Research Assistant (RA)

UOM University of Melbourne; Parkville; On-site; AUD 16,000 - 17,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Professional development opportunities

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

The University of Melbourne invites applications for a part-time 0.20 FTE, fixed-term 12-month role to support an ARC DECRA project analysing illiberal political speech. You will benchmark Large Language Model classifications against your own coding and gain valuable computational research experience.

Join a leading political science research team, contribute to high-impact scholarship, and develop rigorous empirical methods in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Developing expertise in political science or a closely related discipline with research experience.
• Experience in quantitative or qualitative research methods.
• Strong written and spoken communication; collaborative teamwork.
• Ability to organise tasks and manage deadlines while coding.
• Interest in computational social science, political communication or democratic backsliding; basic coding skills.

Responsibilities

• Score political speeches using a detailed codebook to validate and benchmark Large Language Model outputs.
• Coordinate tasks and timelines with the research team to meet deadlines.
• Track working time across assignments and contribute to project reporting.
• Participate in research team meetings, discuss coding challenges and model performance.
• Complete required University training and undertake other project tasks as directed by the research leads.

Skills

Research experience

Quantitative methods

Qualitative methods

Communication

Time management

Education

Political science degree

Tools

R

Python

Job description

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

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

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.

What we offer you!

• 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 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 [e-mail].

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.

Applications close: Monday 12 October 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone