Below are a list of currently available employment opportunities:

Research Associate / Research Assistant Professor: https://www.his.admin.uwa.edu.au/jobvacs/external/academic/ads.htm

The Preterm Birth Prevention Research Group at the School of Women’s and Infants’ Health, University of Western Australia, is internationally renowned for its research into the causes and consequences of preterm birth, in particular the significance of infection and inflammation in the fetus, placenta and other tissues of pregnancy.

The research group, which consists of scientists, clinicians, research assistants and students, is based at the Women and Infants Health Research Laboratories at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, and the WIRF Perinatal Research Laboratories at the University of Western Australia Large Animal Facility.

We are seeking to appoint an appropriately experienced graduate with a higher research degree to study the effects of novel anti-inflammatory drugs on placental inflammation in a variety of ex-vivo and in-vivo models. The NHMRC-funded project encompasses aspects of cell biology, pharmacology, immunology, bacteriology and obstetrics. Appropriate experience in some or all of these disciplines would be an advantage.

Job vacancy:             REF: 3901

Appointment period:   3 years, commencing as soon as possible

Salary Range:            Level A:  $56,983 - $77,328 p.a. plus 17% superannuation
Level B:  $81,400 - $90,557 p.a.

Closing date:             Friday 9^th March 2012

Further description of the position and how to apply can be obtained from the link above, or by contacting Professor Jeff Keelan, Tel: 08 9340 1880; E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Written applications quoting the reference number, personal contact details, qualifications and experience, along with contact details of three referees should be sent to Director, Human Resources, The University of Western Australia, M350, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009 or emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by the closing date (March 9^th 2012).

Graduate Research Assistant: https://www.his.admin.uwa.edu.au/jobvacs/external/general/ads.htm

The Preterm Birth Prevention Research Group is seeking to appoint an appropriately experienced graduate to assist with study of the uptake and passage of drugs across the human placenta using in-vitro and ex-vivo placental perfusion models. The position is part-time (0.8 FTE) for one year. Full training will be given, but previous experience with placental cell culture and related techniques would be an advantage.

Job vacancy:             REF: 311093

Appointment period:   1 year, commencing as soon as possible

Salary:                       Level 5:  $56,783 - $63,136 p.a. (full-time)

Closing date:             Friday 23rd March 2012

Further description of the position and how to apply can be obtained from the link above (active from the 25^th February), or by contacting Professor Jeff Keelan, Tel: 08 9340 1880; E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Written applications quoting the reference number, personal contact details, qualifications and experience, along with contact details of three referees should be sent to Director, Human Resources, The University of Western Australia, M350, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009 or emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by the closing date (March 23^rd 2012).

Postgraduate Opportunities

PhD Scholarship Available at University of Adelaide Robinson Institute

The role of Vitamin D in the placenta and pregnancy success

Principal Supervisor: Professor Claire Roberts School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health and The Robinson Institute

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/claire.roberts

Recently, vitamin D has emerged as a micronutrient critical to optimal pregnancy outcome. In women, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with complications of pregnancy including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, gestational diabetes, preterm birth and a greater need for caesarean section. Although our understanding of the specific functions of vitamin D in pregnancy is scant, it seems likely that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in complicated pregnancies because robust regulation of vitamin D activation and degradation occurs in the placenta. The placenta contains enzymes responsible for localized vitamin D activation and degradation, as well as the vitamin D receptor, which is responsible for mediating vitamin D-dependent gene expression. However, little is known of the mechanisms by which vitamin D and calcium act in the placenta and in maternal adaptation to pregnancy. This project will elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which vitamin D deficiency affects placentation and pregnancy outcome to provide the breakthrough in vitamin D and pregnancy research that has been elusive to date. A scholarship is available for a PhD student who will focus particularly on two mouse knockout models of vitamin D action, the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the CYP27B1 gene knockouts. Our group is committed to provide training in a number of methods commonly used in biomedical research and design projects that result in high impact publications.

To advertise a vacant position on the SRB website, please email our website administrator / communications officer David Sharkey This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it