Senior Research Assistant

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Pneumococcal Carriage Project

Theme: Infection, Immunity and Environment

Research Group: International Child Health

Organisation Summary

The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI), based at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne, is the largest child health research organisation in Australia. It includes Genetic Health Services Victoria (VCGS) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Institute. Our Vision is to be a major global contributor to the creation of knowledge. The MCRI is committed to its mission to conduct research of the highest quality in every aspect of child health, to ensure the best quality of life for children.

The ultimate goal is that the Institute becomes one of the top-five child health research institutes in the world through the conduct of globally competitive research capitalising on strengths across the disciplines of laboratory, clinical and public health research. Extending from this objective, MCRI also aims to drive enterprise, initiative and cross-disciplinary interaction, by developing clinical research on the Royal Children’s Hospital Campus. Our values include: innovation, integrity, teamwork and the excitement of discovery.

Organisation Structure

The Institute comprises

• six Research Themes, representing broad areas of research focus:
  • Healthy Development
  • Early Development & Disease;
  • Critical Care & Neurosciences;
  • Musculoskeletal Disorders;
  • Infection, Immunity & Environment; and
  • Laboratory & Community Genetics
• a series of research Enabling Facilities; and
• Corporate Services

The Centre for International Child Health (CICH) is based at the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI), Melbourne. It is dedicated to improving the health of children living in poor circumstances. Currently the unit’s staff are engaged in projects in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Northern Territory and many other places. CICH has an extensive network of collaborative relationships with local, national and international organisations and is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Child and Neonatal Health.

Position Summary

The PneuCarriage project is an international collaborative project led by CICH and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project aims to establish a set of reference samples that will allow direct comparison and evaluation of current methods for the detection of multiple serotype carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus). This will involve the microbiological characterisation of a set of specimens (laboratory-prepared as well as swabs from children indeveloping countries).

We are seeking a senior Research Assistant to work under a >2 year grant funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The successful applicant will work under the general supervision of the chief investigators Professors Kim Mulholland and Roy Robins-Browne and the Project Coordinator. As a key member of our dynamic team, the senior RA will develop, conduct and monitor laboratory methods and also provide supervision and management of the laboratory team.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, conduct and monitor laboratory procedures for the PneuCarriage project
• Timely and accurate delivery of results in line with compliance to funding bodies including, where
• appropriate, delegating to and supervising the work of research or students
• Assist with recruitment and management of laboratory staff
• Train and supervise laboratory staff or students in a manner appropriate to their level of
• responsibility and experience
• Maintain laboratory records, including standard operating procedures, laboratory notebooks and
• the project database.
• Assist in the development of progress and financial reports to the project Steering Committee or
• funding bodies
• Provide regular scientific reports to the Project Coordinator and other supervisors
• Prepare, or assist in the preparation of, papers for publication and presentation at international
• steering committee meetings and appropriate national or international pneumococcal conferences
• Develop, or assist in the development of, applications to national and international funding bodies
• for support for additional projects (e.g. relating to pneumococcal carriage and diagnostic
• technologies) and, if these are successful, work with supervisors and others to implement new
• research projects.

Selection Criteria

Essential

• Previous laboratory experience at a similar level
• Honours degree, or equivalent experience, in a biomedical field preferably in relation to bacterial diagnostics or similar
• Excellent technical skills and a rigorous scientific approach
• Capacity to supervise and mentor laboratory staff and students
• Ability to take a lead role in laboratory management, particularly in relation to staff training and rostering; stock control, purchasing and quality control
• Demonstrated capacity for analytical and creative thinking
• Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to assist with the design of the experimental aspects of the PneuCarriage project including the development, implementation and critical review of standard operating procedures
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Appropriate computer skills
• Preparedness to travel within Australia and internationally

Desirable

• Previous experience in
  • industry, biotechnology or diagnostic microbiology
  • research projects such as in medical microbiology or public health fields
  • supervision or management of staff, particularly in the context of meeting time-critical deadlines
  • the design and implementation of laboratory processes including quality control procedures
• Production of high-quality written material. This may include reports and publications in peerreviewed journals, or presentation of findings at conferences
• Knowledge of and interest in international child health, health research and/or community development issues; particularly in regard to the interface between basic research and improvements to child health

Terms of Employment

Full Time: 12 months, with the potential to renew subject to continued funding and satisfactory performance. This role includes a 6 month Probationary Period.

Hours of Work

This is a full time position working 38 hours per week. Part-time employment may be considered.

Occasional weekend work may be required to ensure continuity of laboratory processing.

Classification and remuneration

Academic salary scale, at the level of Research Level A Step 5 - 8 (between $62,971 to $70,167 per annum) subject to applicant skills and experience + 9% superannuation. The successful applicant can also access generous salary packaging benefits

Send written applications quoting position Ref# MC2001a including details of 3 referees to Human Resources, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, Parkville 3052 or emailrecruitment@mcri.edu.au

Website: http://www.mcri.edu.au/pages/careers/employment.asp

Closing date for applications: Thursday 25th November 2009.