• Flexible with time at Deakin Downtown and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health 
• Full-time and Fixed-Term (12 months)
• Level A $74,024 - $99,512 + 17% Superannuation

Founded in 1974, Deakin is a public university in Victoria with 61,000 students across five campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, and the online Campus. We are a progressive and open-minded university, with the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world’s universities. 

The Associate Research Fellow will conduct activities in the area of behavioural neuroscience and will be required to manage and assist the project “Prefrontal dopamine in the dynamic processes of learning across lifetime”. This role is based primarily at Deakin Downtown (Docklands) and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (Parkville) in Melbourne, Victoria.

The Associate Research Fellow will contribute to all facts of the project including administrative and laboratory duties and will work closely with the Future Fellow and other staff employed on the project. This role will also be required to organise and attend relevant meetings, communicating with the Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory members.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Conducting high-quality research, scholarship, and creative activities generating high impact outputs with mentorship including execution of experiments including but not limited to rodent behavioural training, tissue collection/sectioning, surgeries, tissue processing (e.g., immunohistochemistry), and microscopy imaging in rodents. 
• Supervising and training more junior staff including higher degree research students (PhD, Masters, Honours)
• Managing or providing significant assistance to the operations of the research laboratory including maintaining laboratory equipment and materials, the disposal of waste and the ordering of supplies
• Data entry and analysis and preparation of results and reports as requested by the Future Fellow
• Supporting and may lead applications for funding for research and creative activities
• Begin building body of work and reputation and recognition for quality, excellence and impact
• Participating in intra- and inter-disciplinary research collaborations
• Providing administrative and financial management support for research projects and programs including the maintenance and use of electronic and paper based information systems, databases and records
• Keeping abreast of developments, activities and protocols in area of expertise through liaison with staff and peers, reading relevant literature and attendance at relevant seminars

Key selection criteria for this role:

• PhD in a psychology, neuroscience, biomedicine, or other related discipline with a and/or other relevant qualifications and experience
• Experience in a variety of laboratory techniques, with an emphasis on rodent handling and behavioural training experience
• Surgery in small animals
• Background knowledge and techniques in molecular and cellular biology
• Developing track record in the field of neuroscience. Research experience that has resulted in publications, conference papers, reports, or professional or technical contributions, which give evidence of research ability.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse information and produce clear, succinct reports and documents with reliability, accuracy and attention to detail
• High level planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise multiple tasks and set and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team with excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues and proven oral, written communication and presentation skills.
• Evidence of scientific training including an ability to solve problems by using discretion, innovation and diagnostic skill within areas of responsibility
• Demonstrated well developed computer literacy and proficiency in the production of high level work using software such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, with the capability and willingness to learn new packages as appropriate
• A demonstrated awareness of the principles of confidentiality, privacy and information handling

Desirable

• Voltammetry and electrophysiology skills
• Experience with biostatistics
• Well developed written and oral presentation skills
• Confocal microscopy skills
• Ability to develop new techniques, to troubleshoot and interpret data

For a copy of the position description, please see below:

PD - Associate Research Fellow (538757).pdf

Applications for this position close on 30 May 2023

Successful applicants will need to comply with vaccination mandates imposed by the relevant state/territory government. Applicants who attend third-party sites to undertake University activities will also be required to comply with any other directions or requirements in place at the third-party location.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Infrequent travel may be required (e.g., between Deakin campuses)
• Working with Children Check (refer to Recruitment Procedure)
• National Police Record Check (refer to Recruitment Procedure)

Please submit your updated resume, a short cover letter and responses to the Key Selection Criteria.

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, please contact Jee Kim, Associate Professor, Molecular Psychiatry via jee.kim@deakin.edu.au

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.

We understand that our academic workforce is increasingly diverse, and we recognise academic careers may be placed on hold throughout many life circumstances. Achievement relative to opportunity places more emphasis on the quality, as opposed to the quantity of research outputs. In your application, we strongly encourage you to comment on your achievements relative to opportunity.