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Job Title


Postdoctoral Research Associate


Company : GDG on Campus | University of Sydney


Location : Camperdown, Australia


Created : 2026-02-02


Job Type : Full Time


Job Description

Part time contract until 31st December 2028Be apart of the NHMRC funded partnership project with Musculoskeletal Health Australia (MHA)Base Salary starting from $116,916+ 17% superannuation About the opportunityThe Sydney School of Health Sciences is in a period of exciting and significant investment by the Faculty of Medicine and Health. In order to deliver on the University''s ambitious strategic plan, the University is seeking academics who are passionate about improving health outcomes and/or health equity in the local, national and global communities, who are committed to teaching and research, and area team player ready to contribute across the broad field of academic activities.The University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow ( Level A step 8 ) to contribute to the helpline project -NHMRC funded partnership project with Musculoskeletal Health Australia (MHA). This project seeks to co-design and evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a tailored, upgraded component of the MHA Helpline to reduce the use of health services for low back pain. This project involves the development of a tailored media campaign to increase awareness and uptake of the service, upskilling Helpline operators in current best practice management, and embedding an innovative suite of evidenced-based, digital solutions to support patients to self-manage their low back pain.Your key responsibilities will be to:Conduct research, scholarly or professional activity, independently or as part of a team, contributing to discipline knowledgeDevelop and refine independent research skills under the supervision of more senior academic staffProvide informal and formal mentoring and advice to students within disciplineCarry out administrative tasks and contribute to faculty/school meetingsContribute to a positive workplace culture in which diversity of thought, contribution, collaboration, excellence and achieving outcomes are valued and enabledUnderstand and contribute to furthering the university and faculty/school strategic agendaUndertake other duties and contribute to projects appropriate within the classification level as required.About youA doctoral qualification (completed or near conferral) in low back pain, and a masters degree or undergraduate degree in physiotherapyCurrent AHPRA registration and Physiotherapy Association membership. An APA title is desirableA strong record ofresearch productivity, including peer-reviewed publications and the ability to contribute to high-quality experimental and clinical research programsExperience working with models of care of physiotherapists as first point of contactExperience working with Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study data with successful publications utilising this dataExperience designing and creating self-help tools for people who suffer with low back painExperience working with consumers with low back pain, and musculoskeletal pain, and an ability to draw on this experience in a research capacity to design and carry out high quality, consumer driven researchExcellent attention to detail,organisational ability,and record-keeping skillswithahighlevelof motivation, initiative,and problem-solving skills.A highly inquisitive nature and a strong desire to develop new ideas and research directions, aimed towards makinghigh-impact findings and developinga research careerExcellent verbal, written,and interpersonal communication skills, andthe ability to workboth independently andcollaborativelyProven record of high-profile first-author and second-author publications.Record of successin prizes and awards for researchRecord of creating grant applications for NHMRC funding opportunities.A minimum 20 years of clinical experience in physiotherapy, and specifically in low back pain management, with a desire to utilise this clinical experience to further low back pain research and dissemination of research resultsA minimum of 20 years of experience working in large teams of clinicians or researchersExperience converting technical research outputs into readable, relatable content for the general public, policymakers, and stakeholders, bridging the gap between scientific evidence and practical understandingStrong communication skills with evidence of relationship building, and relationship management, which will be necessary for the Help Line partnership projectExperience giving high quality presentations of the groups research, and the Help Line project, to University and other organisation conferencesDemonstrates strong collaboration skills such as belonging to committees or advisory groups aimed to improve the translation research evidence into clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.Sponsorship / work rights for AustraliaWork Rights: you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.Pre-employment checksYour 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.EEO statementAt 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 LGBTIQ+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.How to applyApplications (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 Rachel Ann Yazigi Recruitment Operations by email to The University of SydneyThe University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.Click to view the Position Description for this role.Applications CloseMonday 26 January :59 PM