Research Assistant, drug use studies

· Field-based work

· Excellent salary packaging benefits

· Full-time position, based on Commercial Road

The Burnet Institute is a leading Australian medical research and public health organisation focused on improving the health of disadvantaged and marginalised groups. We integrate our world-class laboratory and field-based research into multidisciplinary programs to prevent, detect and treat diseases of global significance.

We are seeking a Research Assistant to work in our Alcohol and other Drug Research Program, which is based in our Centre for Population Health. The Program involves research into the use of illicit drugs and the associated risks, and borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections and the behaviours associated with their transmission. Research methodologies include social network analysis, molecular epidemiology and mathematical modelling.

You will be part of our multidisciplinary Fieldwork Team and be involved in conducting face-to-face research on several of our ongoing studies involving people who inject drugs.

You will be responsible for:
Recruiting and maintaining contact with participants for studies based in the field, both face-to-face and via telephone
Collecting blood samples from participants
Performing other research tasks as required, such as contributing to the writing of ethics applications and reports, literature searches and reviews
Contributing to the production of research and surveillance outputs such as conference papers, reports and other publications

You will have:
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Knowledge of the issues facing vulnerable populations
A flexible approach to your work
Intermediate computer skills, especially with Access databases, Excel and Word
Health science and/or public health or social work degree, ideally with experience in conducting interviews and data entry (desirable)
Experience in writing reports and preparing ethics and research grant applications (desirable)

Benefit from a monthly accrued day off and attractive salary packaging working for this leading not for profit organisation. Applications should be emailed to jkitch@burnet.edu.au by 13 December 2010 . For more information and a copy of the position description, please see our website at www.burnet.edu.au/home/general/employment .