Job Title: Study Research Assistant – Field Officer (2 Vacancies)
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), through its Center for Global Health (CGH), and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) are parties to a Memorandum of Understanding which led to the establishment of the Consortium for Affordable Medical Technologies in Uganda (CAMTech Uganda). Based at MUST, CAMTech is a global consortium of academic, clinical, corporate and implementation partners working to build entrepreneurial capacity and to accelerate medical technology innovation to improve health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Job Summary: The Research Assistant – Field Officer will support an epidemiological research in the area of indoor air pollution and lung disease. This study aims to determine how indoor air pollution affects lung health. Specifically, the study evaluates microbial components of indoor air pollution that women are exposed to during cooking and work with chickens. The study will involve women > 18 years living in Nyakabare. Each participant will be followed for at least one year, although applicants will only be expected to work full-time for a 3 month period – from mid-July 2015 to mid-September 2015 with the opportunity for renewal in 2016. The overall goal for the Research Assistant position is the successful implementation of study protocols in collaboration with the US and Ugandan Principal Investigators, Mbarara-based research team, and other collaborators as needed.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Render support with protocol development and community awareness prior to study initiation
- Recruit, enroll, and consent participants for the study
- Complete questionnaires with participants using tablet-based data entry
- Transportation of air sampling devices from Mbarara to Nyakabare parish, setting up, and taking down of devices, explaining function of devices to participants (training and transportation will be provided)
- Measuring the height, width, and length of kitchens and chicken houses and assessing adequacy of ventilation
- Enter and manage quantitative data in an electronic database (REDCap or similar)
- Actively participate in regular meetings with study team members based in Uganda and the United States
- Conduct all work in compliance with internationally recognized ethical standards
- Showing up to work on time, honesty in reporting results, and any other duties allocated
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The Study Research Assistant – Field Officer should hold a Bachelor’s degree(preferably in a health related field) is required.
- Past experience in conducting research is required
- Working knowledge of research ethics is essential with documentation of training in the responsible conduct of research
- Prior training in interview techniques and familiarity with performing informed consent and completing standardized forms.
- Proven ability to transport bulky air sampling devices weighing up to 15 kilograms
- Demonstrated ability to use a digital camera and ability to trouble-shoot technological devices
- Past experience with word processing on a computer is required
- Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment is required
- Working knowledge of Mbarara District and surrounding area is required
- Excellent oral communication skills, good interpersonal skills, with fluency and good command of written and spoken English and Runyankole with demonstrated ability to translate English to Runyankole and vice versa.
- Strong work ethic and sense of responsibility is required
How to Apply for the job:
All suitably qualified and interested candidate should send their applications including a cover letter, a detailed CV, copy of transcripts, certificates, and contact information of at least two professional references who are very familiar with your work and send to: The Human Resource Manager, MUST Grants Office, P.O. Box 1410 Mbarara, Uganda or directly to MUST Grants Office Room 5 Anatomy Building as hard copy applications.
NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Deadline: 21st April 2015