Research Assistant - Global Women's and Newborn's Health - [Archived Advertisement]

The Opportunity

Are you a talented early-career researcher with expertise in maternal and newborn health? Are you interested in joining a values driven, not-for-profit organisation? Then this could be the role for you!

An exciting opportunity exists for a Research Assistant to join the Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health team at Burnet. As part of our International Development discipline, you will join a fantastic, diverse, multi-disciplinary group with expertise across a wide range of maternal and newborn health topics.

This is a chance to contribute to the team’s public health research and knowledge synthesis activities, with a focus on improving maternal and newborn health globally. You will be provided mentorship, opportunities for career advancement and professional development within a supportive environment. Hear about the career journey of a member of this team here. 

Some of your duties will include:

• Contributing to development and conduct of systematic reviews on maternal and newborn health topics
• Contributing to development of clinical and health system guidelines on maternal and newborn health topics
• Preparing search strategies, conducting literature searches, retrieving journal articles and summarising information on a topic
• Conducting data cleaning and query resolution activities and basic data analysis
• Supporting research coordination activities with collaborators, including management of communications (e.g. teleconferences) and in-country meetings
• Contributing to developing study proposals and protocols for primary research and knowledge synthesis projects
• Supporting manuscript submission to journals, including ensuring requirements for journal instructions to authors are met

Refer to the attached position description for full details.

We are open to a time fraction of 0.8 – 1.0 FTE. This position is initially for a 2-year period with the possibility of extension. Part time working from home options and flexible working hours will also be provided.

Let’s talk about you

The following criteria are essential requirements:

• An undergraduate qualification in science, health or other field relevant to reproductive, sexual, maternal and/or child health

• A post graduate qualification in the health sciences, public health or a relevant field
• Expertise in sexual and reproductive health AND/OR maternal and newborn health AND/OR a health services improvement AND/OR public health
• Skills and experience with conduct of systematic reviews, literature searching and screening and Endnote software
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Previous experience with conducting health related research activities
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently exercising strong judgement, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The following experience is desirable:

• Project coordination/management skills Desirable
• Previous experience in international development, research or not-for-profit organisation
• Experience working on databases or health information systems ideally within a health or research program
• Experience working in a resource-constrained country or setting Desirable
• Experience working with statistical analysis software for quantitative analysis of health data (such as STATA, SPSS or similar)
• Peer-review publications in a health field Desirable
• Experience with electronic data collection and capture systems (eg: REDCap, Qualtrics or similar)
• Knowledge of medicines development, testing, procurement AND/OR implementation

The Burnet experience…

We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do – improving the health of vulnerable communities around the world. Hear from some of our talented staff about their career journeys at Burnet here!

We offer:

• A monthly accrued day off for full-time staff
• 14 weeks paid parental leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous salary packaging
• Opportunities for career and professional development

Who are we?

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation that uniquely links medical research with practical action to achieve better health for disadvantaged communities and help solve devastating global health problems.

Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 400 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues. Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Disease Elimination, Behaviours and Health Risks, and Health Security, are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result.

Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Bring your whole self to work

At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE).

Sounds great! How do I apply?

Apply below and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter + responses to the following 3 questions
1. Outline your experience in conducting systematic reviews and literature searching?
2. What is an example of success that you have achieved in conducting health related research activities?
3. What strategies do you find useful to stay organised and meet research project deadlines?

Applications close at 11:59pm AEDT on Wednesday, 1 June 2022.

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.

Burnet is a child safe organisation. The successful applicant will be required to apply for a Working with Children check and/or National Police Check. Australian working rights and evidence of full vaccination against Covid-19 will also be required.