• Part time (0.60 FTE) fixed term until 31 December 2028
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow Role supporting the NHMRC-funded program “Optimising Care for Older Adults in Hospital: Innovative Education & Consumer Voices in Junior Doctor Education”
• Base Salary $132,533 (pro rata 0.60 FTE) + 17% superannuation 

About the opportunity

We are currently seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support the NHMRC-funded program “Optimising Care for Older Adults in Hospital: Innovative Education & Consumer Voices in Junior Doctor Education”.

The successful candidate will join the research team led by Dr Janani Thillainadesan. This research team is based at the Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, within the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Concord Hospital and The University of Sydney Concord Clinical School.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• conduct original and collaborative research in ageing, geriatric care and medical education, contributing to the NHMRC‑funded program “Optimising Care for Older Adults in Hospital: Innovative Education & Consumer Voices in Junior Doctor Education”
• support and help grow the research trajectory of the team led by Dr Thillainadesan at the Centre for Education and Research on Ageing (CERA), Concord Hospital, and contribute to advancing the program’s long‑term research agenda
• manage, coordinate and serve as the primary point of contact for the dynamic consumer research advisory group, comprising older adults and community representatives recruited through NSW Health
• organise and lead consumer research advisory group meetings and research team meetings
• demonstrate strong experience in consumer engagement and co‑design, partnering closely with older adults and carers as co‑investigators across the research lifecycle
• implement study activities involving qualitative methodologies, co‑design workshops and other participatory research approaches tailored to ageing populations
• develop, maintain and extend collaborations with NSW Health clinicians, services, and senior stakeholders to support translational outcomes and shared priorities
• perform quantitative and qualitative data collection, coding, analysis and interpretation, and contribute to the production of high‑quality peer‑reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations
• contribute to competitive research grant applications, ethics submissions, governance processes and reporting requirements
• coordinate and manage project timelines, team, meetings, milestones, ethics and governance documentation, and administrative processes to ensure smooth delivery of research activities under the supervision of the team Head
• build and maintain a strong research profile through publications, conference participation and external engagement in ageing, geriatric care and medical education research
• supervise postgraduate research students, medicine and health students, doctors-in-training or research project components as appropriate, and provide informal mentoring to junior colleagues
• contribute to School, Faculty and Portfolio meetings, committees and governance initiatives
• support the strategic research agenda of the Faculty/School by contributing expertise in ageing research, medical education, consumer partnerships and NSW Health collaboration
• communicate research insights through engagement with industry partners, NSW Health forums, public events, conferences, seminars and professional networks
• ability to work both independently and as part of a team, taking initiative and exercising sound judgement in resolving matters that may arise as part of normal daily work
• undertake other duties appropriate to the role and classification level as required.

About you

• PhD in a relevant discipline, or towards completion of PhD
• experience conducting original research and engaging in scholarly activity in ageing, geriatric care, medical education or a closely related area
• excellent written, interpersonal and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders including consumers, write research reports and presentation of research study findings
• strong experience working directly with older adults in research settings, including collaboration with both consumer participants and academic researchers
• demonstrated experience managing consumer research advisory groups, including serving as the primary point of contact for older adult members
• extensive experience in co‑design and participatory research approaches, particularly in projects involving older adults, carers and healthcare stakeholders
• strong research collaborations and stakeholder management experience with NSW Health, including evidence of productive partnerships and engagement with clinicians, services or senior leaders
• a developing research profile demonstrated through peer‑reviewed publications, conference presentations and contributions to grant and ethics submissions
• a developing network of academic, health‑sector and community stakeholders, with the ability to foster collaborative relationships
• project management experience, including coordinating research activities, meetings, presentations, timelines, ethics and governance processes, and multi‑stakeholder communication
• proficiency in a range of computer applications including Microsoft Office, medical electronic databases (e.g. Medline, PubMed), REDCap and research software (e.g. SAS, SPSS, EndNote, Nvivo)
• experience supervising, mentoring or supporting junior researchers or students.

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

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.

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 Ajaypal Singh, Recruitment Operations by email to ajaypal.singh@sydney.edu.au.

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

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

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