Senior Research Fellow

·       Part time (0.20 FTE) fixed term until 31 December 2027

·       Senior Research Fellow role supporting NHMRC Investigator grant

‘Driving the transition to high value testing to benefit the health of all” and other research on the clinical effectiveness of healthcare in The Sydney School of Public Health

·       Base Salary $156,103 (pro rata for 0.20 FTE) + 17% superannuation 

About the opportunity

At the University of Sydney School of Public Health our vision is to promote and protect health equity and well-being for all populations and the environments we share, nationally and globally. We foster and deliver excellence in education, research, engagement, and service by embracing a transdisciplinary approach and advocating for the advancement of public health for all.

We are seeking a Research Fellow to support Professor Katy Bell conduct health services research, including the NHMRC  Investigator  grant  ‘Driving the transition to high value testing to benefit the health of all”. The incumbent will be highly experienced in managing NHMRC research projects and specifically be experienced in designing and conducting all forms of evidence synthesis in a range of clinical, public health, and health service areas to inform healthcare decision making, guidelines and policy

Your key responsibilities will be to:

·       lead the design and conduct of advanced evidence‑synthesis research—including systematic reviews, critical reviews, and scoping reviews—across clinical, public health, and health services domains to inform healthcare decision making, guidelines, and policy

·       conduct research projects focused on overdiagnosis, disease definitions, research waste, and methodological improvement, ensuring rigorous research design, reporting, and reproducibility

·       lead manuscript and protocol development for high‑impact publications, generating outputs that influence international health policy, clinical guidelines, and public discourse

·       secure competitive research funding by identifying opportunities, preparing grant applications, and contributing to NHMRC, MRFF, WHO, and other national and global funding initiatives

·       provide methodological leadership in evidence synthesis and research design, ensuring quality, transparency, and excellence in all research activities

·       oversee ethics and governance processes, including trial registration, ethics submissions, amendments, and ongoing compliance reporting

·       supervise and mentor PhD, Master, and medical students, and support the development of early‑career researchers and professional staff involved in evidence‑synthesis research

·       build and maintain national and international collaborations, including contracted research partnerships with organisations such as WHO, NHMRC, MRFF, and the Department of Health and Aged Care

·       contribute expertise to the development and revision of clinical guidelines, evidence frameworks, and health service evaluation methodologies

·       disseminate findings through academic publications, keynote and invited presentations, policy briefings, and engagement with public and professional audiences

·       contribute to School and Faculty governance, committees, and strategic initiatives, supporting a positive, collaborative, and ethically strong research culture

·       engage in translational research activities that extend the impact of evidence synthesis into policy, implementation, commercialisation pathways, and improvements in healthcare delivery

About you

·       hold a PhD in a relevant field (or working towards), with specialty in evidence synthesis . Hold a Masters Degree in Public Health (epidemiology)

·       strong experience in advanced skills in designing and conducting all forms of
evidence synthesis, including systematic reviews, critical literature reviews and scoping reviews in a
range of clinical, public health, and health service areas

·       advanced skills in research leadership including designing and conducting research projects related to the methodology of overdiagnosis, disease definitions, and research waste and reporting

·       strong demonstrated skills in collaboration and global engagement including obtaining, designing, conducting and managing contracted research for global (e.g. WHO) and national (e.g. NHMRC, MRFF, Heart Foundation, Department of Health and Aged Care) organisations. 

·       have demonstrated experience leading manuscript and protocol development, with published work that has influenced international healthcare decision making, guidelines and policy and generated significant academic and media attention

·       strong research profile supported by competitive funding, including NHMRC scholarships and grant contributions

·       bring expertise in ethics and governance, including trial registration, ethics submissions, and compliance reporting

·       have experience supervising PhD, Master and medical students, and mentoring and training of staff

·       contribute to the promotion of high ethical standards and participant welfare in health research.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement 

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the button at the top of the page. 

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard.  Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Cecilia Blamey, Recruitment Operations by email to [email protected].

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

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