• Queensland Brain Institute

• Partner with people educating future generations & solving the world’s problems 

• Belong to a vibrant community where your work genuinely makes an impact 

• Multiple Casual Opportunities

• Work at our vibrant and conveniently located St Lucia campus

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

About This Opportunity 

Project

The project is based on a partnership between World Rugby, Rugby Australia, the Great Public Schools Association (GPS) and focuses on developing a biomarker for concussion diagnosis and its recovery. The study will recruit participants from the nine GPS schools in Queensland. A multitude of data elements such as demographics, cognitive data, and biospecimen samples, will be collected from participants at different timepoints.

Primary Purpose of Position

The research assistant will provide support to staff at individual GPS schools. Duties include bio-sample collection including phlebotomy, record keeping, facilitating data collection processes at schools and providing support to the study sites when needed.

Key responsibilities include:  

Project Support

• Assisting school staff with preparation of facilities; Preparation of correct bio-sampling kits for all study procedures.

• Record keeping and reporting: Confirmation of participants’ identity and consent. Sample labelling; Completing pathology and MRI request forms; Scanning and uploading / e-mailing of request forms; Reporting of deviations and Adverse Events.

• Collection of bio-samples (blood, saliva, finger-prick); Previous experience in phlebotomy is essential, training in other study procedures will be provided.

• Sample transport or booking/confirming sample transport with courier, including location and time for pick-up; Hand-over of correctly packed and labelled bio-samples and pathology request forms.

• Completion of SCAT5 and HIA2 assessment and recording of results in the World Rugby SCRM database - training will be provided.

• Providing instructions for computer-based cognitive testing to adolescent participants and supervision of test-taking.

• Providing instructions for use of activity/sleep tracking smart device; Exporting and uploading data when device is returned.

• Providing ‘next step’ instructions to participants and their caregivers, e.g. regarding MRI booking procedures.

• Promoting the study to players and parents at game days and collecting expressions of interest (EOI) for participation.

This is a casual position at HEW level 4, with an hourly rate in the range of $47.34 to $50.20, plus superannuation of 11.5%. As these roles are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you will also receive regular remuneration increases in line with the Enterprise Agreement.

About You  

• Tertiary qualifications, preferably in a science or health care discipline or relevant senior experience working in a science or health setting

• Previous training and experience in Phlebotomy is essential, experience in conducting venepuncture on adolescents would be highly regarded

• Must have own reliable transport to travel to study sites

• Must hold Blue Card for working with children (can be organized through UQ)

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well and flexibly i.e. autonomously, in small teams and with a wide range of varying stakeholders

• Proficient in use of the Microsoft office suite of products including word, excel, PowerPoint and outlook

• Ability to travel

• Ability to work on Saturdays during the GPS rugby season (May to September)

The appointed person(s) must be reliable, organised and able to work self-directed in a busy environment. They must be able to work with school staff and adolescent participants in a respectful and supportive manner. They must be able to provide clear and easy to follow instructions regarding all study procedures to both school staff and participants / parents as required. They must know and complete all study procedures including record keeping and reporting self-directed and in an organized and timely manner.

In addition, the following mandatory requirements apply:

• Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. 

• Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits. 

Questions? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jessie Wood [email protected]. 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:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume 

Other Information 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion.  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in the broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with a disability, age. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to [email protected].

If you are a current employee (including casual staff and HDR scholars) or hold an unpaid/affiliate appointment, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.

(Job Reference Number - R-40516).

Please note applications will be reviewed as received. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. The University of Queensland reserves the right to close this application process early.