Post title: Laboratory Research Assistant (Casual)

Program : Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE)

Reporting to : Assessment Project Manager (1st); Country Manager(2nd)  

Duty Station : Makassar, Indonesia

Duration : 10 weeks

Number of posts : 2 posts

Working days & hours : Monday – Friday (08:00-17:00, afternoon shift may apply) 

Background:

The Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) programme aims to demonstrate a new approach to water and sanitation management in urban informal settlements. RISE is an action-research programme utilizing a randomized control trial (RCT) methodology involving 24 informal settlements (12 in Fiji and 12 in Indonesia). 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 of RISE 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 NHMRC Exposure study is an add-on project to RISE that aims to understand high-risk behaviours and different ways that children are exposed to pathogens which cause gastrointestinal illness along four major transmission pathways: food, drinking water, hands and fomites (objects). This will help to elucidate the relative contribution of each potential pathway to contamination exposure. 

Key responsibilities:

1.  Undertake human biological and NHMRC sample processing and preparation

• Prepare all reagents and some preparations for sample processing, as required
• Prepare blood, feces and NHMRC sample collection kits, as required
• Analysis of NHMRC samples
• Maintain accurate records of all samples and ensure sample traceability 
• Perform quality control and quality assurance procedures in keeping with SOPs
• Perform meticulous sample handling and manipulations in compliance with the standard operating procedures. In particular:

• Procedures associated with the processing and preservation of feces, blood and NHMRC samples
• Operate and maintain specialist laboratory equipment including but not limited to filtering apparatus, vacuum manifolds, autoclave, centrifuges, Biosafety cabinet, micropipettes etc

• Undertake associated quality assurance and quality control procedures 
• Receive all samples and initialise them using the laboratory information management system (LIMS) and spreadsheet of the samples processing

1. Support and collaborate with RISE Lab staff 

Work collaboratively with other members of the Lab team in performing all laboratory and assessment-related activity and support each other in carrying out their duties

Key result areas:      

1. Timely achievement of all assessment activities and outputs
2. High level attention to detail for all processes, and ability to perform delegated tasks independently
3. Clear and proactive communication with team members.

Required qualifications and experience: A Bachelor degree or Diploma III of Laboratory analyst, science, or a related discipline. Preference will be given to those with a Bachelors majoring in biological or microbiological sciences.

Essential:

• A willingness to receive instruction in laboratory techniques and to participate in relevant training programs 
• A willingness to work outside of standard hours (afternoon shift) 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.

How to apply

These are Makassar based positions with remuneration according to work experiences. 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 [email protected] not later than 2nd June 2024.      

The Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) Program is founded on principles of responsible research and “a 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.