Position Description

Research Assistant

Faculty/PositionPortfolio DescriptionHealth / Innovations in Mental and Physical Health And Clinical Treatments School/Centre (IMPACT) TRIALS Basis of Employment Full-time and fixed term 12 months Primary Location of Work University Hospital Classification 148

Reporting Line Senior Lecturer

ABOUT DEAKIN

Deakin University is proud to be recognised as an organisation that offers a friendly, supportive and challenging working environment. Our staff are committed to making a genuine difference to people’s lives through excellence in education and research. We acknowledge the importance of providing a dynamic and diverse working environment and offer variety in day- to-day roles as well as professional development opportunities to assist staff to grow and progress their careers. staff have the opportunity to interact with colleagues from a diverse range of cultures and professional backgrounds, all of whom share a common interest in lifelong learning.

Deakin is Australia’s sixth largest university and ranks first in Victoria for both student satisfaction and graduate employment. Deakin operates five campuses; the Cloud Campus, Melbourne Burwood Campus, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong Waterfront Campus, and the Warrnambool Campus. We have corporate centres in Melbourne’s CBD, and at the Burwood, Waterfront and Waurn Ponds campuses, as well as offices in South Asia, China, Indonesia, Latin America, Europe, Malaysia, Vietnam, Pakistan and Singapore.

WHY WORK FOR OUR UNIVERSITY?

IMPACT Faculty of Health Benefits of working Deakin’s Strategic

School of Medicine at Deakin Plan – LIVE Agenda

DEAKIN’S PROMISE TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Deakin we value diversity, embrace difference and nurture a connected, safe and respectful community. Deakin is an Employer of choice for Gender Equality, a proud member of the SAGE Athena SWAN program seeking gender equity for Women in STEMM, and a bronze award holder in the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTI inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people of all cultures, abilities, sex and genders. deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/careers-at-deakin

PD Developed Month Year – Job Evaluation Code Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code 00113B

POSITION OVERVIEW The Research Assistant will conduct activities in the area of clinical trials in psychiatry. The incumbent will be required to assist in the administration and coordination of multi-site clinical trials in psychiatry based at multiple sites in Victoria and NSW. They will also be required to manage biological samples in liaison with the postdoctoral fellow responsible for overseeing the collection.

The incumbent will contribute to all facets of clinical trial coordination including (but not limited to) the submission of Human Research and Ethics Committee and regulatory body documentation, data entry and data management, management of biological samples, assist in recruitment strategies and participant contact, potentially conduct interviews and assessments with participants, and undertake general administrative duties involved in clinical trial coordination. The Research Fellow will work closely with the Chief Investigators, and other staff employed on the project. The incumbent will be based primarily at the University Hospital Geelong (Barwon Health).

This is a new fixed-term position funded by grants from the Medical Research Futures Fund.

The Research Assistant is expected to contribute to the research output of the Centre for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatments in terms of publications and grant applications.

Key Relationships: Internal The appointee will work with support, guidance and/or direction from staff classified at Senior Lecturer (Level C) and above.

The Research Assistant reports to the Head of School through the relevant Research Supervisor (IMPACT SRC Director).

External While based at The Geelong Hospital and employed by Deakin University, the Research Fellow will work closely with Barwon Health, University of New South Wales, Royal North Shore Hospital, The Melbourne Clinic, The Albert Road Clinic, The Geelong Clinic, the , and other partners. Additionally, the IMPACT SRC has extensive collaborations with other institutions both locally and internationally.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Managing the research project on a day-to-day basis by ensuring that data is being collected and stored appropriately • Assisting with data collection, including recruitment and follow-up of research participants (including booking appointments, conducting interview assessments using psychiatric rating scales and other validated questionnaires, and data entry • Organising and attending relevant meetings and participating in the planning and review of the trial research protocol and related activities • Effective communication and liaison with other research staff within the IMPACT SRC, Deakin University, Barwon Health and other trial collaborating groups • Familiarity with the principles of good clinical practice and a commitment to operate within these guidelines

TYPICAL DUTIES Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Research • Assist with the coordination of the candesartan bipolar depression trial and other project as needed in accordance with GCP guidelines and National Health and Medical Research National Statement on Ethic Conduct in Research Involving Humans standards • Assist with manuscript preparation and submission and literature reviews • Effectively collate data, maintain data protocols and enter data into the clinical trial database. Conduct preliminary data cleaning, screening and analysis

Deakin University Position Description: Research Assistant

deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/careers-at-deakin Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code 00113B

• Liaising with clinical coordinators of the appropriate team, nurse unit managers in Mental Health, relevant departments in Mental Health, staff from multi-disciplinary teams, consumer groups, external facilities/community agencies and general practitioners • Organise and manage biological samples including logging, shipping, and overall administrative requirements • Remain up to date with current literature and methods relevant to the area of responsibilities • Develop research-related material for teaching, or other purposes with appropriate guidance from other staff • Undertake administrative functions including clinical trial documentation, HREC submissions and approvals and interaction with other regulatory bodies and assist Senior Lecturer in administrative tasks • Attend meetings associated with the research project(s) and attend other meetings as appropriate, such as Institute / School meetings and / or membership of a limited number of Committees • Any other duties as directed, commensurate with the scope and classification of the position

Service • Ensure effective communication and liaison with other staff within the Department, Hospital and other collaborating groups • Perform other duties as required from time to time • Attend appropriate staff development courses as the need arises and participate in the University's Performance Planning and Review Program

Occupational Health and Safety • Comply with occupational health and safety policies and procedures as developed by Deakin University and Barwon Health in accordance with current legislation • Ensure safe practices and report any incidents / accidents or potential

ABOUT YOU To be successful at Deakin you are willing to enthusiastically embrace the Deakin Offer and Promise as expressed in the Deakin University Strategic Plan, and must share the University’s values.

You will be a person who is ambitious for Deakin University’s success and optimistic about its future; and will display diligence, have great resolve and a focus on producing results.

SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS Essential Qualifications and Experience: • Completion of a degree or post-graduate qualifications in science or other relevant discipline

Skills/Techniques: • Ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary team environment • Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills • Excellent organisational and time management skills • Good understanding of confidentiality issues • Demonstrated written and administrative skills including proficient use of Microsoft Office products • Exceptional record keeping skills and attention to detail • Demonstrated organisational skills including the demonstrated ability to maintain a high standard of data record keeping and a demonstrated ability to meet competing deadlines • Demonstrated ability to liaise with (and or negotiate with) research clients and other research teams • Demonstrated sensitivity and respect for research project participants

Desirable Experience: • Previous experience in clinical trials (preferably investigator-initiated trials)

Deakin University Position Description: Research Assistant

deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/careers-at-deakin Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code 00113B

• Familiarity with relevant disciplinary procedures and research guidelines • The ability to maintain effective work relationships in an environment which is often pressured and characterised by competing demands • Current driver’s licence • Certificate of pathology (blood samples and ECG) and blood processing experience (non-essential)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS • Must be amenable to processing human blood samples (no experience required, but preferable)

DISCLAIMER

It is not the intention of the position description to limit the scope or accountabilities of the position but to highlight the most important aspects of the position. The aspects mentioned above may be altered in accordance with the changing requirements of the role.

PD Developed Month Year Deakin University Position Description: Research Assistant

deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/careers-at-deakin Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code 00113B