Research Officer

**RESEARCH OFFICER**

**DEPARTMENT/UNIT **Department of Psychiatry and School of Psychological Sciences

**FACULTY/DIVISION **Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

**CLASSIFICATION **HEW Level 6

**DESIGNATED CAMPUS OR LOCATION **Clayton campus

**POSITION PURPOSE**

The Research Officer will provide a variety of high-quality research services to support the operations of the

Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab, with a particular focus on coordinating numerous aspects of clinical psychedelic trials. This may include working with others in the research lab to:

- Coordinate the planning, conduct, and completion of one or more clinical trials
- Coordinate and support members of the research and therapist teams
- Responsible for the administrative and compliance aspects of allocated studies
- Coordinate the recruitment, communication, coordination, and assessment of participants
- Contribute to study documentation, eCRF, and the development of clinical trial protocols, Human Ethics

Research Committee submissions, and clinical trial notification submissions
- Procurement of site equipment, and Investigational Product permits and imports
- Preparation of internal and external reports, presentations, and publications

The Research Officer works closely with the lab research and therapist teams and operates with excellence in process and judgement to provide efficient research services in accordance with research protocols and standards.

**Reporting Line**: The position reports to Dr Paul Liknaitzky

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

**1. **Plan, implement and coordinate a range of research and administrative tasks including providing laboratory/research support services, scheduling bookings, administering trials, experiments, treatments or questionnaires, data collection, input and analysis and preparing results in accordance with established research objectives, timeframes and protocols

**2. **Provide supervision, training and guidance to staff where applicable, including overseeing compliance with technical or research standards and protocols

**3. **Keep abreast of developments, activities and protocols in relevant research areas through liaison with staff and peers, reading relevant literature and attending meetings and seminars

**4. **Prepare reports and other documentation for research leaders, committees, funding bodies and other relevant stakeholders

**5. **Ensure compliance with established research methodology, policy, protocols, OHS and regulatory requirements and take steps to identify and minimise OHS risks where appropriate

**6. **Actively participate in and implement continuous improvement activities relating to project, research or technical procedures and quality assurance standards

**7. **Build and sustain effective working relationships with a network of colleagues, research collaborators and other stakeholders to support and facilitate research objectives

**8. **Other duties as directed from time to time

**KEY SELECTION CRITERIA**

**Education/Qualifications**

**1. **The appointee will have:

- A degree in a psychological science, mental health research, or a closely related field, and experience in the design, preparation, and execution of psychological or related human research trials (minimum 1 year); or
- substantial experience working in human clinical trials.

**Knowledge and Skills**

**2. **High-level analytical, technical, data analysis and research skills and a demonstrated capacity to develop and implement effective technical and research processes and systems

**3. **Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage time and plan work to meet deadlines

**4. **Excellent project coordination skills with the ability to support projects through to completion in accordance with agreed standards and timeframes

**5. **Demonstrated ability to work as an effective member of a team as well as the ability to exercise high levels of independence, judgement and initiative

**6. **Proven ability to adhere to protocols, standards and guidelines, including a thorough understanding of confidentiality, privacy and research ethics principles as required

**7. **Highly-developed written and verbal communication skills, a highly responsive communication style, the ability to produce clear, succinct reports and documents, and the ability to interact with a diverse range of stakeholders and negotiate positive outcomes to complex issues

**8. **Experience with advanced technologies including equipment and software, and demonstrated ability to quickly adapt to and learn new systems

**9. **Demonstrated attention to detail, critical thinking, and thoroughness in research and communication

**10. **Familiarity with the research literature, trial design, and treatment protocols associated with clinical psilocybin and MDMA research

**OTHER JOB RELATED INFORMATION**
- Travel to other campuses of the University may be required
- There may be a requirement to work additional ho