Post-doctoral Researcher

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 87,000 - 118,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Salary packaging

Health and wellbeing programs

Professional development opportunities

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

The University of Melbourne is seeking a part-time Researcher to lead key activities in a landmark ARC Linkage project focusing on student wellbeing and engagement. You will collaborate with leading scholars, policy partners and schools to produce publications and actionable insights for practice.

The role involves coordinating researchers, managing data, applying advanced quantitative methods, and contributing to high-impact outputs across education sectors.

Qualifications

• Strong track record of peer-reviewed publications and scholarly outputs relative to career stage.
• Advanced quantitative skills, including longitudinal analysis and large education datasets.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver longitudinal research activities, including data management, analysis, stakeholder engagement and coordinated project outputs.
• Apply advanced quantitative, longitudinal and person-centred methods to large education datasets on wellbeing, engagement and learning.
• Lead and contribute to high quality publications, conference presentations, reports and funding proposals.
• Coordinate research assistants and graduate students, providing guidance and workflows across project tasks.
• Represent the research program with partners and schools, strengthening networks and dissemination and impact across the education sector.

Skills

Quantitative skills

Longitudinal analysis

Data management

Education

PhD in psychology / education / related social science

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE Research Field Educational sciences Medical sciences Psychological sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 8 Dec 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Australia Type of Contract Other Job Status Part-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Role type: Part-time (0.8 FTE); Fixed-term (3 years)
Faculty: Faculty of Education
School: School of Learning Sciences
Salary: Level A: $87,266 - $118,416 p.a. (pro rata for part-time), plus 17% super

• Sector-shaping ARC Linkage project / longitudinal big data on student wellbeing / strong cross-institutional partnerships and mentoring
• Apply your quantitative expertise to drive evidence-based improvements in student wellbeing, engagement and learning across schooling.
• Investing in you - 17% superannuation, benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.

The University of Melbourne

We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website.

Your next career opportunity

You will lead key research activities in a landmark ARC Linkage project on student wellbeing and engagement. You will collaborate with leading scholars, policy partners and schools, creating high-impact publications and actionable insights for practice.

What you will deliver:

• Plan and deliver longitudinal research activities, including data management, analysis, stakeholder engagement and coordinated project outputs.
• Apply advanced quantitative, longitudinal and person centred methods to large education datasets on wellbeing, engagement and learning.
• Lead and contribute to high quality publications, conference presentations, reports and funding proposals aligned with project goals.
• Coordinate research assistants and graduate students, providing guidance, feedback and effective workflows across project tasks.
• Represent the research program with partners and schools, strengthening networks, dissemination and impact across the education sector.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Hold a PhD in psychology, social psychology, education, mental health or related social science, awarded within five years.
• Demonstrate a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications and scholarly outputs relative to career stage.
• Bring advanced quantitative skills, including longitudinal analysis and experience researching young people using large-scale datasets.
• Manage complex research projects effectively, showing excellent organisation, planning, time management and deadline-driven delivery.
• Collaborate productively within interdisciplinary teams and partnerships, including policy agencies, schools and research institutes.
• Bring theoretical knowledge of social determinants of health, social identity processes or youth mental health to understanding attitudes, behaviour and wellbeing.

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

Your new team - School of Learning Sciences

The School of Learning Sciences within the Faculty of Education is a dynamic centre for transformative education research, with particular strengths in student wellbeing, engagement and learning. The School leads major sector wide collaborations with the Victorian Department of Education, MCRI and CSIRO, harnessing longitudinal big data to inform practice and policy. Colleagues are highly collaborative, impact-focused and committed to equity, resilience and innovation, offering a rich intellectual environment and strong support for developing world-class, policy-relevant research.

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.

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.

• This role is eligible for visa sponsorship and we welcome international applicants. If successful, we will support you through this process.
• A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.
• For queries related to this specific position, contact Kate Reynolds, details in position description.
• For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on [phone] or at [e-mail] (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').