Graduate researcher academic associate (GRAA) employment opportunities

Learn how you can apply for a GRAA role and undertake paid academic work while you study.

Graduate Researcher Academic Associate (GRAA) roles allow graduate researchers enrolled at the University of Melbourne to undertake paid, meaningful academic work alongside their candidature.

What GRAA roles involve

GRAA roles provide graduate researchers with paid academic work that supports both their professional development and the University's teaching and research activities.

The University introduced GRAA roles under the 2024 Enterprise Agreement to provide structured academic employment opportunities for graduate researchers.

These roles are designed to:

  • Provide graduate researchers at the University of Melbourne with an opportunity to undertake meaningful, paid academic work in education and/or research during candidature
  • Further engage graduate researchers in the intellectual life of their school and in the University’s academic mission and community
  • Support graduate researchers to undertake career-advancing professional development
  • Offer graduate researchers secure academic employment alongside their candidature.

Key features of GRAA roles

GRAA roles are typically part-time and fixed-term, allowing you to balance employment with your research.

If you complete your graduate degree before your contract ends, you can continue in your GRAA role until the end of the calendar year in which you complete.

  • Academic appointments: roles are academic appointments at a minimum of Level A2, incrementing annually, with superannuation.
  • Part-time employment: roles are part-time, with workloads ranging from:
    • 0.2 FTE to 0.3 FTE for full-time graduate researchers
    • 0.1 FTE to 0.15 FTE for part-time graduate researchers.
  • Fixed-term contracts: contracts are offered for between 2 and 5 years.
  • Education and/or research focus: roles may be education-focused, research-focused, or a combination of both.
  • Professional development: each role includes 30 hours of professional development to support your career goals.
  • Competitive recruitment: roles are advertised locally by schools and appointed through competitive recruitment processes.

Types of work for GRAA roles

GRAA roles vary depending on the faculty and the position. For specific responsibilities, refer to the position description. Below are examples of the types of work a GRAA may undertake.

  • Education-focused GRAA roles support the delivery and coordination of teaching and learning activities within a subject.

    This may include:

    • Teaching delivery: preparing and running tutorials, laboratories or practical sessions and supporting lectures where required.
    • Student support and engagement: responding to student queries, monitoring discussion boards, and running consultation or revision sessions.
    • Assessment: marking assessment tasks and supporting the development of assessment materials, marking guides and sample solutions.
    • Subject coordination support: assisting with teaching materials, LMS coordination, and subject setup and administration.
    • Administration and coordination: supporting subject operations, including managing submissions, communicating with students, and assisting with routine coordination tasks.

  • Research-focused GRAA roles support academic research activities within a project, research group or research hub.

    This may include:

    • Literature and background research: preparing literature reviews and reviewing bibliographic data.
    • Data collection and analysis: designing surveys or questionnaires, liaising with research participants, transcribing interviews, and analysing data.
    • Research support and outputs: supporting grant-writing, drafting ethics applications, proofreading publications and formatting manuscripts.
    • Technical and laboratory support: maintaining and using specialised equipment and supporting laboratory or experimental activities where required.

    Research tasks are assigned as part of the role and are not self-directed work on your own PhD project.

Eligibility and requirements

To apply for a GRAA role, you must:

  • Be enrolled in a graduate research degree in the same faculty where the role is advertised
  • Have completed confirmation – however, you may still apply if your confirmation is scheduled close to the role start date
  • Have at least 12 months remaining in your candidature
  • Be making satisfactory progress in your degree
  • Be based on campus for the duration of the role, except during approved leave
  • Meet any visa conditions if you are an international student, including work restrictions.

Joint PhD candidates can apply if they will be based at the University for the duration of the role.

As a GRAA, you are employed as a member of the University’s academic staff. You may not hold a casual contract with the University while working in a GRAA role.

Local eligibility exceptions may apply – refer to the position description for details.

How recruitment works

The University advertises GRAA roles are advertised through its jobs website.

To apply, you will need to submit:

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

GRAA roles are typically advertised periodically, depending on faculty and school needs.