The Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security emphasises that food security and human well-being depend on the health of our ecosystems. Our researchers seek ways to improve the health of both natural and managed ecosystems with research that cuts across disciplines and creates an impact globally.

The Research Fellow will be responsible for contributing to a GRDC-funded project focusing on the genetic and sustainable management of Ascochyta blight in Chickpea (Phase 2). Responsibilities include obtaining infected plant samples, curating an isolate collection and database, conducting pathology bioassays, extracting RNA and DNA for sequencing, and applying bioinformatic pipelines for genomic data analysis. The role involves molecular and plant pathology experimental approaches, and the generation and analysis of next-generation sequencing data, to support research in identifying genetic and epigenetic drivers of pathogenicity in Ascochyta rabiei and developing molecular markers for diagnostic assays.

The Research Fellow will be responsible for

• Sourcing infected plant samples and Ascochyta rabiei isolates through collaboration with state pathologists, researchers, and industry, which will require occasional travel.
• Isolating Ascochyta rabiei from infected material, maintaining cultures for experiments, archiving isolates for long-term storage and curating an isolate database.
• Conducting molecular, pathology, and genomic experiments contributing to the research objectives of the Research Group.
• Analysing, summarising, and visualising experimental and genomic datasets.
• Contributing to milestone reports, scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, and related funding applications.
• Attending and presenting scientific outputs at broader research program meetings, industry updates, and scientific conferences.

This is a fixed term (2.5 years), part-time (80%) position and will be primarily based at the Griffith University Nathan campus. As Griffith is a multi-campus University you may be required to work across other campus locations.

Griffith University’s campuses are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Salary Range
The full time equivalent base salary will be Research Fellow Grade 1 range $86,526 - $101,354 per annum + 17% superannuation. The total FTE package will be in the range $101,236 - $118,585 per annum. (The salary will be pro-rata for part time hours).

Purpose of the role

In this role, you will be responsible for delivery of Smiling Mind's research and evaluation agenda, driving innovation, and delivering high quality impact measurement. You will be responsible for undertaking research and delivering insights that create a step change in how Smiling Mind develops and delivers mental fitness and wellbeing programs. This dynamic position offers the opportunity to develop best practice, drive analysis & insight generation, lead reporting and deliver deep, actionable research that shapes the organisation's strategic impact agenda.

You will foster meaningful collaborations both internally and with industry and academic partners, positioning Smiling Mind as a thought leader in mental fitness and wellbeing, with a focus on children and the adults that support them - namely educators and parents / carers. Additionally, you will develop, deliver, and work across a variety of research programs including quantitative and qualitative evaluation, voice of customer initiatives, ad-hoc program research, population studies, and impact modelling, all aimed at driving innovation and thought leadership in the mental wellbeing space.

Key Responsibilities

This role has decision making autonomy empowering you to lead and innovate across research, evaluation, and impact measurement, with a focus on proactive leadership and strategic thinking.

Strategic Impact and Innovation

• In collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, develop and execute on our research and impact strategy.
• Proactively drive the delivery of our impact agenda, creating new program and partnership opportunities for Smiling Mind.
• Lead high profile research initiatives and projects, delivering high-quality outcomes that position Smiling Mind at the forefront of mental wellbeing innovation.
• Leverage your expertise and insights to influence and inform decisions across the organisation, translating research insights into actionable strategies.
• Pioneer innovations in research and evaluation, setting the stage for multi-year advancements in the field of mental fitness and wellbeing.
• Mentor and inspire a team of junior research staff, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning.

Thought Leadership and Knowledge Exchange

• Develop a cutting-edge impact measurement framework that defines key mental fitness measures across Smiling Mind's diverse portfolio.
• Develop program logic models, theories of change, and evaluation frameworks that extend current practice in mental wellbeing research.
• Design and implement mixed-methods research, showcasing Smiling Mind's commitment to rigorous and impactful evaluation.
• Produce compelling, action-oriented reports that demonstrate Smiling Mind's impact, position Smiling Mind’s advocacy direction effectively, and influence key stakeholders.

Strategic Collaboration and External Engagement

• Foster strategic relationships with internal stakeholders, championing a culture of research-driven decision-making across the organisation.
• Lead high-profile cross-collaboration projects with a range of external research partners
• Establish and nurture high-impact partnerships with academic institutions and industry leaders, positioning Smiling Mind as a key player in the mental wellbeing research landscape.

Driving Research and Program Development

• Deliver groundbreaking and high quality research and evaluation to inform the development of innovative products and programs, employing cutting-edge methodologies from evidence synthesis to co-design practices.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging research and evidence, actively seeking out and sharing new insights to inform Smiling Mind's program development and advocacy strategy.
• Bridge the gap between psychological theory and practical application, developing unique solutions that set Smiling Mind apart in the field.
• Influence and inform decisions regarding program and product evolution across the organisation, using evaluation insights and research acumen.

Elevating Impact through Strategic Communication

• Champion a culture of evidence-informed thinking across the organisation, inspiring colleagues to incorporate research into their work and decision-making processes.
• Produce and present high-impact research reports that captivate diverse audiences and showcase Smiling Mind's innovative approach to mental wellbeing.
• Translate complex research findings into compelling narratives that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences, elevating Smiling Mind's profile in the field.

Key Teams / Stakeholders

This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with diverse stakeholders across Smiling Mind, as well as forge strategic partnerships with external research institutions and industry leaders. You'll be at the forefront of driving our research agenda and shaping the future of mental wellbeing interventions.

Join our passionate, high-growth team where your creativity, drive, and innovative thinking will directly contribute to changing lives. At Smiling Mind, we embrace challenges, celebrate successes, and work collaboratively to achieve extraordinary impact in mental wellbeing.