Research Support Officer

**Job no**: 0057482
**Location**:Parkville
**Role type**:Full time; Fixed-term for 12 months
**Faculty**:Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
**Department/School**:Department of Infectious Diseases
**Salary**:UOM 5 - $76,886 - $88,312 p.a. plus 17% super

The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples, the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Dja Dja Wurrung People. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet and learn was the place of age-old ceremonies, of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the local Aboriginal Peoples have had and continue to have a unique role in the life of these lands.

**About - Department of Infectious Diseases**

The Department of Infectious Diseases is a recently established department of the Melbourne Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences that is based at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute). Research within the department encompasses infectious diseases including antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, influenza, viral hepatitis, sexually-transmitted infections, skin pathogens and emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Our researchers come from diverse backgrounds, including discovery research and basic scientists, clinician researchers, epidemiologists, public health physicians and microbiologists.

**About the Role**
The Research Support Officer will be a member of the team working on HIV clinical studies and COVID-19 clinical studies, and a project investigating the mechanisms of HIV pathogenesis. With support and guidance, the appointee will conduct both independent and team-based clinical and basic research activities and be responsible for day-to-day laboratory operations. This will include performing assigned laboratory and administrative tasks, contribute to the troubleshooting and validation of experimental approaches and the interpretation and reporting of results. As part of this team the appointee will work on different aspects from several projects and will require expertise in cellular immunology and/or molecular techniques.

Responsibilities include:

- Processing and storage of human samples as part of clinical trials and updating of sample database
- Isolate primary cells from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation
- Carry out experiments accurately and productively
- Maintain accurate and detailed records of all experiments in a communal electronic lab notebook
- Contribute to the day to day organisation of the laboratory including ordering reagents, general lab maintenance, and maintaining stocks of reagents

**About You**
You will bring your demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities with excellent time management skills. You will possess excellent oral and written communication skills and have the ability to keep detailed accurate electronic records of work done and to analyse and interpret the data obtained.

You will also have:

- Completion of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science degree (with honours) Proven ability to work with senior researchers and design, execute and analyse experiments in a timely manner
- Sound knowledge in basic immunology, molecular techniques and cell culture
- Demonstrated capacity to work in a PC2 environment and a capacity to work in a PC3 environment
- Understanding of how to store patient samples and related patient information with particular attention to confidentiality
- To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check._

**_ Please note: To be considered for this role you must have current valid work rights for Australia._**

**About the University**
The University of Melbourne is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. We are proud of our people, our commitment to research and teaching excellence, and our global engagement.

**Benefits of Working with Us**
In addition to having the opportunity to grow and be challenged, and to be part of a vibrant campus life, our people enjoy a range of rewarding benefits:

- Flexible working arrangements, generous personal, parental and cultural leave
- Competitive remuneration, 17% super, salary packaging and leave loading
- Free and subsidised health and wellbeing services, and access to fitness and cultural clubs
- Discounts on a wide range of products and services including Myki cards and Qantas Club
- Career development opportunities and 25% off graduate courses for staff and their immediate families

**Be Yourself**
We value the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, females, pe