Postdoctoral Research Associate (Level A)

• Full-time, 12-month fixed-term opportunity, with possibility for extension
• Exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (Level A) to join the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use on an MRFF-funded trial of an online intervention to improve mental health and help-seeking among adolescents
• Base Salary $109,263 - $121,054 + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use provides a world-first synergy of leading prevention, early intervention and treatment research and translation programs in substance use and mental disorders. The Matilda Centre brings together researchers in broad fields to share skills, integrate data, and harness new technologies to develop and trial innovative prevention, early intervention and treatment programs for substance use and mental disorders.

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (Level A) to join our research team and evaluate a school-based digital intervention to improve youth mental health. In this role you will coordinate research activities and a randomised controlled trial, funded by the Medical Research Future Fund, for a social connection intervention to improve adolescent mental health (the Mind Your Mate program). You will work collaboratively with the Mind Your Mate project team, supervise junior research staff, and aid the Chief Investigator and Senior Research Academics.

This is an exciting opportunity that is open to qualified academic Level A. The level at appointment will be determined on the skills and experience of the selected candidate.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead day-to-day coordination of the randomised controlled trial, including ethics applications and relevant approvals, data collection and management, recruitment, preparing progress reports for funder, liaison with trial participants, project staff and web developers, management of the project budget and ensuring rigorous and ethical implementation of the trial procedures and protocol
• Initiate, implement and coordinate recruitment strategies, making use of a range of strategies, including engagement with educational professional bodies, and direct recruitment through contact with schools.
• Support schools in implementing the research and coordinate participant follow-up
• Coordinate a large research team and project partners, including scheduling meetings and managing communications across the team
• Ensure all project milestones are met including recruitment and follow-up targets
• Contribute to and lead dissemination activities, including leading/overseeing statistical analyses and preparing peer-reviewed journal publications and conference presentations
• Develop and submit research proposals and applications to external funding bodies
• Generate high-quality, timely and accurate research in line with the Matilda Centre's identified research priorities
• Foster a positive, inclusive and collaborative workplace culture aligned with the University's strategic priorities.

About you

• Completed PhD or near completion (within 6 months) in Psychology, Public Health, Behavioural or Social Sciences, or related field;
• Proven experience conducting research studies, with experience in the fields of mental health prevention, early intervention, or treatment with youth highly regarded.
• Demonstrated understanding of quantitative research and experience in participant data collection and management (previous experience managing youth-focused mental health or substance use clinical trials would be highly regarded).
• Dedicated to ethical research conduct and confidentiality, particularly concerning identifiable data of a sensitive nature.
• An emerging track record of research dissemination, as evidenced by peer-reviewed (or equivalent) publications and conference presentations.
• Proven previous experience in statistical analysis and reporting of research data (quantitative and qualitative) using statistical software packages such as Stata, R, mplus, SPSS or similar.
• High-level organisational skills and proven ability to deal with multiple tasks, establish priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills and a proven ability to work both independently and constructively within a research team.

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.

This position is designated as involving child-related work. To undertake or remain in this position, you are required to apply for and obtain a Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

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 a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Roshik Prasad, Recruitment Operations by email to roshik.prasad@sydney.edu.au

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close
Sunday 03 May 2026 11:59 PM