Research Officer

Role Type: 12-month part time contact (22.8 hours per week)
Salary: $112,614 – $120,880 per annum (pro rata) plus superannuation

• Help shape a national living guideline for the management of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants, developed to NHMRC standards
• Join the VIBeS team at a highly respected research institute, with salary packaging, generous leave
• Apply and further develop expertise in GRADE, meta-analysis and qualitative evidence synthesis while guiding a small team of research assistants

The opportunity:

The Australian Living Guideline for the Management of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Infants is being developed at MCRI to NHMRC standards using GRADE methodology, funded by the Extremely Preterm Infant Centre of Research Excellence (EPIC CRE). As Research Officer, you'll deliver the review work that needs independent methodological judgement across eight clinical domains, from evidence profiles and meta-analyses to Evidence to Decision materials for the Guideline Development Group.

About your new team

You'll join the Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS) group, reporting to a Research Fellow and sharing the senior-level review workload with the Guideline Development Manager. You'll also provide day to day methodological guidance to a small team of research assistants who deliver the screening, extraction and risk of bias assessment.

What you’ll do

• Finalise the search strategy for each clinical domain with the Guideline Development Manager, translating it across databases and peer reviewing it using PRESS
• Adjudicate screening and extraction disagreements, and verify risk of bias assessments completed by research assistants
• Conduct meta-analyses and structured narrative syntheses, build evidence profiles and summary of findings tables, and rate certainty of evidence using GRADE, including network meta-analysis
• Apply GRADE-CERQual to assess confidence in the findings for the family-centred care and cultural safety domain
• Write the evidence syntheses and draft Evidence to Decision materials, keeping complete records of review decisions in line with NHMRC standards

What you’ll bring

• A doctorate in a relevant discipline, or a degree with honours or a masters plus four to five years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience conducting systematic reviews, including protocol development, risk of bias assessment and synthesis of findings
• Applied knowledge of GRADE, and experience conducting and interpreting meta-analysis (including heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses) using RevMan or comparable software
• Excellent communication, time management and analytical problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and experience mentoring and supporting staff and students
• Highly regarded: experience contributing to NHMRC-standard guidelines, familiarity with qualitative evidence synthesis and GRADE-CERQual or neonatal and perinatal research, or experience with network meta-analyses

Please view the position description here.

Any questions? Reach out to Evi Muggli Evi.Muggli@mcri.edu.au.

What you’ll enjoy

• Contribute to a national guideline that will inform neonatal care in hospitals from tertiary neonatal intensive care units to regional centres
• Deepen your expertise in GRADE, meta-analysis and qualitative evidence synthesis
• Grow your mentoring and leadership skills by guiding a small team of research assistants
• Access a range of salary packaging options—covering entertainment, novated leases, and more
• Take advantage of generous personal leave and the option to purchase additional leave to suit your lifestyle
• Access a comprehensive paid parental leave program for both birth and non-birthing parents, with support throughout the parenting lifecycle
• Work on the Melbourne Children’s Campus with discounted staff parking, public transport at your doorstep, great facilities for cyclists, and discounted coffee from Synapse, our onsite café

Who we are

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem-solving to address challenging queries in child health. Committed to inclusivity and respect, we foster a positive working environment that values diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and a dedicated supporter of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), we uphold principles of equal opportunity and diverse representation.

We are committed to the safety of children and young people and takes a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse, exploitation and harm. Child safety is prioritised in our decision-making at all levels of the Institute.

If you believe this role is a good fit for you, please apply by submitting:

• Your resume
• A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

Ensure these documents are combined into a single PDF file.

We welcome individuals of diverse genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations in our workplace. We actively encourage talented individuals from all walks of life to apply for our job openings. Our commitment lies in fostering a workplace that is barrier-free and inclusive, aiming to attract the most skilled candidates.

For any questions related to the recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Recruitment Team at recruitment@mcri.edu.au. Ensure that you include the position number and job title in the subject line. Please refrain from sharing your application to this email address.

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

No recruitment agencies please.
Applications close: Monday 26 October 2026, AUS Eastern Daylight Time

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