Laboratory at Peter Mac. Our laboratory incorporates a diverse team of researchers dedicated to studying the regulation and dynamics of chromatin plasticity in development and cancer models. More information on the research performed in the Eckersley-Maslin laboratory can be found on our website (www.eckmaslab.com).

The main duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

Performing cell culture research activities including culturing cancer cell lines, maintaining communal stocks, viral production and transduction, generating genetically engineered cell lines and validating those lines.
Molecular cloning including designing and troubleshooting cloning strategies, including but not limited to gRNA cloning, gateway cloning, site directed mutagenesis, HDR reporter template generation.
Supporting researchers with CRISPR-based and other types of high-throughput screens.
Assistance with molecular biology and biochemical work including molecular cloning, plasmid purifications, PCR, Western Blotting and preparing samples for mass spectrometry.
Keeping high quality up to date records of experimental protocols, observations and results
General laboratory duties including ordering of reagents, monitoring lab supplies, and maintaining reagent databases.
Developing and maintaining working relationships with other team members, other managers and research support staff, core facility staff and external providers.

The successful candidate will have a BSc (Hons) or equivalent, with a minimum of 1 year laboratory experience in molecular and/or cell biology and a strong interest in chromatin biology. The applicant must have strong scientific foundations in cancer cell and molecular biology, with hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture systems and molecular biology techniques. Further experience with flow cytometry or CRISPR screening is desirable. The role will provide support for multiple team members on their projects and requires excellent organisation, time management, record keeping and interpersonal skills.

The successful candidate must be adaptable with high attention to detail, and willing to learn and carryout complex experimental protocols under the guidance of current lab members. The role will also involve some lab administration such as ordering reagents, managing stocks and consumables. Due to the nature of the work, the successful candidate will be required to be on site most workdays. The role would suit a recent (or soon to be) honours or masters graduate keen to develop their scientific skill sets whilst supporting ongoing research projects.

This position is initially for 2 year Full-Time (1.0 EFT) to start within 3 months of close of applications and an option of extension beyond the fixed term. Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. We encourage people of all minority and underrepresented backgrounds to apply. This position is open to Australian and Permanent Resident applicants.

Applicants must outline their motivation in applying for this position and also address all essential criteria as listed under experience / qualifications in the position description in their cover letter.

For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position summary. Alternatively, please contact us using the information below for a confidential discussion.

Hiring Manager: A/Prof Melanie Eckersley-Maslin

Email: melanie.eckersley-maslin@petermac.org

Applications Close: 11.59pm Monday 12 October 2026.

Please note, applications will be reviewed as they come in and interviews will be conducted throughout the process. As a result, the ad may be removed early so please do not wait to submit your applications.

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Position Summary

We are seeking a Full Time (1.0 EFT) Research Assistant to support ongoing research in the Eckersley-Maslin Laboratory at Peter Mac. Our laboratory incorporates a diverse team of researchers dedicated to studying the regulation and dynamics of chromatin plasticity in development and cancer models. More information on the research performed in the Eckersley-Maslin laboratory can be found on our website (www.eckmaslab.com).

The successful candidate will have a BSc (Hons) or equivalent, with a minimum of 1 year laboratory experience in molecular and/or cell biology and a strong interest in chromatin biology. The applicant must have strong scientific foundations in cancer cell and molecular biology, with hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture systems and molecular biology techniques including cloning. Further experience with flow cytometry or CRISPR screening is desirable. The role will provide support for multiple team members on their projects and requires excellent organisation, time management, record keeping and interpersonal skills. The successful candidate must be adaptable with high attention to detail, and willing to learn and carryout complex experimental protocols under the guidance of current lab members. The role will also involve lab administration tasks such as ordering reagents, managing stocks and consumables. Due to the nature of the work, the successful candidate will be required to be on site most workdays. The role would suit a recent (or soon to be) honours or masters graduate keen to develop their scientific skill sets whilst supporting ongoing research projects.

