RISE INDONESIA JOB VACANCIES 2025
Terms of Reference
- Post Title: RISE Laboratory Research Assistant
- Program: Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE)
- Reporting to: (1st) Assessment Project Manager; (2nd) RISE Lead Country Manager
- Strong working relations to: Objective 2 & 3 Leaders; RISE Lab Manager and Senior Lead/Oversight Duty Station: Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
- Duration: 12 months
- Number of posts: 1
Background:
The Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) program aims to demonstrate a new approach to water and sanitation management in urban informal settlements. RISE is an action-research program utilizing a randomized control trial (RCT) methodology involving 24 informal settlements (12 in each country). The RISE theory of change is that the water sensitive cities (WSC) approach can interrupt the faecal oral transmission route, resulting in an improvement in human gastrointestinal health, especially for children under 5 years of age. The overall aim of RISE is to improve the lives of men and women, boys and girls in informal settlements through improvements in human health and the environment by adopting a water sensitive cities (WSC) approach to informal settlement upgrading. The expected outcome is to provide the evidence that a localised, water-sensitive approach to upgrading informal settlements can deliver sustainable, cost-effective improvements in health and the environment as a complementary to ‘big pipes’ in the Asia Pacific, paving the way for further deployments in the region and globally. The role will be split approximately half between RISE activities and activities for the recently funded add-on program ‘Building Resilience to the intersecting global threats of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Climate Change (BRACC)’. BRACC will aim to understand the threat of AMR in informal settlements and how resilience to the impact of climate change can be built.
Key responsibilities:
- Undertake environmental and human biological sample processing pertaining to Objective 2 (environmental), Objective 3 (human health), NHMRC and BRACC research activities
- Prepare all reagents required for sample processing, as required
- Prepare sample collection kits, as required
- Process samples for long-term storage
- Maintain accurate records of all samples and ensure sample traceability
- Perform quality control and quality assurance procedures in keeping with SOPs
- Receive all samples and initialise them using the laboratory information management system (LIMS)
- Perform laboratory-based sample analysis procedures
- Perform meticulous sample handling and manipulations in compliance with the standard operating procedures provided by researchers. In particular,
- Procedures associated with the isolation of microorganisms and DNA from water, soil and faecal samples.
- Procedures associated with the processing and preservation of blood samples.
- Procedures associated with genomic analyses.
- Procedures associated with any other sample analyses as required.
- Operate and maintain specialist laboratory equipment including but not limited to filtering apparatus, vacuum manifolds and DNA isolation equipment, microscopes, autoclave, centrifuges.
- Undertake associated quality assurance and quality control procedures set out by lead researchers.
- Lead in the preparation of samples for international transport
- Undertake associated administrative tasks including the preparation of permits, sample reconciliation, confirmation of sample transport and receipt in associated countries
- Undertake the organisation of international couriers for appropriate transport of fragile samples
- Lead in-laboratory data management activities
- Working with the RISE Laboratory Manager, support auditing of laboratory consumables for ongoing research activities.
- Working with the RISE Laboratory Manager, proactively manage equipment maintenance and service reconciliations.
- Undertake management and maintenance of laboratory sample registers.
- Build and sustain effective working relationships with a network of internal and external clients and contacts; in particular field staff and RISE researchers.
- Support in the analysis and communication of results to central databases and with associated research staff.
- Support and collaborate with other Lab staff
- All laboratory technicians should work collaboratively with other members of the Assessment Team in performing all laboratory and assessment-related activity and support each other in carrying out their duties.
Key result areas:
- Timely achievement of all assessment activities and outputs.
- Maintenance of high degrees of quality control across all sampling campaign activities.
Required qualifications and experience:
- A Bachelor degree (or higher) in science, or a related discipline. Preference will be given to those with a Bachelors or higher degree majoring in biological or microbiological sciences.
- At least two years of experience in:
- A microbiology laboratory that handled either environmental or clinical samples
- Good laboratory practice and safe handling of equipment and samples;
- Basic laboratory equipment use, such as autoclaves, centrifuges, microscopes, incubators etc., including related maintenance and record keeping activities
- Performance of Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities
- Writing and /or following standard operating procedures.
Essential:
- Molecular biology experience
- A willingness to receive instruction in laboratory techniques and to participate in relevant training programs
- A willingness to work outside of standard hours (8.00am – 5.00pm) to accommodate early/late arrival of samples
- A willingness to work flexibly within the laboratory environment and to participate in the rotation of tasks with other laboratory technicians
Desirable but not essential:
- Experience with, or appropriate training in:
- Performing molecular microbiological testing in a commercial, research or government institution. (ii) Using microscopes (ocular and light microscopes)
- Fluency in English is highly desirable.
How to apply:
These are Makassar based positions with remuneration according to work experience. All applications will be treated in confidence. Only short-listed candidates will be notified and invited for interviews. Please submit your cover letter, CV with three references to nurul.natsir@monash.edu not later than 19th May 2025.
The Revitalising Informal Settlements and Their Environments (RISE) Program is founded on principles of responsible research and “do no harm” duty of care to the communities that have volunteered to participate in the program. RISE commits to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) and Child Protection.