Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand's leading university. With over 6,000 academic and professional staff supporting more than 46,000 students, we are one of NZ's largest employers. We have six academic faculties and 11 service divisions, creating a diverse, dynamic, and complex organisational culture that demands excellence. The School of Pharmacy is located within the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

Our lecturers and health researchers are regarded as experts in their fields, frequently directing global research projects designed to better the lives of New Zealanders and the world, and in turn passing this knowledge on to our students.

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

An opportunity has arisen for a talented and highly-motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Medicines Intelligence Group in the School of Pharmacy, working at the intersection of health AI and quantitative pharmacoepidemiology.

The group's research programme spans two complementary streams. The first applies large language model (LLM) technology to clinical triage workflows, building and validating AI tools that support specialist decision-making using real-world clinical data. The second uses population-based quantitative methods, including large linked national administrative health datasets, cohort study designs, propensity score matching and survival analysis, to examine prescribing patterns, treatment outcomes and health inequities at a national level.

The Fellow will contribute across both streams: assembling and analysing linked national administrative data, running AI system calibration and clinical validation cycles, coordinating reference standard adjudication with specialist clinician panels, leading statistical analysis of diagnostic accuracy and inter-rater agreement, and leading or co-authoring peer-reviewed publications.

Equity and community partnership are central to this work. The Fellow will support engagement with Māori and Pacific advisory and community groups, apply culturally responsive approaches including Māori data sovereignty principles. The role offers genuine scope to develop research independence through leading specific publications arising from the programme.

This is a 30h - 40h per week, 2 year fixed term opportunity, commencing by 1 October 2026.

The salary range for this role is $92,213 - $94,649, dependent on experience.

For more detailed information, please refer to the position description

He kōrero mōu | About you

Applicants must hold a PhD in health sciences, health informatics, clinical epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, or a closely related discipline. A PhD with a quantitative or data-intensive research focus, particularly involving administrative health data or clinical dataset analysis, is preferred.

Prior work with New Zealand Ministry of Health national administrative datasets (e.g., NMDS, PHARMS, NNPAC) or equivalent linked data in another jurisdiction is highly advantageous, as is experience with artificial intelligence, natural language processing, or LLM-based systems in a research or applied context.

Applicants must be highly motivated and industrious, enthusiastic, curiosity-driven, and able to work independently, accurately and carefully across two concurrent projects. Good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills are essential as are personal integrity and good work ethics.

 Along with this you will:

• Have experience conducting quantitative analyses with clinical or administrative health data, including familiarity with large, linked datasets.
• Be proficient in R for statistical analysis and data management, including regression modelling and inferential causal methods such as propensity score matching.
• Have working knowledge of Python for interacting with or evaluating AI/LLM systems (e.g., API calls, prompt testing, output parsing).
• Possess clear scientific writing skills, with a demonstrated ability to prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
• Communicate and work effectively across a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, data scientists, community advisors and policy stakeholders, managing competing project timelines.
• Bring familiarity with health data governance, including NZ health data privacy requirements, ethics compliance and data sovereignty (preferred).

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities. 

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare, and a number of other discounts on internal and external services. 

For more information, please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications must be submitted online, by the closing date of 21 August 2026 to be considered. Please include your cover letter and your CV highlighting how you can meet the skills and experiences detailed above.

Please reach out to Dr Jay Gong via [email protected] for a confidential conversation. Please note we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email.

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz