Research Fellow, Eye Care Research

Job no: 0061816
Location: Parkville
Role type: Full-time; Fixed-term for 2 years
Faculty: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/School: School of Health Sciences; Optometry and Vision Sciences
Salary: Level B – $114,645 – $136,136 p.a. plus 17% super

• Conduct research with an aim to advance modern optometric Eye Care and public health
• Exciting joint appointment between the Department of Vision Sciences and the Australian College of Optometry’s National Vision Research Institute
• Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, Myki discounts, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!

About the RoleThe Research Fellow in Eye Care Research is a joint position between The Australian College of Optometry (ACO), and the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences (DOVS) within the Melbourne School of Health Sciences at The University of Melbourne. The National Vision Research Institute (NVRI) is the research division of the ACO, and this position sits within the NVRI. The DOVS/NVRI joint appointment will be research-focused with selected teaching contributions.

This position will advance modern optometric Eye Care and public health, through collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education provision that positively impacts the health and well-being of the community.

The role will involve working with staff across both organisations, to strengthen strategic collaborative ties and increase joint research capabilities and outcomes. The appointee will develop and engage in innovative collaborative research that could encompass several potential areas, including clinical research, public health, research translation and implementation science. The goal will be to build successful and strategic partnerships, and collaborate with a range of stakeholders and partners, both within and beyond the academy, in Australia and internationally.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to teaching in entry-to-practice and postgraduate programs within the University
• Working between the ACO/NVRI and DOVS and aligned centres at the University of Melbourne (such as the Centre for Collaborative Practice) to advance how optometry can best serve its communities
• Participating in community and professional activities relevant to the discipline area, including attendance and presentations at conferences and seminars

Who We Are Looking ForYou are an experienced academic, able to demonstrate strong evidence of research achievement, relative to your career stage and opportunities, along with having a compelling desire to positively impact optometry, whether in research, practice, or education. With a solid track record in relevant research areas of Eye Care, you exhibit the ability to effectively collaborate with others within a research team. Moreover, you are developing a national research profile through secured research funding and a publication track record indicating impact and quality. Your highly developed interpersonal and communication skills allow you to establish and nurture successful relationships with stakeholders, while your developed ability to apply robust research methodologies is evident. Additionally, you demonstrate the capability to lead initiatives that effectively bring together researchers and clinicians.

You will also have:

• A PhD in Optometry, Vision Science and/or Public Health.
• Strong ethics as a scholar, being someone who values diversity and inclusion.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to establish and cultivate successful relationships with stakeholders.

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Your New Team – Department of Optometry and Vision SciencesThe Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences currently comprises twenty-four academic staff (10 teaching and research, 5 teaching specialist and 9 research only). The Department is located 200 Berkeley Street on the Parkville Campus, along with UMeyecare and, has a footprint for its Visual Neuroscience research groups in the Kenneth Myer Building alongside the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. The Department in 2009 opened UMeyecare clinic which provides private practice and clinical training for Optometry students and service to students and staff of the University, as well as to the general public. In 2011 the Department commenced the 4-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) postgraduate degree as part of the new Melbourne Model; approximately 300 students are enrolled in this entry-to-practice professional optometry program.The department also teaches vision science-related subjects in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedicine degrees and contributes breadth subjects in the new generation degrees offered by the University.

The Department has a vigorous and expanding research program in vision sciences with particular emphasis on the research areas of i) the biological foundations and detection of ocular disease; ii) visual neuroscience and visual neurophysiology. It offers courses of training by research leading to the degrees of PhD, Master of Philosophy, and currently has around 20 students pursuing research higher degrees at any one time.

Further information about the Department’s staff profile, academic strategy, research profile and facilities can be found on the web:
http://www.optometry.unimelb.edu.au

What We Offer You!In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits page!

About the University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.

Be YourselfThe University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact Kim Groizard at **********@unimelb.edu.au, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ApplicantsWe aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience
• The responses against the Selection Criteria^ (found in the Position Description)

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Nick Petersen via email at **********@unimelb.edu.au, ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.