The Royal Melbourne Hospital is one of Australia’s leading public healthcare providers.

Join the team. Build a career. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Medical Scientist

The Royal Melbourne Hospital

• Full time position, fixed term for 4 years.
• Join the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute.
• Medical Laboratory Scientist Grade 1 or Grade 2 (depending on experience).

The WHO (World Health Organisation) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza has operated since 1992 and is one of 5 WHO designated centres that is involved in human influenza virus analysis, influenza vaccine recommendations and influenza antiviral effectiveness monitoring. The Centre also has interests in other respiratory viruses (such as RSV and SARS-CoV-2) and conducts research activities across all of these areas.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital

The RMH is one of the largest health services in Victoria, and a team of more than 10,000 strong, we provide a comprehensive range of specialist medical, surgical, and mental health services, as well as rehabilitation, aged care, outpatient and community programs.

Surrounded by a Parkville Precinct of brilliant thinkers, we collaborate to set new benchmarks in health excellence – benchmarks that impact across the globe. While the work we do takes us in inspiring new directions; caring for each other, our patients and consumers is as essential to who we are, as any scientific breakthrough we make. We put people first - leading with kindness and working together, we excel as one Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Your new role

We are looking for passionate and dedicated individual to lead laboratory capacity building initiatives and to conduct research activities at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (WHO CCRRI), VIDRL.

This position is for a full-time Research Scientist (Grade 1 or Grade 2, depending on experience) working 80 hours per fortnight, based at The Doherty Institute in Parkville, Melbourne. This is a fixed term position.

In consultation and with the support of senior staff, your role is to deliver laboratory capacity building initiatives at the Centre, as well as perform research related to influenza and other respiratory viruses. Specifically, to:

• Support the development and delivery of laboratory-based training programs in techniques relevant to detection and characterisation of influenza and other respiratory viruses which are suitable for delivery and on-going use in countries in the Asia Pacific Region and globally.
• Deliver training programs both in the Centre's laboratories and in laboratories in relevant countries.
• Support research programs relevant to the goals of the Centre, with a focus on better understanding the biology of human and avian influenza viruses.
• Contribute to planning of Centre activities and initiatives and the continuing development of a culture of cooperation and enquiry.

About you

• Minimum of BSc(Hons) or equivalent in Virology or related discipline.
• Experienced in virology and molecular biology techniques.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and on multidisciplinary committees/working groups.
• Teaching experience, including planning and delivery of training workshops.
• Strong organisational and record-keeping skills, ensuring accurate tracking and documentation of samples and results.
• High standard of laboratory conduct, demonstrated through good lab citizenship, organisation, cleanliness, and consistent compliance with PC2 laboratory procedures.
• Experience working with collaborators in the Asia-Pacific region, including in low/middle income countries.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to cultural differences and willingness for short-term training placements overseas, including in low/middle income countries.
• Ability to build relationships and work effectively with collaborators in a range of environments, including government, public health laboratories and research organizations.
• Expertise in data management, statistical analysis and bioinformatics.
• Experience with NGS and bioinformatic analyses.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture and virus isolation.
• Experience with high throughput RNA extraction and qRT-PCR for virus surveillance.

Benefits of working with the Royal Melbourne Hospital

• Salary packaging options, earn up to $12,000 tax free earnings!
• 5 weeks annual leave plus monthly ADO’s for full-time employees
• Discounted gyms and health centre access with Fitness Passport
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities
• RMH is a values led organisation – People First, Lead with Kindness and Excellence together!

For a full Position Description, please click here.

Interested? Click on the apply button! Recruitment is ongoing, and interviews may commence as applications are received. Early applications are encouraged as the role may close once filled.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Record Check and satisfactory Working With Children Check.

The RMH is committed to creating a culturally safe environment as a collective responsibility. We draw on our principles of self-determination, equity, accountability, and shared learning to create a culturally responsive health system that challenges how we strive for continuous quality improvement to meet the expectations of the communities and patients we serve.

RMH is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with the Child Safe Standards.

As a leader in healthcare, we recognise the need to foster a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging. We encourage people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply, and will provide adjustments to support equitable participation.