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The Centre for Humanitarian Leadership is a dynamic collective of leading academics, humanitarian practitioners, and researchers.

Together, we are transforming the sector and better addressing the world’s most pressing issues by combining good humanitarian practice with academic rigour.

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Research Fellow

  • Based at our Melbourne, Burwood Campus + hybrid work arrangements
  • Part-time and fixed term (until January 2027)
  • Level B $117,684 – $139,191 + 17% Superannuation

CHL is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Fellow to support a multi-disciplinary research program focused on crisis leadership in humanitarian contexts. The position involves working across several research streams, leading data management and analysis, managing overseas research assistants, writing scholarly articles, and ensuring ethical compliance related to sensitive research data. The ideal candidate will bring both academic rigour and practical experience working with vulnerable populations or sensitive contexts.

The Research Fellow will initiate, design and conduct productive, high-quality research, scholarship and creative activities generating high impact outputs in their discipline area. The Research Fellow may lead and research activities and is expected to engage collaboratively to develop novel research outcomes. This position is suited to a researcher keen to explore and build on new areas and foster research and researcher development to have real-world impact and contribute to a dynamic and enthusiastic research team.

As a Research Fellow, you will:
  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis, including qualitative coding, mixed-methods analysis, and/or network mapping as appropriate.
  • Manage and ensure the ethical handling and privacy of sensitive research data, including maintaining secure storage and data anonymisation protocols; overseeing ethical translation processes for data collected in languages other than English; and managing compliance with data destruction and management plans.
  • Assist in research project management tasks, such as coordinating project timelines, data collection schedules, research team communication across time zones, and compliance with donor scope of works.
  • Lead literature reviews, evidence syntheses, and theoretical frameworks.
  • Co-author and support the development of research output, including peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, research reports, and donor-facing products.
  • Work respectfully, collaboratively, and ethically with culturally and linguistically diverse teams.
  • Perform other research-related tasks as required to support the objectives of the project.
  • Support, and may lead, applications for research and creative activities, including applications for external competitive funding, external funding for commercialization and translation activities and other funding demonstrating sustained efforts.
  • Lead and support ethical approval processes, including Deakin and National Statement compliance with high-risk ethical research with human subjects.
  • Build a national reputation, based on a growing, focused body of work recognised for quality, excellence and impact and a growing track record of timely delivery of outcomes for industry partners.
  • Initiate, design, conducts and may lead intra- and inter-disciplinary research collaborations, to enable major breakthroughs in knowledge and understanding and solutions to complex problems.
  • Initiate, design, conduct and may lead in development of industry partnerships and collaboration to enable major breakthroughs, innovative solutions for future translation into real world impact.
  • Initiate, design, conduct and may lead innovation and translation into policies, frameworks, strategy, generation of products, services, new ways of operating, priority setting and or other innovations with positive impact and national recognition. Demonstrate timely and sustained delivery of commercialisation and translation outcomes.
  • Supervise honours and/or HDR students with timely completions and productive, high-quality outcomes and provide effective mentoring to HDR students to support professional and career development and employability.
  • Adopt and promote a culture of research excellence, innovation and impact and support industry partnerships that provide HDRs with industry experience and establish/expand industry networks to create opportunities for placements.
  • Communicates outputs to discipline(s) and the community and ensure impact of academic activity in the field and the community.
  • Liaise with international and local research partners and donors
To be successful, you’ll have:
  • PhD in a relevant discipline (Humanitarian Studies, International Development, Political Science, Sociology, or a related discipline) and/or other relevant qualifications and experience
  • Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable populations or managing sensitive data, with a strong understanding of ethical research principles.
  • Emerging reputation in research and scholarship through publications
  • Success in obtaining external research funding.
  • Ability to contribute to communities through research.
  • Capacity to contribute to leadership of research and administration.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues

Download the Position Description (PDF). 

Here’s how to apply:

Candidates can apply on the Deakin University website. Candidates are required to submit a resume along with a brief cover letter outlining relevant skills and experience.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Max Kelly, Associate Director of Teaching and Research via email at max.kelly@deakin.edu.au

Applications for this position close on 3rd December 2025.