Role type: Part-time (0.20 FTE); Fixed-term (12 months)
Faculty: Arts
Department/School: School of Social and Political Sciences
Salary: RA1 - $79,677 p.a. plus 17% super
- Contribute to ARC-funded research on democracy and illiberal discourse / work with innovative Large Language Models / collaborate closely with leading political science researchers
- Apply now to deepen your political science expertise while gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge computational research.
- Investing in you – 17% superannuation, benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.
The University of Melbourne
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Your next career opportunity
You will support an ARC DECRA project analysing illiberal political speech and democratic backsliding across democracies.
You will benchmark Large Language Model classifications against your own coding, building valuable computational research experience.
What you will deliver:
- Score political speeches using a detailed codebook to validate and benchmark Large Language Model outputs.
- Coordinate tasks and timelines with the research team to ensure assignments are completed to deadline.
- Track working time across assignments and contribute to clear, accurate project reporting.
- Participate in research team meetings and discussions, sharing observations on coding challenges and model performance.
- Complete required University training and undertake other project tasks as directed by the research leads.
You may be a great fit if you:
- Bring developing expertise in political science or a closely related discipline, supported by research experience.
- Demonstrate experience in quantitative or qualitative methods and an interest in rigorous empirical political research.
- Communicate clearly in writing and speech, and collaborate constructively within diverse, collegial research teams.
- Excel at organising tasks, managing competing deadlines and maintaining careful attention to detail in coding work.
- Show interest in computational social science, political communication or democratic backsliding, ideally with basic R or Python.
- Value inclusive, professional workplaces and align with the Faculty of Arts commitments to diversity and respect.
For further information please refer to the attached PD.
What we offer you!
We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfilment, including:
- Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
- Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
- Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
- Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance and well-being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave, cultural leave, and menstruation and menopause leave.
- Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
- Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program
For more information check out our benefits page!
Your new team – School of Social and Political Sciences
The School of Social and Political Sciences is a leading hub for social science teaching and research.
You will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community spanning political science, sociology, anthropology, criminology and gender studies.
Working closely with ARC DECRA researchers, you will contribute to high-impact scholarship on democracy and public discourse.
The School values collegiality, critical inquiry and supporting early-career researchers to develop their academic skills and networks.
Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. The diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb.
We're committed to a barrier-free recruitment process and ongoing workplace support, providing adjustments throughout. We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. Learn more about how we support an accessible recruitment process.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Visit our Indigenous staff page to learn more about our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
Indigenous applicants are encouraged to connect with our Indigenous Employment & Development team at korin-korin@unimelb.edu.au.
Application essentials:
- Visit "apply with us" to learn more about the process, including tips and FAQs.
- You must have current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
- A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.
- Please upload your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and experience as part of the application process.
- You are not required to address the Selection Criteria for this application.
Want to know more?
- For queries related to this specific position, contact Dr Seraphine Maerz at seaphine.maerz@unimelb.edu.au
- For questions related to our recruitment process email Nick Petersen at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au
- For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on +61 3 9035 3218 or at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').
Apply today, and join a community that's shaping the future.
Applications close: Monday 12 October 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.
Position Description: JR-018984 - Research Assistant (RA)_PD.pdf