Research Assistant in Epidemic Forecasting & Analytics

 
  • The University of Melbourne
  • Australia, Vic
  • Nov 27, 2024
Medicine

Job Description:

Position Number: 0064262
Location: Parkville
Role type:
Part-time (0.2 FTE); Fixed-term for 2 years
Faculty:
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/School: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Salary:
Academic A – $83,468 – $113,262 p.a. (pro rata) plus 17% super

About the Role
This position will support the Australian Centre for Epidemic Forecasting and Analytics (ACEFA) by providing technical support for the newly established Australian Forecasting Hub and the Scenario Modelling Hub. ACEFA's purpose is to support the timely, effective response to epidemic diseases in Australia through real-time data analytics, modelling and forecasting.

This position is based within the Infectious Disease Dynamics Unit of the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, and will report to the Director of ACEFA.

Your responsibilities will include:

Who We Are Looking For
Our ideal candidate is one who brings an enthusiastic and curious approach to the team and has programming skills. They will be required to write snippets of code that can work across multiple interfaces. The successful candidate will need to have strong communication skills as this role necessitates liaising with academics at all career stages and from different departments, faculties and institutions. Ideally, the candidate would have a familiarity with version control software (e.g. Git) and Github, and experience programming in R, though this is not essential to success in this position.

You will also have:

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your New Team – Infectious Disease Dynamics Unit
The Infectious Disease Dynamics Unit at the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics conducts research in mathematical epidemiology and Bayesian statistical methods for infectious disease analytics, infectious disease surveillance, decision-science and pandemic planning and response. The unit is a key node in the Parkville precinct-wide infectious disease modelling and analytics network. Staff and students work closely with colleagues in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, School of Computing and Information Systems and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. The unit is led by Dr Freya Shearer, and supports 5 research staff based in the unit, and additional post-doctoral staff and graduate research students primarily based in the School of Mathematics and Statistics. The unit has a national leadership role in viral respiratory disease surveillance, influenza and COVID-19 forecasting and pandemic planning and response. It has led Australia’s national COVID-19 situational assessment consortium, providing expert advice to peak national committees such as the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and Communicable Disease Network of Australia since January 2020.

What We Offer You!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits page!

About the University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.

Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the employee listed on the first page of the Position Description found below, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents:

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

Please ensure that you apply through the Apply Now button at the bottom of this advertisement. However, if you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Nick Petersen via email at [email protected], ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.