Casual Senior Research Assistant

• School of Psychology

• Casual position with an hourly rate of $60.57 (HEW Level 6), plus superannuation of 12% 

• Based at our vibrant St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity  

We are inviting applications for a Casual Senior Research Assistant to support a drug driving enforcement study in our School of Psychology. We are specifically looking for current or recent Honours, HDR or PhD holders with relevant experience in research support, literature review and data integration.

In this role, you will provide key research support for a multi-site, longitudinal study evaluating a new two-tier system for drug-driving enforcement in Australia. This project aims to enhance road safety by assessing drug-induced impairment through cognitive and hazard perception testing, rather than relying solely on zero-tolerance drug detection.

This position will support Sub-study 3 which involves a rigorous ex-ante evaluation of the proposed two-tier enforcement policy, assessing its expected impact, cost-effectiveness, operational feasibility, organising and running a workshop with drug-driving enforcement stakeholders, data integration across external sources, and cost-benefit modelling. In addition to the Sub-study 3, this role involves detailed literature reviews, and manuscripts writeups from other relevant studies.

In this casual role, work hours will vary from week to week depending on project demands however we anticipate there may be approximately 2 days of work per week through to December 2026. Applicants will need to be able to work flexible hours in response to project demands.

About You

• An honours or postgraduate qualification in psychology, public health, criminology, transport research, or related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience in research support, literature review, and academic writing.

• Experience using SciSpace or equivalent literature discovery platforms.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and research-related tools (e.g., SPSS, Excel).

• Strong organisational and communication skills with attention to detail.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple deadlines.

• Experience working with ethics-approved human research.

• Familiarity with cost-benefit analysis or impact forecasting methods along with previous experience working with transport, health, or law enforcement datasets would be advantageous.

Please note, applicants must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of these appointments to apply (employer-sponsored work rights are not available for these appointments).

Questions?  

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Shamsi Shekari at s.shekarisoleimanloo@uq.edu.au . For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au , stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.  
 

Want to Apply?  

We welcome applications from all individuals and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. To be considered, please ensure you upload:

• Resume  

• Cover letter addressing the selection criteria in the About You section above   

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion , fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au . 

Other Information  

As a casual employee, and in line with Fair Work , please note that there is no commitment to ongoing work in this position.  

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.  

Applications close Monday 21 July at 11.00pm AEST (Job Reference Number R-53021).