About This Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Research Fellow to join the Evaluation Research Stream at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. You will bring specialist quantitative research expertise to a collaborative and purposeful program of applied research and evaluation focused on mental health service improvement and system reform. A key initial focus will be the Health Translation Queensland-funded Mental Health and Emergency Department project, where your work will help illuminate how different mental health service ecosystems influence emergency department patient flow and access, identify gaps and populations not adequately served by current arrangements, and shape evidence-informed options for new or enhanced models of care. This role is ideally suited to someone with strong project management, initiative and stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with researchers, clinicians, data custodians, health services and other partners.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Research: Lead the quantitative components of the project, including developing research questions, analytic frameworks, outcome measures and analysis plans, and applying contemporary quantitative and health services research methods to routinely collected Queensland Health data.
- Research translation and collaboration: Integrate quantitative findings with other project evidence, work closely with researchers, health services, clinicians, data custodians and partners, and translate rigorous analysis into meaningful findings for mental health policy and service improvement.
- Supervision and Researcher Development: Provide quantitative methodological leadership, advice and mentorship to research staff, students and collaborators, while promoting responsible research conduct, reproducibility, research integrity and sound data governance.
- Citizenship and Service: Build purposeful partnerships, demonstrate leadership through mentoring and collaboration, contribute to internal service and decision-making, support colleagues, and consistently uphold UQ’s values.
This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.
About You
- Completion of a PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, health services research, public health, mental health, health sciences or another relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant qualifications and substantial research experience.
- An established profile in quantitative health services, epidemiological, evaluation or related applied health research.
- Demonstrated expertise in analysing and interpreting large and complex routinely collected health or administrative datasets, including the development of research questions, analysis plans, variables, indicators and outcome measures.
- Strong knowledge of quantitative research design and statistical methods, with the ability to select, apply and interpret approaches appropriate to complex health services research questions.
- Demonstrated ability to critically assess data quality, completeness, bias, confounding and other limitations, and appropriately account for these in analysis, interpretation and communication of findings.
- Experience with data governance, ethics, privacy and data access requirements associated with routinely collected or administrative health data.
About UQ
As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged. As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.
The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad: from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.
Interested?
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Associate Professor Zoe Rutherford. For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number below in the subject line.
When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume, cover letter, and responses to the ‘About You’ section. Please note that applications received via email will not be accepted.
Other Information.
Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, criminal history checks. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.
You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.
Relocating from interstate or overseas? We may support you with obtaining employer-sponsored work rights and a relocation support package, however upfront costs will still be expected to be covered. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.
We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623.
Applications close Sunday 25 October 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-69530). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for Thursday 5th November 2026.