Full time 1-year fixed term contract Contribute to protocol development for mechanistic sub-studies, analyse physiological and behavioural data, and contribute to publications and knowledge translation activities Base Salary starting from $113,400 17% superannuation About the opportunity The Sydney School of Health Sciences is in a period of exciting and significant investment by the Faculty of Medicine and Health. In order to deliver on the University’s ambitious strategic plan, the University is seeking academics who are passionate about improving health outcomes and/or health equity in the local, national and global communities, who are committed to teaching and research, and area team player ready to contribute across the broad field of academic activities. The University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow ( Level A ) to contribute to the SLEEP-MSK adaptive basket randomised controlled trial, which evaluates whether adding cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) to usual physiotherapy care improves pain, sleep, and function in people with chronic low back pain, hip osteoarthritis, or knee osteoarthritis. This role is ideal for an emerging researcher with strong expertise in exercise physiology, neuromuscular assessment, and mechanistic measurement of fatigue, performance, and physiological adaptation. The Fellow will play a central role in integrating mechanistic physiological measures into the trial to better understand how improvements in sleep may influence pain mechanisms, functional capacity, neuromuscular responses, and fatigue profiles. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the Fellow will support detailed study assessments, contribute to protocol development for mechanistic sub-studies, analyse physiological and behavioural data, and contribute to publications and knowledge translation activities. This position is well suited to a candidate with a PhD focused on lifestyle intervention mechanisms, and who is seeking to apply these skills to a high-impact clinical trial investigating sleep–pain interactions. The Fellow will also contribute to supervision of students, collaborative data collection, and engagement with national and international research partners. Your key responsibilities will be to: Conduct research, scholarly or professional activity, independently or as part of a team, contributing to discipline knowledge Develop and refine independent research skills under the supervision of more senior academic staff Provide informal mentoring and advice to students within discipline Carry out administrative tasks and contribute to faculty/school meetings Contribute to a positive workplace culture in which diversity of thought, contribution, collaboration, excellence and achieving outcomes are valued and enabled Understand and contribute to furthering the university and faculty/school strategic agenda Undertake other duties and contribute to projects appropriate within the classification level as required. About you A doctoral qualification (completed or near conferral) in Clinical Exercise Physiology, with demonstrated expertise neuromuscular research A strong record of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications in exercise science Q1 journals, and the ability to contribute to high-quality experimental and clinical research programs Demonstrated capability to support and supervise Honours or HDR students Accreditation as an Exercise Physiologist (AEP) with demonstrated ability to apply research knowledge to clinical populations, including those with musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and low back pain Demonstrated capacity to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary research team, contributing to collaborative national and international projects and supporting translation of research findings into clinical practice. Sponsorship / work rights for Australia Work Rights: you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment. Pre-employment checks Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment. EEO statement At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion , evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People , women , people living with a disability , people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds , and those who identify as LGBTIQ . We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion . How to apply Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page. For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply. For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Rachel Yazigi , Recruitment Operations by email to rachel.yazigi@sydney.edu.au . © The University of Sydney The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment. Click to view the Position Description for this role. Applications Close Sunday 14 December 2025 11:59 PM
