Research Assistant in Sleep and Daily Rhythms

Role type: Full-time; Fixed-term (1 year)
Faculty: Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department: Centre for Youth Mental Health
Salary: Level A: AUD $87,266 - $118,416 p.a. plus 17% super

• Work in a world-leading youth mental health centre / drive NHMRC-funded LUMOS sleep–circadian research / shape early psychosis detection and care

• Apply now to support young people at risk of psychosis through rigorous sleep and circadian research

• 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. Discover more via our website.

Your next career opportunity
In this role, you will support the LUMOS study, tracking sleep and circadian rhythms in youth psychosis.

You will gain hands-on experience in clinical interviewing, neurocognitive assessment and high-quality longitudinal research.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team at Orygen, translating discoveries into better early intervention decisions.

Occasional off-site (e.g. at Orygen headspace centres) visits to participants, regular attendance at the study sites, and some out of hours work will be required.

What you will deliver:

• Recruit and enrol young participants into the LUMOS sleep and circadian study across clinical services.

• Conduct structured clinical interviews and neurocognitive assessments, including pupil measures and computerised cognitive tasks.

• Maintain accurate, confidential, audit-ready participant records and study databases in line with Good Clinical Practice guidelines.

• Liaise with clinical teams, young people and families to support recruitment, follow-up and engagement over 12 months.

• Assist with ethics and governance submissions, standard operating procedures, manuscripts and presentations for multidisciplinary project meetings.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Hold an honours-level degree in behavioural or social sciences, or equivalent education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrate strong interest in youth mental health and sound understanding of psychiatric diagnoses and disorders.
• Conduct structured interviews and engage sensitively with young people experiencing mental health difficulties.
• Follow complex research protocols, maintain precise records and troubleshoot issues in fast-paced clinical research settings.
• Use electronic data capture platforms, preferably REDCap, for secure entry, verification and basic data analysis.
• Manage workloads independently across multiple sites, collaborating with multidisciplinary stakeholders and meeting competing deadlines.

For further information please refer to the attached PD.

What we offer you!
We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfilment, including:

• 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 and cultural 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

For more information check out our benefits page!

Your new team – Centre for Youth Mental Health
At the Centre for Youth Mental Health, you will join a pioneering leader in youth mental health research.

Orygen’s multidisciplinary teams integrate clinical services, research and knowledge translation to improve outcomes for young people.

You will work alongside clinicians, scientists and allied professionals within Australia’s largest health sciences faculty.

The team values curiosity, rigour, collaboration and genuine impact on early intervention and prevention in psychosis.

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 [email protected].

Application essentials:

• Visit "apply with us" to learn more about the process, including tips and FAQs.

• 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.

• Please upload your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and experience as part of the application process.

• Please upload your responses to the Selection Criteria, found in the Position Description. Learn more about responding to Selection Criteria

Want to know more?

• For queries related to this specific position, contact Dr Mag de Rozario at [email protected].

• For questions related to our recruitment process email Vanessa Phan at [email protected]

• For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on +61 3 9035 3218 or at [email protected] (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').

Apply today, and join a community that’s shaping the future.

Applications close: 29 October 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.

Position Description:

PD_JR-018720 Research Assistant in Sleep and Daily Rhythms.docx

PD_JR-018720 Research Assistant in Sleep and Daily Rhythms.pdf