Research Specialist (PRISMA project), Paediatrics & Child Health - MC

Introduction:

Aga Khan University, chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research, and health care of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities and well-equipped diagnostic services. The University currently has teaching sites in Pakistan, East Africa, the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan, and is a major component of Aga Khan Development Network.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

The Outreach and Research Programme of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health has ten community-based field sites across Pakistan (including four in Karachi) and focuses on research for betterment of women and child health. The Department has a Nutritional Research Laboratory as well as an Infectious Disease Research Laboratory that cater to the needs of its research projects. It has well-acclaimed work to its credit both at the national and international level.

Responsibilities:

The position entails supervising project activities and implementing study protocols, from field operations to data management, to ensure quality control and maintain effective working relationships with staff, communities, collaborators and stakeholders.

Specific responsibilities include to:

• ensure proper identification and registration of patients in accordance with the study protocol
• supervise and monitor timely follow-up visits of study participants
• monitor and report protocol deviations
• develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a manual of operations for study activities
• provide training to study staff in accordance with study protocols and guidelines
• ensure the completeness, proper filing and archiving of case report forms (CRFs)
• develop and implement a documented quality assurance and quality control plan, ensuring compliance with study SOPs and international Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards
• prepare and compile study progress reports, prepare monthly project reports in collaboration with the Data Manager, and present study results as required
• develop high-quality research proposals for funding agencies, conduct research and contribute to publications

• manage available resources to ensure uninterrupted field activities in unexpected situations and report technical or administrative issues to the appropriate personnel.

   

Requirements: 

You should have:

• an MSc in Epidemiology and Statistics, an MPH, a master’s degree in HPM or equivalent qualifications
• at least five years of experience, preferably in data collection and analysis for field research or trials
• expertise in training teams in accordance with study protocols
• willingness to travel frequently to different locations to oversee quality assurance of departmental research projects and train local staff, including national and international travel as required
• strong organisational skills and self-motivation
• excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work in a team
• integrity and strong research ethics
• excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• strong computer skills.

This is a close-ended position

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.

Disclaimer:
The Aga Khan University is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment which is free from discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at AKU are based on business needs, job requirements and individual’s qualifications and experience, without regard to race, colour, caste or creed, national, social or ethnic origin, gender (except where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification). AKU does not discriminate among the job candidates on account of any of these characteristics.