Senior Research Fellow

• Part time 0.4FTE, 12 months fixed
• Exciting opportunity to drive excellence in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder research
• Base Salary $160,883 (pro-rata) + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a profoundly impactful yet potentially preventable neurodevelopmental condition resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. It is associated with lifelong challenges affecting cognition, learning, behaviour, adaptive functioning, and overall wellbeing. Individuals with FASD often experience difficulties across education, engagement with the justice system, independent living, mental health, and vulnerability to substance use.

We are seeking a Senior Research Fellow to lead high‑impact research aimed at advancing understanding, early identification, and effective interventions for FASD. This role will contribute to improving outcomes for affected individuals, informing policy and practice, and strengthening prevention through evidence‑based strategies. The successful candidate will bring leadership, research expertise, and a commitment to reducing the long‑term burden of FASD on individuals, families, and communities.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• provide academic leadership within a program of research focused on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• design, lead and contribute to qualitative and mixed-methods research projects
• conduct rigorous literature reviews, evidence syntheses and policy analyses
• develop policy-relevant research outputs including briefing papers, reports, guidelines and peer-reviewed publications
• contribute to the strategic direction and delivery of activities within a newly established NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence
• engage with government, health services, community organisations and other stakeholders to support translation of research into practice
• prepare high-quality research publications and contribute to dissemination activities at national and international levels
• contribute to competitive grant applications and reporting requirements across multiple funding schemes
• supervise and mentor higher degree research students (PhD, MD and other postgraduate research students)
• support research capacity building within the department and broader faculty

About you

• a PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., public health, medicine, psychology, social sciences or related field)
• demonstrated expertise in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) research, with a minimum of 12 months’ experience
• strong qualitative research skills, with experience designing and leading qualitative or mixed-methods studies
• a sustained track record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• demonstrated experience translating research findings into policy, guidelines or practice
• experience supervising higher degree research students
• evidence of contribution to externally funded research projects
• evidence of external leadership in public health (e.g. chairing committees, journal editor)
• experience contributing to large collaborative research programs such as centres of research excellence
• established networks within the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder research and policy community

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.

As this position is located on an NSW Health site, it is a regulatory requirement to complete compulsory employment checks prior to starting in this position. For more information and instructions, please visit:NSW Health employment requirements

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 Apply 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 Lena Germinarios, Recruitment Operations by email to [email protected]

© The University of Sydney

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

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close