• Exciting opportunity for two Research Fellows in Prevention Research Collaboration (PRC) team to co-design and evaluate evidence-based programs in partnership with government counterparts
• Located at Charles Perkins Centre, School of Public Health, Camperdown Campus
• 2x Fixed Term, part-time 0.5-0.8FTE (18.75-30 hours per week) for 3 years and base salary $104K-$123K pro rata p.a plus superannuation

About the opportunity 

The Prevention Research Collaboration Centre (PRC) is seeking to appoint two high potential Research Fellows (Evidence for Policy & Practice) to contribute to a large, multi-year policy and implementation-relevant research engagement with NSW Ministry of Health and Local Health Districts. These positions are supported by the NSW Research Program for Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention (RPANOP), and provide an exciting opportunity for the Research Fellows to co-design and evaluate evidence-based programs in partnership with government counterparts. Successful incumbents will work closely with NSW Ministry of Health and Local Health Districts to build public health capacity and bring research to the implementation of chronic disease prevention policy and practice.

The Research Fellows will have high level understanding of physical activity, nutrition and obesity prevention research and implementation, but with primary and specialised knowledge in one of these three areas. The Research Fellows will also have a mix of research skills, including strong systematic review skills, data and analytical skills, implementation science and evaluation methodologies. Academic publication experience essential. Experience in engaging with government counterparts and policy partners at all levels is highly desirable.

This position is for up to 3 years, subject to the completion of a satisfactory probation period. There is the possibility of further offers of employment, subject to funding and need.

For more information please visit http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/public-health/prevention-research/

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for Research Fellows who have the below:

• PhD qualifications in health or equivalent for appointment at Level B
• strong understanding of public health approaches in areas like physical activity, nutrition, obesity research in adults and/ or children
• knowledge and understanding of current and emerging public health approaches to implementation and evaluation of policies and practice as related to physical activity, nutrition or overweight/obesity prevention
• experience in literature search, critical appraisal of evidence and systematic reviews, synthesis and reporting
• experience with contributing to developing research design for program evaluations
• academic publications in nutrition, and/or physical activity and/or obesity prevention research
• possess knowledge and skills in data interpretation and the use of statistical packages to analyse large data sets and population data eg: SPSS, SAS, STATA or equivalent qualitative software research experience
• specialised knowledge and skills in nutrition, and/or physical activity and/or obesity prevention research however, experience in providing high level, evidence based policy advice and recommendations on complex public health issues and candidates with experience in writing and gaining grants for research funding will be highly regarded.

The successful candidates will have effective communication and negotiation skills with a diverse range of staff, senior management, and external clients. The Ideal candidate will also be skilled in formulating appropriate methods for strategically communicating policy relevant technical information for different audiences.

About us

The Sydney School of Public Health is an academic School of the Faculty of Medicine and Health and comprises a multi-disciplinary network of academics and research groups engaging in a range of educational and public health-research activities. The Sydney School of Public Health trains local and international students and is renowned for its excellence in teaching in epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, health economics, health advocacy and evidence-based healthcare. Its postgraduate programs include coursework masters degrees, research degrees, and graduate diplomas.

The successful incumbent will be based at the Prevention Research Collaboration (PRC), a research group within the Sydney School of Public Health, with specialised expertise in population-wide prevention and policy-relevant research and translational research. The PRC research portfolio includes public health priority topics, with major emphases on chronic disease prevention, especially public health nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention. The PRC also carries out work in other areas of prevention, including tobacco control, social marketing and mass media campaign evaluation, health promotion research, and the methods for research translation and scale-up in public health program evaluation.

Since our inception 160 years ago, the University of Sydney has led to improve the world around us. We believe in education for all and that effective leadership makes lives better. These same values are reflected in our approach to diversity and inclusion, and underpin our long-term strategy for growth. We’re Australia’s first university and have an outstanding global reputation for academic and research excellence. Across our campuses, we employ over 7600 academic and non-academic staff who support over 60,000 students.

We are undergoing significant transformative change which brings opportunity for innovation, progressive thinking, breaking with convention, challenging the status quo, and improving the world around us.

How to apply

For more information on the position and University, please view the candidate information pack available from the job’s listing on the University of Sydney careers website.

All applications must be submitted via the University of Sydney careers website.  Visit sydney.edu.au/recruitment and search by the reference number 204/0219F to apply.

To be considered for this position it is essential that you address the online selection criteria. For guidance on how to apply visit: How to apply for an advertised position.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Closing date: 11:30pm, Monday 11 March 2019

The University of Sydney is committed to diversity and social inclusion. Applications from people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; equity target groups including women, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTIQ; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. 

© The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.