"Postdoctoral Research Associate - Psychology"

• Part time (0.8FTE) fixed term for 20 months at Camperdown Campus
• Opportunity to contribute to the Global Research on Discreteness Bias and Social Inclusion research
• Base Salary Academic Level A from $109,263 - $121,054 (pro-rata) + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

The School of Psychology is currently seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Psychology.

This Postdoctoral Research Associate - Psychology role sits within the School of Psychology and will contribute to a major global research program examining the discreteness bias - the belief that social categories are rigid, discrete and immutable. The position is part of a cross-cultural, multi-site project exploring how beliefs about social categories shape prejudice and social inclusion across diverse global contexts. The project title is Blurring Boundaries Worldwide: Cross-Cultural Strategies to Reduce Prejudice

The role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of social psychology, cultural psychology, and public policy to help design and evaluate interventions that reduce prejudice on a global scale.

The School of Psychology at the University of Sydney is currently ranked 27th in the world for psychology and is the first School of Psychology in Australia. We are proud of our history and reputation and believe in pursuing continuous innovation and excellence in our research and teaching.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• coordinate large-scale cross-cultural and longitudinal studies in collaboration with international research teams
• manage multi-site data collection, including ethical approvals and cross-country protocols
• conduct advanced statistical modelling to examine discreteness beliefs and prejudice patterns across cultures
• analyse societal-level predictors such as cultural tightness - looseness and collectivism - individualism
• contribute to theory-driven intervention design to challenge essentialist beliefs and reduce prejudice
• collaborate with senior academic staff and contribute to research publications, presentations, and project planning

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate - Psychology who has:

• a PhD in psychology or a closely related discipline with research expertise in intergroup relations or social cognition
• demonstrable expertise in advanced statistical modelling (e.g., multilevel modelling, SEM)
• experience conducting cross-cultural or international research coordination
• experience conducting original research and contributing to scholarly outputs (e.g., peer-reviewed publications)

Note: The application is also open to PhD candidates who are at the end of their candidature having an intention to submit one’s thesis by July 31, 2026.

To keep our community safe, please be aware of our COVID safety precautions which form our conditions of entry for all staff, students and visitors coming to campus.

Work Rights

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment 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 include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through 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 LGBTIQ. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

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 Deepna Chand, Recruitment Operations by email to recruitment.sea@sydney.edu.au.

© 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

Monday 06 April 2026 11:59 PM