Western Sydney University is a modern, forward-thinking, research-led university, located in the heart of Australia’s fastest-growing, economically significant region. The University has 13 campuses, more than 200,000 alumni, almost 50,000 students and approximately 3,500 staff. Our University is ranked in the top two per cent of universities worldwide, and was placed 1st worldwide and in Australia in 2022 and 2023 for its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.

The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development at Western Sydney University is dedicated to optimising human interaction, wellbeing, and development. It brings together multidisciplinary expertise in areas such as neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, and biomedical engineering to explore how the brain processes information, how humans communicate, and interact. The Institute is renowned for its cutting-edge research facilities and innovative approaches, making significant contributions to fields like cognitive neuroscience, healthy aging, speech and language development, and the impact of music and sound on human behaviour. Through its collaborative projects and community engagement, the MARCS Institute aims to advance scientific knowledge and improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Reporting to Director of the Institute, and associated likewise with the University’s School of Medicine, the Charter Hall Chair in Human Neuroscience is a new position generously endowed in perpetuity by Charter Hall. The new Chair will be responsible for leading, promoting, and developing research excellence with particular emphases on human cognitive abilities and their disorders. The research will investigate the functioning of the human brain in both health and disease. The Chair will bridge Institute, domestic and international collaborations to strengthen Western Sydney University research capacity and standing in cognitive neuroscience. The Chair will lead research on sensory and cognitive disorders across the lifespan using cutting-edge neuroimaging methods while guiding and training future generations of researchers. The successful candidate will work closely with the Institute and School of Medicine leadership teams to address local and national research priorities, forge new collaborative partnerships, and attract research funding.

With a distinguished research record in cognitive neuroscience and significant leadership experience, the successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional capabilities in leading and promoting research excellence. You will have a proven ability to secure and manage major research funding, employ cutting-edge neuroimaging methods, and drive innovative research on sensory and cognitive disorders. Your strategic vision and strong leadership skills will enable you to mentor early career researchers, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultivate partnerships with external organisations. You will excel in building and maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders, including industry partners, government organisations, and the academic community.

Odgers Berndtson is assisting WSU and the MARCS Institute with this appointment. More information on the role can be found at www.odgersberndtson.com/91534

For a confidential conversation, please contact Dr Alistair Clark on +61 436 019 746 or Alistair.Clark@odgersberndtson.com or Sophie Malone on Sophie.Malone@odgersberndtson.com or +61 433 446 384.

The closing date for applications is 24 June 2024.