• Life Course Centre (based in Institute for Social Science Research)

• Full-time (100%), fixed-term position for up to three years

• Base salary will be in the range $78,871 - $105,004 + 17% Superannuation (Academic Level A)

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and equity candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

• Based at Long Pocket only 10 minutes from St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity 

An exciting opportunity is available for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and committed Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work in a Centre of Excellence to undertake research on family dynamics, gender inequality and social disadvantage over the life course. The successful applicant will fill a named position, the Mary Lee Family Dynamics Fellow, and will undertake research on family dynamics and family systems with a focus on understanding how family background shapes outcomes for children and adults and generate evidence for programs and policies to improve family life. The successful applicant will contribute to existing projects in the Life Course Centre on family and gender inequality over the life course and will also have some opportunity develop a new collaborative project on family dynamics.

The position requires high level skills and abilities in either quantitative or qualitative methods. Applicants with a quantitative focus will be required to undertake national longitudinal analyses of survey, panel and cohort data and experience with using Stata, R or SAS will be required. Applicants with a qualitative focus will be expected to participate in co-design, community engagement, collecting and analysing interviews and focus group data, or other qualitative approaches. Experience with analysing data with NVivo or similar will be helpful.

The applicant must have excellent research, collaboration, communication, engagement and writing skills. Some travel for research development, data collection, collaboration and presentations may be required.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: 

• Research: Establish a research program, collaborate on research projects, seek and manage research funding, publish in reputable journals, utilize best practice research methodologies, and participate in project discussions.

• Teaching: Contribute to the development and delivery of teaching and courses if opportunities arise.

• Supervision and Researcher Development: Contribute to the effective supervision of research assistants, Honours and Higher Degree by Research students (as appropriate).

• Citizenship and Service: Develop partnerships, engage in internal service roles and committees, perform administrative functions, provide support to colleagues, and uphold university values.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad:  from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You

• Completion of a PhD in a relevant field of social science or a cognate discipline with a significant component of quantitative or qualitative data analysis and data management (e.g., sociology, psychology, labour economics, social policy or public health).

• An emerging profile in research through publications, conference presentations or other outputs.

• Experience developing, managing and/or conducting high quality quantitative or qualitative research.

• Ability to analyse large-scale longitudinal survey and administrative data, cross-national comparisons, data manipulation, and the use of visualisation and data dashboards to summarise and communicate results AND/OR ability to undertake qualitative research, including collecting and analysing in-depth data from interviews or focus groups, and the use of visualisation, communication and translation techniques for communication of findings.

• Skills in project management, data collection, data management, data analysis, and reporting to diverse stakeholders.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and time management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia and education check.

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We may support you with obtaining employer-sponsored work rights and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Janeen Baxter. For application queries, please contact [email protected] stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.
 

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

Other Information 

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to [email protected] for accessibility support or adjustments.

Applications close Tuesday, 4 February 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-45341).