Murray Nankivell holds academic status as associate lecturer at Flinders University and research officer at Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA), a charity of The Hospital Research Foundation Group. Areas of specialisation include mental health of military (current and former serving) personnel and first responders (police, ambulance, fire, corrections). 

His work in this space includes development of the Support After First Responder Suicide (SAFeRS) study, a qualitative investigation of supports available to colleagues, family, and support organisations/services available to those affected by the suicide death of a first responder in Australia. Murray is also the project lead on an Australian first mixed-methods study of virtual reality meditation for military veterans in a mental health hospital setting.