The Role

A Research Assistant plays a key role in supporting research projects as part of a multidisciplinary team of researchers in the area of Trauma, Work, and Adult Mental Health within the Black Dog Institute.
The Trauma, Work, and Adult Mental Health Research Team run Australia's largest clinical research program focused on mental health in the workplace as well as for other high-risk groups.
The Trauma, Work, and Adult Mental Health (TWAMH) Research Team has expertise in e-mental health and in undertaking large scale 'real-world' trials within high-risk workplaces and other settings that increase risk of mental ill health for adults.
The TWAMH team has a particular interest in evaluating interventions and analysing data from high-risk populations including first responder groups, healthcare workers, and high-risk adult populations including young adults, the unemployed, and disaster affected populations.
This Research Assistant position will provide technical and research assistance to the Senior Research Fellow with a particular focus on newly funded Men’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program of Research looking to better understand risk within men and improve mental health and related outcomes. The role will also support other senior research staff in the TWAMH team including the Chief Scientist, across activities associated with various TWAMH research projects.

Duties & Responsibilities

Research

• Undertake literature searches and reviews.
• Prepare and edit research and project reports, manuscripts (including systematic reviews), presentations and funding applications.
• Maintain the collection and storage of research data in adherence to the project's research data management plan, including coordinating and executing data entry, coding, cleaning, data management processes and ensuring research integrity in research databases.
• Develop relationships and regularly liaise with stakeholders to coordinate study progress, identify issues that arise, and ensure adherence to the study protocols.
• Maintain sensitivity to clinical issues
• Assisting with ethics applications/amendments, responding to queries from research ethics boards, maintaining the study master file and archiving of ethics forms and study documents.
• Assist with trial registration requirements and updates.
• Assist with aspects of participant recruitment and follow-up, in accordance with study protocols.
• Compile and build quantitative surveys within approved software packages
• Help to develop and conduct qualitative research including interviews, focus groups, workshops.
• Perform other general research and administrative tasks associated with the specific projects including contributing to research design, preparation of research protocols, product testing of e-Mental Health programs and working collaboratively with IT and User Experience Teams as necessary.
• Monitor research protocols, identify and report any evolving problems to the supervisor.
• Adhere to all research ethics and governance codes and regulations.
• Coordinate, plan and complete day-to-day research activities within the framework of agreed project timelines and responsibilities.
   

Work Health and Safety

• Cooperate with all health and safety policy and procedures of the Institute and take all responsible care to ensure your actions or omissions do not impact the health and safety of yourself and others
• Undertake mandatory training, including Good Clinical Practise and UNSW Research Integrity training
• Ensure self and all staff comply with all WHS legislation WHS Policy and Procedures
• Report any WHS hazards and significant issues to Director, People & Culture delegate

Note: the list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and the Institute may change or request additional activities to meet the operational needs of the business

Selection Criteria

Essential Criteria

1. Bachelor's Degree with Honours (or above) in psychology or related discipline, or an equivalent level of knowledge gained through a combination of education, training, or experience.
2. One to three years health research experience which includes participant recruitment, preparation of ethics applications, conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and/or designing and implementing quantitative and/or qualitative research projects
3. Previous experience in collecting, analysing and interpreting research data including use of statistical software (e.g. SPSS, STATA, SAS, NVivo, R, and/or CMA)
4. Knowledge of a variety of research protocols, study design and planning as involved in developing research projects, timelines and reporting against milestones
5. Experience in the development of ethical applications and other research governance documents
6. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and productively within a team, but also to take initiative and work independently while managing competing demands
7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail and the ability to liaise effectively with a range of stakeholders
8. Demonstrated interpersonal communication skills to initiate and maintain effective stakeholder relationships whilst exercising discretion and confidentiality
9. Good time management skills, with a demonstrated ability to respond to changing priorities, manage multiple tasks and meet competing deadlines by using judgment and initiative
10.  An understanding of and commitment to BDI’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines
11. Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training
     

Desirable criteria

1. Experience in a mental health research setting
2. Experience in research related to trauma, workplaces, and/or men’s mental health or suicide prevention
3. Experience conducting focus groups or research interviews.
4. Experience delivering presentations to a variety of audiences.
5. Experience writing academic papers for publication.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We actively welcome applications from candidates of underrepresented backgrounds and recognise that not all candidates will have had equal opportunity to gain experience in the past. If you’re excited about this opportunity but feel you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply as your unique perspective and experiences matter.

How to Apply
To become a part of the Black Dog Institute team, follow the link to our careers site on ELMO and submit your most up to date resume and a detailed cover letter addressing the selection criteria for the role. f you are shortlisted for the role, we will call you and let you know you are successful. Please do not respond to any suspicious emails requesting you to upload your ID or personal details.  We are a 2022 Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to respond to every applicant.

Please note: All offers of employment are subject to background checks, which may include police checks, reference checks, and verification of qualifications, as relevant to the role’s requirements.