Postdoctoral Fellow - Data Analyst / Epidemiologist - [Archived Advertisement]

ABOUT BURNET

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian medical research and public health organisation focused on achieving better health for vulnerable communities in Australia and internationally by accelerating the translation of research, discovery and evidence into sustainable health solutions. The Institute is headquartered in Melbourne with programs that operate across Asia, the Pacific and in Africa.

Burnet’s culture links innovative discovery-oriented research and implementation research with development and humanitarian action. World-class laboratory and field-based research is integrated into multidisciplinary programs aimed at the prevention, detection and treatment of diseases of global significance. This unique approach allows the Institute to make a tangible and sustainable impact on health in both developed and developing countries.

The Institute has three major thematic programs – Disease Elimination, Behaviours and Health Risk, and Maternal and Child Health, and two expansion programs – Healthy Ageing and Health Security. Staff within these Programs are supported by cross-cutting communities of practice; the disciplines of Life Sciences, Public Health and International Development.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Postdoctoral Fellow will examine patterns of drug use and related harms, with a specific focus on evaluating services provided to people who use drugs such as primary care and supervised injecting facilities.

This role involves using a variety of longitudinal cohort and other datasets on illicit drug use and related harms collected by the Burnet Institute to determine the impact of services on the health and wellbeing of cohort members.

Specific datasets include:

• The Melbourne Injecting Drug User Cohort Study, SuperMIX: SuperMIX, established during 208-2010 is the largest and only active prospective cohort study of people who inject drugs in Australia. With over 1000 cohort members as of 2018 SuperMIX provides unparalleled power to examine patterns of injecting drug use and drug market access patterns of cohort members as well as any harms they may experience through direct face-to-face interview conducted every year. Importantly, SuperMIX has extensive data linkage to a range of administrative datasets on service access meaning that the impact of these services on health outcomes of cohort members can be determined. One focus of our work over coming years will be on the impact of access to facilities for people who use drugs such as primary care centres and supervised injecting facilities on the behaviour of the cohort, using an analytic framework implemented in Vancouver, widely considered the gold-standard for studies of this type.
• Understanding methamphetamine use in metropolitan and regional Victoria, VMAX: VMAX, established during 2016-2018 is a prospective cohort study of people who smoke methamphetamine. It is the only active cohort of its type and importantly involves participants from three regional sites across Victoria as well as the Melbourne metropolitan region. VMAX is modelled on the SuperMIX design and will provide unique data on the trajectories of methamphetamine use in contemporary methamphetamine market conditions in Australia.

The position is funded initially for a period of 12 month years with likelihood of extension. The position will be responsible for analysing data and producing publishable reports (including refereed journal articles) from the above studies along with additional datasets as they arise. Additional tasks such as staff and/or project supervision and direct data collection may be assigned to the position for suitable candidates.

Participation in the wider activities of the Behaviours and Health Risks Program and the Public Health discipline more broadly is expected. Training will be provided in all aspects of the position and work will be undertaken under the supervision of project investigators and Institute statisticians.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The key responsibility areas will include:

• Data analysis
• Reporting and publications
• Training and capacity strengthening
• People management
• Stakeholder liaison

Full details can be found in the attached position description.

CRITERIA

Essential:

• Bachelor Degree in science, medicine or related discipline
• A PhD and developing track record relative to opportunity in a relevant field such as epidemiology, biostatistics, statistics, econometrics or public health
• Experience in relevant research and related methodologies
• High-level research and data analysis skills
• Demonstrated experience in a research / program management role
• Demonstrated capacity to conduct independent research with high quality research outputs including refereed journal publication and translation into policy or practice
• Statistical analysis skills and experience in the use of statistical software such as Stata
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Previous experience leading the development and writing of academic publications
• Demonstrated understanding of ethical principles underpinning research with marginalised populations
• Excellent organisational and time management skills

Preferable:

• Experience in the supervision of students undertaking undergraduate projects and higher degrees
• Experience working with vulnerable and marginalised populations
• Experience in the dissemination of research findings
• Excellent working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite and other database packages

Benefit from ongoing support, a monthly accrued day off and attractive salary packaging working for this leading not-for-profit organisation. Remuneration will be commensurate with skills and experience.

Burnet Institute is committed to providing our people with a supportive working environment. We value diversity and gender equity at the institute and provide flexible working arrangements for our staff. Burnet is participating in the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Pilot of the Athena SWAN Charter in Australia.

APPLICATIONS

CLICK HERE to apply for this position and attach the following documents:

• Statement addressing the selection criteria (as outlined above and in the attached position description)
• Resume including the names and contact details of three referees

Applications close 14th December 2018.

As part of our commitment to gender equity, we have included a question in the application process on gender. This will allow us to monitor and report on gender in relation to our recruitment process. This field is not compulsory.

Burnet is a child safe organisation. The successful applicant may be required to apply for a Working with Children check and/or criminal record check from the Australian Federal Police.