Research Assistant, Grade 2

Every institution values excellence. What matters most is why.

Griffith was created to be a different type of university. You’ll find we’re about leading research, academic excellence, and the transformative power of education. But what sets us apart is why those things matter and how you’ll achieve them.

Why? Griffith brings together exceptional minds like yours from across the globe and from all walks of life. Here, we do incredible work, questioning and challenging, always in the pursuit of excellence.

The Research Assistant will work on an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), which will explore how universal jurisdiction can be leveraged to prosecute atrocity crimes in the Asia-Pacific region.

Universal jurisdiction allows domestic courts to investigate and prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide regardless of where the violence occurred, or the nationalities of the perpetrator and victims. This research aims to advance understanding of how this legal principle is applied and adapted within the Asia-Pacific context.

The primary focus of this role is to assist with planning and executing the project in collaboration with the project team.  Success in this role requires collaboration with a range of academics, as well as relevant civil society, international institutions, and government actors to deliver a focused project with academic outputs.

Key responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Managing the administration of the project, including arranging meetings, coordination of travel and other project activities, and finance tracking and reporting;
• Preparing literature reviews and summaries of cases/materials and workshop proceedings;
• Supporting the collation of relevant scholarship, laws, and cases concerning universal jurisdiction from media and databases;
• Assisting with some forms of analysis, such as the coding of documents;
• Identifying key actors to invite to project workshops and for interviews;
• Communications and marketing support for dissemination of publications; and
• Digital skills to assist with establishing and administering a project website and collaboration hub.

About you

It is expected that you will have a Bachelor of Laws or Masters with strong grades and be undertaking post-graduate study (would suit a current PhD student).

To be successful within this role, you will also have:

• evident experience and interest in international criminal law, human rights and/or international humanitarian law.
• demonstrated experience with academic research, including document collection (laws, legal documents, public reports and other literature) and research/writing assistance (desk-based research, referencing, proof-reading).
• excellent communication skills and ability to conduct diverse project administrative and research tasks.
• demonstrated ability in managing the progress of complex projects.
• relevant regional language skills will be considered very favourably.

What we can offer

This is a fixed term (three years), part-time (0.4 FTE / 14.5 hours per week) position primarily based at Griffith University Gold Coast.  As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations.  Griffith University’s campuses are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Commencement date for this appointment will be July 2025 (alongside the ARC DECRA).

Salary Range

The full-time equivalent base salary for a Research Assistant (Grade 2) is in the range $84,335 - $88,689 per annum, plus 17% superannuation. The total FTE package will be in the range $98,672 - $103,767 per annum.

Why Griffith?

As a values-led organisation, at Griffith University, we've worked hard to create a dynamic and strong organisational culture. We offer:

• Wide range of Learning and Development opportunities
• Mix of on campus and work from home options available and a supportive work environment
• Salary packaging options and corporate health discounts
• Generous leave entitlements including paid parental leave and leave loading
• Support with future learning opportunities through our educational staff assistance scheme
• Opportunities for internal mobility
• Health Safety and Wellbeing initiatives – on campus Gym facilities

How to apply

At Griffith, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all - whoever you are and wherever you’re from. If you require any accommodations, we welcome you to let us know so we can work with you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. For more information please visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page. Griffith University also maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of modern slavery. For more information, please refer to Griffith’s Modern Slavery Policy.

Please submit your application online and ensure it includes the following:

• A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role (please refer to the About you section above and the position description)
• Current curriculum vitae/resume including full contact details
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the “about you” section (Transcript)
• A writing sample, ideally a thesis, research-based essay, or publication (such as an online article).
• Details of at least two referees

Applicants must have unrestricted working rights for the duration of this appointment.  Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Successful candidates may be subject to a criminal history check.

For further information specifically about this role, please contact Dr Emma Palmer, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, Griffith Law School on [email protected]

For application support, please contact People Services on (07) 373 54011 and quote reference number REF7768P.

Closing date: Friday, 20 June 2025 at 11.59pm AEST. All applications must be submitted online.

Please allow at least 1 – 2 weeks from the closing date to expect an application update.