Overview
* Mix of research, analysis, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge translation
* Be part of work that has real‐world impact on public health and environmental outcomes
* Part time (0.6 FTE), Fixed‐Term (July 2027) Based in Hobart
About The Opportunity
We are seeking a motivated, outcome focused Research Assistant to provide research support within the Healthy Seafoods team at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS). The incumbent will have a background in food (ideally seafood) safety and/or marine science/microbiology at an Honours/Masters level or equivalent industry/government experience.
The role offers a diverse and evolving range of tasks across the seafood safety research space, combining ongoing research projects with opportunities to respond to emerging seafood safety issues in a small yet highly dynamic team environment. The breadth of research activities that this role will support includes a wide variety of tasks, ranging from laboratory‐based sample analysis to desktop‐based risk assessments, including communication of results to diverse audiences.
What You'll Do
* Generate high‐quality laboratory analyses and data outputs adhering to quality assurance and safety standards to ensure results are accurate, repeatable, and publishable.
* Produce clear and well‐synthesised literature reviews and evidence summaries, supporting communication of microbial and harmful algal bloom hazards.
* Effectively contribute to team‐based research and stakeholder outputs, including reporting, communication, and input into responses to current and emerging seafood safety issues.
Success Criteria
* Demonstrated experience of laboratory techniques, such as safe handling of chemicals and biosecure materials, including aseptic technique and ideally plate reader‐based assays, such as ELISAs.
* Competence in data management, including cleaning, organisation, and maintaining structured datasets suitable for analysis and reporting.
* Familiarity with risk assessment frameworks relevant to food safety (e.g., hazard identification, exposure assessment, risk characterisation) or willingness to rapidly develop capability in this area.
* Demonstrated ability in the use of scientific computer programs (R, word‐processing, spreadsheets and databases) and routine statistical analyses.
* Demonstrated strong interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesise scientific and grey literature, and prepare clear, well‐structured reports, summaries, and scientific outputs for a range of audiences.
* Tertiary education with Masters or Honours degree in food safety, microbiology, harmful algal blooms or similar field. Equivalent experience in other research/food safety support roles will be considered.
* Current Australian driver's license (Class C).
Salary details
Appointment to this role will be at Research Assistant Level 1 and will have a total remuneration package of $97,342 comprising base salary of $83,198 plus 17% superannuation.
Eligibility
* To be eligible for this position, you are required to hold Australian or New Zealand Citizenship, permanent residency or a valid visa that enables you to fulfil the requirements of this role.
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