Job Description

Research Associate (The Kirby Institute)

• Employment Type: Part - time (17.5 hours a week)
• Duration: 24 Month Fixed Term
• Remuneration: $91,381 base pro-rata, plus 17% superannuation and leave loading
• Work rights required: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must hold full rights to work in Australia to be considered for this position.
• Location: Hybrid, Kensington, Sydney.

About The Kirby Institute:

The Kirby Institute is a world-leading health research institute at UNSW Sydney. We work to eliminate infectious diseases, globally. Our specialisation is in developing health solutions for the most at-risk communities. Putting communities at the heart of our research, we develop tests, treatments, cures and prevention strategies that have the greatest chance of success.

Details of the role

The research associate in health macroeconomics will work in partnership with other macroeconomists, health economists, and epidemiologists to assess the macroeconomic impacts of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis and climate-sensitive diseases, as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and related policy interventions in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Join a high-impact research team shaping how infectious diseases are understood at a macroeconomic level. In this role, you will apply advanced modelling techniques to evaluate the economic consequences of major global health challenges and inform policy decisions across Australia and the Asia Pacific. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary experts, you will contribute to innovative research linking economic systems with epidemiological outcomes, delivering insights that support better health strategies for vulnerable populations. This is an exciting opportunity to influence global health policy, contribute to meaningful research outcomes, and build your academic profile through publications, presentations, and collaborative projects.

This role reports to the head of the Health Economics and Health Systems Group and the senior macroeconomist in the group and has no direct reports.

Some key skills required:

• PhD degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. macroeconomics, health economics, public health).
• Demonstrated expertise in the development and application of macroeconomic modelling, especially large-scale computable general equilibrium models.
• Demonstrated skills in analysing a variety of data sources, including both macroeconomic, international trade, and microeconomic data.
• Demonstrated track record of publications and conference presentations relative to opportunity.
• Experience in the design and execution of research projects evaluating the macroeconomic impacts of policy issues.
• Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement within government and research settings.
• Experience in working in the Asia Pacific region, particularly on macroeconomic policy issues.
• Excellent communication and management skills suitable for coordinating multi-partner research projects and proven ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Please refer to the position description for full details.