Jobs and Opportunities Board

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) is a world-leader in research that positively impacts alcohol and other drug use and related harms. The Centre, based at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Faculty of Medicine and Health, was established in 1986 in response to an emerging crisis of heroin use. For over 35 years NDARC has been Australia’s leading research centre in the sector.

NDARC has a holistic view of the complex challenges associated with the determinants of alcohol and other drug use and associated harms. Using research to address real-world problems, NDARC generates high-quality evidence across an array of fields that directly influences harm reduction in diverse populations.

Why this role matters

A Research Assistant (Identified) role plays a key role in supporting the implementation and successful execution of projects in the Tobacco Research Group within the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. The Research Assistant will conduct and assist with the management and on-going implementation of clinical trials, including contact with participants, data quality checking and clinical evaluation.

As a Research Assistant, you will assist with and contribute to providing support to reduce tobacco smoking rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The role of Research Assistant (Identified) reports to Tobacco Research Group, Program Lead, Associate Professor and has no direct reports.

Postdoctoral Research Scholar position available in the Laboratory of Alcohol and Addictions Neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences within the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. 

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary internationally-recognized research program to participate in NIH-funded, translational alcohol abuse disorder neuroscience research. The postdoctoral candidate will receive the theoretical and technical training to engage in preclinical experimentation that integrates behavioral animal models (encompassing motivational, negative affective and cognitive control domains) with state-of-the-art neuroscientific techniques, from gene to behavior, to elucidate neuroadaptations in limbic and cortical systems that promote maladaptive behavioral regulation in alcohol use disorder and neuropsychiatric disorders. Candidate must be capable of successfully working with others, supervising trainees, independently conducting experiments, analyzing data, writing manuscripts and disseminating research findings.

Faculty of Health, University of Dundee. The position is for 18.75 hours per week on a fixed term contract until 31 July 2028. The post holder will act as the researcher for the following study which is being funded by the Chief Scientist Office Scotland:

"Improving outcomes for people with problem substance use and poor mental health: Co-designing psychological treatment delivered inside Virtual Reality nature"

The gap in treatment for poor mental health (MH) in people with problem substance use (PSU), including cannabis, cocaine and alcohol is substantial and disturbing. How can we deliver psychological treatment, which is key to reducing substance use and cravings, while at the same time, improve MH?

Integrating psychological treatment for PSU and MH could reduce substance use and cravings while at the same time, improve MH. Being in nature (real or virtual) helps people relax, de-stress and improve mood, but is currently under-used during treatment. Digital technology can improve access to treatment by removing barriers to traditional in-person treatment.

We aim to develop an intervention so that practitioners deliver psychological treatment inside Virtual Reality nature (VRn) to groups of people with PSU who can who access it at home anonymously (using an avatar) via the Internet using a head-mounted device.

In this project, we will:

• Run co-design workshops to adapt a subset of SMART Recovery's mutual aid, peer support psychological treatment so that its activities can be delivered inside VRn.
• Co-produce VRn to deliver the adapted psychological treatment and a Manual to go with it.
• Have practitioners and people with PSU test the adapted psychological treatment delivered inside VRn in order to find out if it is safe, feasible, accessible, acceptable and improves mood and reduces anxiety.

Dr Joe Muriuki Foundation has started communty based rehabilitation programs in different parts of our country.

We have started 4 centers in different churches where we bring together on weekly bases men and women in drugs and alcohol abuse for counseling, community based rehabilitation and shares a meal. These centers are

1. Hope Beyond Center in Ndumberi. This was the first program that we started in August 2024. It brings together 70-90 people every week on Wednesday from 2.00pm
2. Redeemed Gospel Church Center at Githurai is now seven months old and it brings together 120-150 people every week on Wednesday from noon.
3. Calvary Church Center at Mastore in Juja. This center is six months old and brings together 60-70 people every week on Tuesday from noon
4. Prayer center International at Kiserian. This is four month old. It brings together 40-50 people every week from 10.00am. Kiserian is a highly populated area and the center is growing steadily.
5. Every Thursday we have a center coordinators meeting, this is a one day capacity building forum for center managers and other key people in the centers.

We are looking for universities/ students that would wish to undertake internship in areas of alcohol and drugs addiction in an African country. Our programs will offer good environment for further studies and practice as well as research.

We are also open for groups and individuals that are seeking opportunities to volunteer their skills and time as we impact societies.