Postdoctoral Fellow - Protein Crystallisation in Microgravity

Postdoctoral Fellow - Protein Crystallisation in Microgravity

• Full-time 37.5 hours per week
• Fixed term (2 years) position
• Salary range $80,000 - $85,000

What You Will Do

Our Microgravity Research team is offering an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute to our MBIE-funded research programme developing protein crystallisation facilities for space stations.

We seek a highly motivated individual with a research background in protein crystallisation, X‑ray crystallography, and protein biochemistry. In this role you will undertake research to develop high‑throughput protein crystal screening experimentation in microgravity. Specifically, you will work to develop and validate methods for high‑throughput protein crystal screening for a wide range of proteins and perform X‑ray crystallography and structure determination of resulting protein crystals. The fellowship is externally funded for 2 years. You will have completed a PhD in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, or a closely related subject.

To be successful in this role you will have excellent communication skills and written English, strong quantitative and data analysis skills, the ability to work creatively and independently, and a strong research background.

You will be mentored by A / Prof Sarah Kessans and located within the School of Product Design. The position will also involve extensive collaboration with project partners across New Zealand and the United States of America.

Who You Are

To be successful in this position you will ideally have the following :

Who You Will Work With

The School of Product Design is committed to excellence in teaching, research and creative practice at the forefront of product design, and producing versatile, innovative graduates who can contribute to New Zealand's future economic growth and social wellbeing. We aim to continually improve our teaching and research programmes by attracting and retaining highly-skilled academic and support staff, expanding our facilities, and growing our national and international links with other leading design schools and employers.

For more information about the School of Product Design and our team, please visit us here .

The University of Canterbury is committed to accessible higher education, service to community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

What we offer

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit

The closing date for this position is : Sunday, 7 December 2025 (midnight, NZ time)

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before the Close Date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted on our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume. Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to

For further information specifically about the role, please contact : Associate Professor Sarah Kessans, to discuss the opportunities associated with this position.

For overseas applicants, please visit Immigration New Zealand website, to review the latest health and visa requirements for visiting and working in New Zealand.

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