Join an innovative research team in a unique setting
The Menzies Institute for Medical Research is seeking two outstanding individuals to progress our research in MS and Cancer Research
Message from the Director
The Menzies Institute for Medical Research has grown steadily over its 30 years and is proud of its mission to perform internationally significant medical research leading to healthier, longer and better lives for Tasmanians.
Over the three decades since being established by the University of Tasmania we have grown from a small and influential population health research centre to an institute with around 350 staff and research students investigating the treatment and prevention of disease through population, laboratory and clinical science.
Our focus is research with impact, relevance and translation potential into clinical practice and health policy. We work in five research themes that reflect the diseases that are most prevalent in the island State of Tasmania:
- Public Health and Primary Care
- Cardio-Respiratory Health and Diseases
- Cancer, Genetics and Immunology
- Neurogenerative Disease/Brain Injury
- Musculoskeletal Health and Diseases
In terms of specific diseases, since 1998 Menzies has been at the forefront of some of the most important advances in multiple sclerosis (MS) research. MS is a flagship research program at the Institute and an area of productive collaboration for us, nationally and internationally.
Menzies is part of the University of Tasmania’s College of Health and Medicine, which is located in the Medical Science Precinct next to Tasmania’s largest teaching hospital, the Royal Hobart Hospital. The precinct includes a clinical research facility enabling close collaboration between researchers and clinicians on research projects and clinical trials. These include outpatient-based studies and investigator-led and sponsor-driven research.
The excellence of Menzies’ research is evidenced through success in national and international competitive funding, publications in some of the world’s leading journals, and international awards recognising the contributions made by our staff and students. This success is outlined in our most recent Annual Report
We work hard to maintain our close connection to the Tasmanian community, which, in terms of research participation and philanthropic support, is vital to our success. Our goal is to make a positive difference to the health of this community. I urge you to join us in this by considering a career at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.
Find out more about us through our website and on our social media channels:
With warm wishes
Professor Alison Venn
Director, Menzies Institute for Medical Research
University of Tasmania
Positions available at Menzies
Work at the University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania punches above its weight. In the 2016 prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities, UTAS jumped 13 places to be rated 292nd internationally. That places us in the top 2% worldwide.
Every three years, Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) results are released. In Health, the latest results show we are delivering world-leading research in a range of areas. We scored an ERA Ranking of 5 (‘well above world standard’) in: Nursing, Clinical sciences, Human movement and sports science, Ophthalmology and optometry, and Neurosciences.
Menzies has made significant research breakthroughs since it was established in 1988. Among our discoveries:
- Key evidence on the link between babies' sleeping position and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Genetic markers are linked to men's risk of developing prostate cancer.
- Higher vitamin D levels are associated with a lower relapse risk in multiple sclerosis.
- Childhood obesity does not permanently increase cardiovascular risk if obesity in adulthood is avoided.
Key Facts about our Rankings
2%
5
4th
Living in Tasmania
Tasmania is a vibrant and diverse state that offers a lifestyle that is unique in the world. It boasts outstanding natural beauty, a rich history, and some of the world’s best food and produce.
Hobart
Hobart is the vibrant capital of Tasmania. The city is strung along the natural harbour formed by the River Derwent. It is overlooked by Mount Wellington (also known as kunanyi), a natural playground for Hobart’s residents and visitors alike. There are beaches with pristine white sand and clear water in and around the city.
Hobart’s beating heart is the waterfront, where fishing boats return every day with cargoes of fresh catch and where Antarctic research vessels replenish supplies before returning to the southern oceans. The Salamanca Market, held every Saturday morning, is the place to buy the region’s best produce and finest crafts. There are countless fine restaurants and casual cafes, many located in the city’s historic buildings that are reminiscent of Hobart’s colonial past.
But if the city is more your style, Tasmania has you covered. Our food, art and culture scene is a hot topic in tourism mags across the globe. For good reason. We have award winning festivals year round, stunning streetscapes, and a café culture that never stops.
Hobart has a well-earned reputation for arts and culture, highlighted most recently by the Museum of Old and New Art, which regularly features in lists of ‘must see’ destinations. And the city’s annual festivals attract artists, musicians and fans from around the world. You’re sure to be surprised and charmed by the art, music and fine food at the mid-winter Dark MoFo. Then the city fills with song for July’s Festival of Voices. And in summer, the Taste of Tasmania greets the arriving sailors in the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race with a showcase of Tasmania’s food, wine and beer.
Need more information?
The closing date for applications is 31 January.
For further information on these positions, please contact Professor Bruce Taylor Bruce.Taylor@utas.edu.au for the MS position or Professor Alison Venn, Institute Director, Alison.Venn@utas.edu.au for the Cancer position.
Apply today
To apply, head to the careers page, on the University of Tasmania website.
