Job no:508349
Work type:Full Time
Vacancy type:Internal Vacancy, External Vacancy
Categories:Academic - Research Only / Fellowship, Academic - All Academic positions
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (in Empirical Bioethics)
Opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to help investigate the ethical values and foundations of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology.
Salary Package:Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Level B), from $105,992 to $125,405 p.a. plus 17% employer's superannuation and annual leave loading
Appointment Type:Full-time, Fixed term (3 years)
Macquarie University (North Ryde) location
Given current Australian Government COVID-19 border restrictions applications for this position are only being accepted from Australian citizens or permanent residents or people currently residing in Australia with full working rights.
The Role
The Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Professor Wendy Rogers on an empirical bioethics project in synthetic biology. The main objective of this project is to identify the ethical values that inform the work of the researchers in the Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB). The research will involve analysis of major themes in the literature about ethics and values in synthetic biology coupled with qualitative research with consenting CIs, other researchers in the CoESB, and selected key informants. The outcome will be a ‘values map’ of the ethical foundations underpinning the activities of the CoESB. This map will stimulate discussion about ethical values in the Centre, inform the agenda for ongoing and future research, and itself be reviewed/revised as the Centre evolves.
This project is part of funding to Prof. Wendy Rogers by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB). Prof. Roger’s ongoing bioethics research within the Macquarie University Department of Philosophy seeks to identify practical problems, undertake conceptual analysis of the underlying philosophical and ethical issues and develop responses that advance knowledge and contribute to practice. Prof. Rogers has been named by Nature as one of the ‘ten people that mattered in science in 2019’. For more about her work, see https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/wendy-rogers
About You
You will have completed a PhD, or equivalent research experience, within a discipline that is relevant to empirical bioethics. You will be experienced in conceptual analysis and qualitative research including in-depth interviewing and focus groups.
You will have experience as an Early Career Researcher who is able to work both in a team and independently, and engage with stakeholders ranging from PhD candidates to senior academics and practitioners in a multi-disciplinary context.
If you are an excellent communicator with a proactive nature, flexible, able to work in teams and have excellent interpersonal, organisational and time management skills, then this is a role you will thrive in and a department you will enjoy working with.
About Us
The Department of Philosophyat Macquarie University is one of Australasia’s best philosophy departments, ranked 26th in the world and with a 5 star ERA ranking. It is home to the Macquarie University Research Centre for Agency, Values and Ethics (CAVE ), which is a provides a platform for interaction and collaboration between researchers from a range of disciplines including philosophy, law, medicine, applied ethics and bioethics. Within CAVE, Prof Rogers leads the Applied ethics, bioethics and clinical ethics cluster. CAVE supports an active program of conferences and workshops a postdoctoral program, and a schedule of seminars and reading groups, creating a vibrant community of scholars.
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To Apply
To be considered for this position, please apply online by submitting your cv and a separate cover letter that demonstrates how you meet each of the following selection criteria:
Essential:
A PhD in applied ethics/bioethics, science and technology studies, history and philosophy of science, social science, or another appropriate applied ethics or social science discipline.
Demonstrated ability to undertake data gathering and analyses for qualitative research.
Demonstrated ability to undertake theoretical or conceptual research about the ethical and/or social implications of scientific innovations (such as synthetic biology).
Demonstrated success in publishing research in high-impact international journals.
Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.
High-level organisational skills translated in the ability to prioritise workload, meet deadlines and to prepare reports detailing progression milestones.
Desirable:
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams and work independently without close supervision
Demonstrated contribution to the preparation of research grant applications
Familiarity with the scientific and technical concepts and methods of synthetic biology
Experience in delivering outcomes for large, complex, externally-funded projects
Specific Role Enquiries:Professor Wendy Rogers, Professor in Clinical Ethics, **********
General Enquiries:Mal Sawley, HR Administrator at **********
Applications Close:Sunday 22 November 2020 at 11:55pm
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