Research Fellow-Communicable Diseases and Infection Prevention

• Full-time/ 5-year fixed term contract

• Be a part of an integrated program of research encompassing the disciplines and domains of healthcare-associate infection, infection prevention and control, the prevention and control of communicable disease, antimicrobial resistance, and emergency care

• Base Salary starting from $113, 184 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

A new and exciting opportunity is available for a Research Fellow to work with Professor Ramon Shaban, an internationally respected clinician, educator and researcher in communicable disease control, infection prevention and emergency care.  As Clinical Chair, he is Chief Infection Control Practitioner and District Director of Communicable Disease Control and Infection Prevention for Western Sydney Local Health District, where he provides strategic and operational leadership of infection prevention and disease control services. He is also Associate Director of the New South Wales Biocontainment Centre, the new state-of-the-art facility for the prevention, containment, and management of high-consequence infectious diseases located at Westmead Hospital in New South Wales. He leads an integrated program of research, education, and clinical practice spanning the disciplines and domains of communicable disease control, healthcare-associate infection, infection prevention and control, and emergency care.

Professor Shaban and his team are seeking a Research Fellow (Communicable Diseases and Infection Prevention) to apply and refine their expertise in research methodologies, design and delivery to contribute to the University’s standing as a national leader in Communicable Disease Control and Infection Prevention. The incumbent will assist in addressing the world’s most pressing health and medical research with a transformative approach that nurtures different perspectives, and expertise and embraces diversity to achieve more than what can be accomplished in a traditional research model. 

The Research Fellow (Communicable Diseases and Infection Prevention) will be located in the Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases within the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Public Health Unit, Centre for Population Health, Western Sydney Local Health District.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Coordinate the research program including research data collection and reporting under the guidance of the Clinical Chair

• apply and refine expertise in research methodologies, design and delivery to contribute to the University’s standing as a national leader

• engage in research as a member of a research team

• obtain, analyse, and synthesis multiple streams of real-time data including line lists of cases, social contact surveys, news report collections and health care surveillance databases

• undertake high-quality research & scholarship, including contributing to drafting major grant proposals and/or leading on drafting small grant proposals

• lead and contribute to stakeholder engagement

• develop ethics submissions and other formal reporting outputs

• prepare documentation for publications, reports, and presentations including producing graphs and tables

• contribute to peer-reviewed publications, including as lead author.

• undertakes ad-hoc projects and other activities.

About you

• Doctoral and postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology, nursing, medicine, psychology, public health, or medical and health sciences and/or relevant experience in a related field

• sound understanding of infectious diseases communicable disease control, infection prevention and emergency care

• publication record in peer-reviewed journals and contributions to scholarly output as expected by the subject area/discipline

• experience in the design and management of research projects, including expertise in managing research protocols, ethics submissions and grant applications

• excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills with sound negotiation and conflict resolution skills

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to use initiative and exercise sound judgment to prioritise workload during busy periods

• advanced skills and experience in data management and analysis, including using statistical analysis tools, scientific literary searches, preparing literary and other analyses, and reporting on research findings

• experience in a research-intensive environment or an academic health setting

• knowledge of the Work Health and Safety Policy and relevant legislation, including Safe Laboratory Practices, as applicable to the work environment.

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For a continuing position, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

Australian Temporary Residents currently employed at the University of Sydney may be considered for a fixed term contract for the length of their visa, depending on the requirements of the hiring area and the position.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

As this position is located on an NSW Health site, it is a regulatory requirement to complete compulsory employment checks prior to starting in this position. For more information and instructions, please visit:NSW Health employment requirements

This position is designated as involving child-related work. To undertake or remain in this position, you are required to apply for and obtain a Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community which reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People , women , people living with a disability , people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds , and those who identify as LGBTIQ . We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.  

If you are a current employee of the University or a contingent worker with access to Workday, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or support filling out this application, please contact Rachel Yazigi, Recruitment Operations, by email to [email protected].

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Applications Close

Monday 17 October 2022 11:59 PM