Advanced Research Skills and Implementation Science

• Psychologist or Medical Scientist Grade 3 or Grade 4
• Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI), Austin Health
• Fixed Term, Full Time for 12 months, job share may be considered.
• Grade 3 $108,820 - $123,905 base + higher qualification allowance + generous salary packaging + super.
• Grade 4 $127,535 - $181,615 base + higher qualification allowance + generous salary packaging + super. 

Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives. 

About the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI)

The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) is a vigorous and innovative Australian research institute focusing on understanding parent and infant well-being, as well as developing and delivering treatments (www.piri.org.au). Our mission is to support all parents and their babies in the first 1000 days of life, from pregnancy and throughout infancy. PIRI is based at Austin Health and affiliated with the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne through joint honorary positions.

We are leaders in digital perinatal depression treatments and hold a NHMRC Centre of  Research Excellence - STePPS (Science Translation for e-Psychological Perinatal Supports) which aims to reduce the burden of mental health difficulties and increase uptake e-mental health interventions in the perinatal period. This STePPS CRE (steppscre.org) is a national centre driving the identification, development and translation of online mental health interventions in the first 1000 days of a child’s life. Our government funded MumSpace initiative to deliver digital treatments and resources for perinatal depression, anxiety and associated difficulties (www.mumspace.org.au). PIRI is considered an international leader in research in perinatal mental health and its impact on mothers, fathers and infants.

About the role

The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) is seeking an experienced Senior Research Fellow with expertise in implementation science to join our growing team.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead research that supports the translation, implementation and scale-up of PIRI's evidence-based digital perinatal mental health programs across health, community and digital service settings. Working closely with the Executive Director and Executive Team, you will play a key role in ensuring innovative interventions are successfully integrated into routine practice and reach more families.

Key responsibilities include:

• Research and general leadership.
• Leading and contributing to publications and grant applications.
• Leading implementation science and translation research.
• Designing research projects and service improvement initiatives.
• Building partnerships with health services, government and community stakeholders.
• Providing supervision and mentoring within multidisciplinary research teams.
• Supporting the dissemination and uptake of evidence-based digital mental health programs. 

About You

You will have:

• A PhD (or equivalent) in psychology, public health, implementation science, health services research or a related discipline.
• 5-10 years postdoctoral research experience including the design, conduct and analysis of large trials including RCTs.
• Well-developed data management skills and familiarity with advanced statistical analyses.
• Demonstrated expertise in knowledge translation and health service implementation research and the translation of evidence into practice.
• A strong track record of publications and competitive grant applications.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and project management skills.
• Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail and time management. 

Experience in digital mental health, perinatal mental health and health service innovation will be highly regarded.

The successful applicant will be interested in a career direction in perinatal mental health, take a lead on selected academic tasks, research projects and be involved in grant applications and publications. In addition, we are looking for an applicant who may be interested in engaging in policy-relevant dissemination, advocacy and promotion of PIRI’s research.

This is an outstanding opportunity to contribute to nationally significant research and help improve outcomes for parents and infants.

We are looking for a team player with highly developed organizational skills, a sense of humour, initiative, and a readiness to flexibly multitask and keen to work within a growing research institute.

Our benefits 

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including: 

• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation. 
• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and specific offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program. 
• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options. 
• Mentoring and career development opportunities.  

Work with us! 

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures. 

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date. 

All appointments ae made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working with Children Check. Austin Health is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights,safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with Child Safe Standards. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager.

Application closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026

Applications are invited for either a Grade 3 or Grade 4 Senior Research Fellow position. Separate Position Descriptions have been developed for each classification to reflect the different responsibilities, leadership expectations and work value associated with each grade. Applicants should indicate which classification they wish to be considered for and demonstrate how they meet the relevant selection criteria.

Summary of difference between Grades

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity?

Link: https://careers.austin.org.au/job/Heidelberg-Senior-Research-Fellow-Advanced-Research-Skills-and-Implementation-Science/1366263566/