Role type: Full-time; Continuing Research Contingent
Faculty: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/ School: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
Salary: Level A - $87,266 - $118,416 p.a. plus 17% super
* Lead groundbreaking VR interventions / Collaborate with lived experience advisors / Shape the future of body image treatment
* Apply now to drive cutting-edge research combining virtual reality and embodiment to improve adolescent body image
* Investing in you - benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.
The University of Melbourne
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.
Your next career opportunity
As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, you'll lead innovative studies on body image disturbance in adolescents, developing and testing novel virtual reality-based interventions. You'll oversee experimental testing to identify neurocomputational mechanisms underlying body image issues and translate these findings into targeted VR interventions. This role offers you the chance to work closely with young people with lived experience, collaborate with international experts, and make a significant impact on our understanding and treatment of body image disturbance.
Your responsibilities will include:
* Design Innovative Studies : Lead the creation and implementation of experimental studies and VR intervention development.
* Manage Research Operations : Oversee participant recruitment, testing, and ethics applications.
* Develop VR Interventions : Create and evaluate virtual reality-based embodiment interventions for body image disturbance.
* Engage with Lived Experience : Coordinate the Participatory Advisory Panel to ensure research is informed by young people's perspectives.
* Collaborate Across Disciplines : Work closely with computational modelling experts and international partners to deliver high-impact research.
You may be a great fit if:
You are a psychology or neuroscience researcher with expertise in body image and embodiment, demonstrating strong project management skills and experience with virtual reality-based research or interventions.
You may also:
* Hold a PhD in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, or a related discipline.
* Demonstrate expertise in body image, body representation, or self-perception research.
* Have experience with or good knowledge of VR-based research or interventions.
* Possess strong organisational and project management skills.
* Show a track record of high-quality publications and research dissemination.
* Exhibit the ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and independently.
* Ideally have experience working with children, adolescents, or clinical populations.
* Potentially have familiarity with computational psychiatry or predictive coding frameworks.
For further information please refer to the attached PD.
What we offer you
We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfillment, including:
* Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
* Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance
* Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance
* Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program
For more information check out our benefits page
Your new team - Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
The Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences (MSPS), ranked among the top schools of psychology in Australia and globally, offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a profound impact in the field. With a focus on excellence in research and teaching, the School attracts exceptional students and fosters a vibrant community of academic, teaching, and research professionals. Collaborative research links with prestigious institutions and departments further enrich the academic environment.
Within MSPS, the applicant will be embedded in the Eating Disorders Research Lab ( led by Associate Professor Isabel Krug. The project the candidate will be working on forms part of a non-for-profit grant led by Cairnmillar (Professor Paul Jenkinson and Dr David Butler). The Eating Disorders Research Lab is internationally recognised for its research on eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image, with a particular focus on innovative interventions. The lab offers a highly supportive research culture, multidisciplinary collaborations, and strong mentorship in mixed-methods research, intervention development, and implementation science.
Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. We believe the diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb.
We're committed to a barrier‑free recruitment process and ongoing workplace support, providing reasonable adjustments throughout. We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. For assistance, please contact Kim Groizard on +61 or at (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments'). Contact details for other enquiries are located at the bottom of this page.
Find more information for applicants requiring reasonable adjustments.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Our Indigenous strategy, Murmuk Djerring outlines our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students.
Indigenous applicants are encouraged to connect with our Indigenous Employment & Development team at for further information and support.
Please note
This role requires current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available.
A Working with Children Check (WWCC) is required for all positions. If successful, we'll guide you through the WWCC application process during onboarding and reimburse the cost.
Join Us and unlock your career potential
If 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)
Learn more about the application process, including tips and FAQs.
For recruitment queries, email Vanessa Phan at Include the Position Number and Job Title in the subject line. Please do not send applications to this email address.
For job‑specific queries, refer to the contact details in the Position Description.
Applications close: 29 January 2026 at 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.
Position Description: PD - Postdoctoral Fellow (Project Lead) .docx
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