• UQ’s HEalth Research Accelerator (HERA) Program
• Academic level C
• Fixed-term position for up to 5 years
• Applications close 17 October 2022 at 11.00pm AEST (R-16922)

UQ’s Health Research Accelerator Initiative

The health and medical research challenges the world faces today are complex and immense in terms of their scale of impact, but they are not insurmountable. To discover, develop and deliver novel solutions to these challenges, a synergistic approach is needed. That’s why UQ has created the Health Research Accelerator (HERA).

HERA applies the idea that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ to research teamwork on a scale not seen before. From researchers, developmental specialists, advocate bodies and commercial specialists, government institutions, and end-users – HERA brings together teams with diverse capabilities and backgrounds, united by a shared passion, to create novel solutions by leveraging their joint expertise and perspectives.

The team synergy enabled by the HERA Programs of Research and Innovation will unlock collaborative gains that deliver high-impact solutions and endless opportunities for innovation and enable Program teams to achieve much more collectively than what the individuals could on their own.

About the Research Program

A quarter of Australian children are developmentally vulnerable at entry to school (Australian Early Development Census); with social, wellbeing, and (neuro)developmental challenges increasing their risk of poor health and academic outcomes. Without prevention, or early intervention these children are at risk of preventable lifestyle-related chronic disease, health, social and educational challenges. Remediation incurs tens of billions of public dollars each year.

The 360-Kids Community Network program seeks to address this issue by equipping all children and young people with the foundations for optimal health and development trajectories that deliver the best opportunities in life.

About This Opportunity

One of the aims of 360 kids is to uncover risk and protective/resilience factors influencing normal development, and the onset of neurodevelopmental and mental health challenges. There is an urgent need for genetically informative studies applying advanced statistical methods to analyse polygenic data to disentangle to what extent associations with risk factors are causal or due to genetic influences.

To this end, we are searching for a genetic epidemiologist who can increase the understanding in the complex interplay between clinical, genetic, social and economic factors in childhood (neurodevelop)mental disorders. In addition to access to data from population-based birth and child cohorts, such as the ones collaborating in the EArly Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology (EAGLE) consortium, the successful candidate will also have access to data from clinical cohorts as established by the child and youth mental health research group.

For further information, please click here to view the full appointment booklet, which includes information about HERA, about the research program, and about life at UQ.

What We Can Offer

The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $124,378.29 - $143,415.50 plus super of up to 17%. The total FTE package will be in the range $145,522.60 - $167,796.14 per annum. 

Whilst these are fixed-term positions, being part of the UQ community offers development and mentorship opportunities to further your career over the longer-term. A research support package is available for this appointment. Should you bring funding with you from an existing grant, additional start-up funds may be available.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad: from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, a commitment to the health and wellbeing of our staff, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We’ll support you with the visa sponsorship process and a relocation support package.  

Questions?

To discuss this role in more detail, please contact Professor John Cairney (HERA Lead Investigator and Head of School, Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences.

For application queries, please contact Paige Willemse (Talent Acquisition Manager) via recruitment@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Resume 
• Cover letter
• Responses to the ‘About You’ section, found within the Appointment Booklet above

Please note that you will be asked to add all documents into the one upload box during the application form.

Other Information

UQ values equity, diversity and inclusion, and seeks to reflect the broader community by attracting and retaining high-quality staff from a range of backgrounds. We are therefore particularly interested to hear from people who bring diversity to our School – whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability.  Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to recruitment@uq.edu.au.

The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ operates. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. We recognise their valuable contributions to Australian and global society.

If you are a current employee of the University, or hold an unpaid or affiliate appointment with the University, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board