The Intervention and Infectious Disease Modelling (IIDM) https://www.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/early-environment/infection-and-vaccines/intervention-and-infectious-disease-modelling/ group at Telethon Kids Institute and part of the University of Western Australia are an interdisciplinary team of researchers that develop and use mathematical models to understand parasitic and viral diseases and inform public health decision-making. Led by Professor Melissa Penny, the IIDM group use data analysis, modelling and simulation, to examine complex interactions between infectious diseases, individuals, and populations, medical interventions, and health systems. They use these models to understand disease progression, pathogenesis, and disease transmission, and to estimate impacts of existing and novel health interventions in individuals or at the population level, with the goal to inform decisions during product development through to implementation and policy recommendations

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant to join this newly established team at the Institute to assist the researchers in the preparation of model inputs, implementation of workflows, analysis of model results and dissemination of results, including assisting writing papers for peer reviewed publication and presenting results.

This role will have a strong focus on novel malaria tools including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, small molecule drugs, and antimalarials and will be collaborating with several global health partners and stakeholders worldwide.

Some of your duties will include:

• Obtain, manage, and conduct preliminary processing and analysis on a variety of tabular datasets.
• Find and read academic papers and reports to extract needed metrics for malaria modelling.
• Utilise software including Excel, and R/python to examine, manipulate, process data, and conduct statistical and mathematical modelling.
• Contribute to discussions and share research findings with colleagues and collaborators in partner institutions.
• Maintain rigorous data-and code-management practices, including thorough documentation and version control, to ensure data replicability and cross-compatibility with past and future IIDM products.
• Conveniently located at Perth Children’s Hospital, this role will be offered on a full-time basis for 3 years. Part time may be considered for the right candidate.

About You

• We are looking for a dynamic team player who can think on their feet, jump into new tasks easily, understand and engage with the processes around IIDMs collaborations with funding bodies and other stakeholders, including uploading and downloading datasets, creating visualisations of results, and assisting with trouble-shooting activities.

To be successful in this role, you will have demonstrated experience in the following:

• Master’s Degree in a related field (e.g., Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics, Mathematics, Biology) or relevant work experience.
• Experience in analysing, interpreting and manipulation of data using a variety of software platforms.
• Excellent ability to use numerical analysis methods to develop algorithms and perform computations.
• Strong skills in decision-making, problem-solving, planning and organising.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, specifically a proactive attitude to relationship building.
• An understanding of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and a proficiency building mathematical models of disease, especially individual-based models, is considered highly desirable but not essential.

We are driving inclusion and diversity as part of the way we work and embrace the diverse career and life experiences of our staff. If you meet a number of the requirements (and not all), we encourage you to submit your application. We also encourage you to address any career disruptions (if applicable) you may have had in your cover letter.

About Us
Our aim is to create a workplace where people are respected and encouraged to fulfil their potential. We encourage a workforce that is innovative, eager to acquire knowledge and enhance skills; we embrace all employee differences, foster a culture that supports diversity and inclusion, and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations where required.

How to apply - https://telethonkids.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/2725?c=telethonkids