The main duties of the role include, but are not limited to:
• Performing cell culture research activities including culturing cancer cell lines, maintaining communal stocks, viral production and transduction, generating genetically engineered cell lines and validating those lines.
• Molecular cloning including designing and troubleshooting cloning strategies, including but not limited to gRNA cloning, gateway cloning, site directed mutagenesis, HDR reporter template generation.
• Supporting researchers with CRISPR-based and other types of high-throughput screens.
• Assistance with molecular biology and biochemical work including molecular cloning, plasmid purifications, PCR, Western Blotting and preparing samples for mass spectrometry.
• Keeping high quality up to date records of experimental protocols, observations and results
• General laboratory duties including ordering of reagents, monitoring lab supplies, and maintaining reagent databases.
• Developing and maintaining working relationships with other team members, other managers and research support staff, core facility staff and external providers.

Enterprise Agreement

Allied Health Professionals (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2021 - 2025

Classification or Salary Range

1RA2-1RA7 depending on experience

Immunisation Risk Category

Immunisation Category C

Key Relationships

Internal	A/Prof Melanie Eckersley-Maslin Members of the Eckersley-Maslin lab and research cluster 9 Staff members of research core facilities Cancer research division staff and students
External	Staff and students from other research institutes External contractors and sales representatives

Skills

Essential requirements

Bachelor of Science with Honours (or equivalent experience) in cell biology or molecular biology with strong scientific foundations in chromatin biology and gene regulation.
At least 1 year laboratory experience in cell biology techniques including culture of mammalian cell lines, generating genetically engineered cell lines, cell transduction and/or transfection.
Demonstrated experience in designing, performing and/or troubleshooting molecular cloning techniques
Demonstrated experience in biochemistry and/or molecular biology techniques such as Western Blotting, nucleic acid extractions, PCR, molecular cloning or protein purification.
Excellent time management and organisational skills, with demonstrated capacity to plan and perform daily and weekly tasks independently to achieve set goals in a timely manner.
Excellent record keeping of experimental protocols, observations and data, with high attention to detail.
Highly motivated with the flexibility and ability to support multiple researchers and projects in a team environment.
Excellent written and spoken communication skills with others with a diverse range of roles and backgrounds.
Proficiency with software including Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and GraphPad Prism (or equivalent).

Desireable requirements

Experience with flow cytometry, virus production and transduction of mammalian cells.
Strong understanding and/or experience with CRISPR screening technologies.
Competence in molecular biology techniques including chromatin assays (e.g. ChIP-seq or CUT&Run) or next-generation library preparation.
Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot experimental protocols.

Key Accountabilities

Key Accountabilities	Demonstrated By/Key Performance Indicators
1. Conduct rigorous, high quality and ethical research	Competently carry out experiments as described in a timely manner Excellent technical skills and eye for detail Accurate and timely recording, analysis and interpretation of experiment results. Ability to work independently, troubleshoot and identify areas where extra assistance is required Well developed organizational skills and ability to plan experiments and desk work to achieve weekly goals and milestones Willingness and ability to readily learn new techniques Ability to assist as directed in research experiments with other research personnel High level of research integrity and ethics completes tasks in a timely and efficient manner Flexibility and adaptability in having different tasks each week
2. Communication of research outcomes	Active participation in discussions, lab and program meetings Presentation of research results in small group settings Excellent oral and written communication skills including detailed record keeping of experimental work, protocols and associated data Ability to effectively communicate (both verbally and written) with others in the laboratory and research division
3. Foster a good working relationship with colleagues	Development of good working relationships with others both within the laboratory, the Research Division, wider Peter Mac community and externally Demonstrated ability to work as part of a research team Shows initiative in identifying and undertaking small tasks to benefit the wider research group Help with general laboratory maintenance and undertaking fair share of laboratory chores Assistance to others in the lab as needed
4. Input into the administrative and management functions of the laboratory	Performs regular stock-checks and orders common reagents and supplies. Provides point of contact and maintains positive relationship with external contractors and sales representatives Assists with maintaining lab equipment including regular performance checks, calibrations and/or maintenance Maintaining reagent databases and cataloguing inventory including chemical inventory Make up stock solutions and aliquoting reagents for general use Provides help and regular feedback to lab staff and students Organisation of lab events including meetings, lab retreat and social activities Assistance with lab administration including ethics applications, grant proposals, standardising protocols

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Peter Mac requires its staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this requirement.

WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC

Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.