Project Manager , Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction

Chartered in , (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2, students and 14, staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access.

The Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) is a trans-AKU entity that seeks to build capacity in the domains of mental health and neuroscience. In collaboration with partners, the Institute is advancing research leadership capacity and support service delivery across East Africa and South Asia, and other regions served by the AKU. The Institute supports a hub for scholarship exchange and action on mental health issues, as well as educational, clinical, and community-based programs. BMI’s research focuses on the context of today’s youth in Africa and South Asia, while our programmatic offerings address mental health related and brain health issues, including stigma and resiliency. A significant area of interest is the implementation of science-based programing in hospital and community settings that translate new discoveries into prevention and treatment programs.

Job Summary

As part of a Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative funded project titled “Cultural Adaptation and Validation of Cognitive Tests, Functional Assessments, and Biomarkers in People with Dementia Project”, this position will support the Principal Investigators to carry out the project aims. A culmination of assigned tasks will ensure that the project adheres to ethical guidelines and regulations; required number of research participants are recruited, consented, and followed up; data collected is clean, kept private and confidential.

The initial contract will run for one and a half years.

Responsibilities

Preparation of tools including adapting, translating, pilot testing, and calibrating research tools; Streamlining the data collection tools within the preferred electronic platform; Mobilisation of study sites and key people in authority within the preferred research sites; Locating, recruitment and consenting of study participants; Planning and monitoring of research activities by students; Administration and scoring of neuropsychological interviews, tests, and questionnaires to participants; Timely, preferably daily, submission of all data collected; Retrieval of secondary data from electronic health records for input into study database; Cleaning, reviewing, and entering data into study database; Summary analyses, reporting and storage of data in private and confidential manner; Ensure study supplies are stored safely and accounted for including any monies allotted to study activities; Ensure compliance with ethics and study protocol, including policies and regulations related to safety, privacy, and confidentiality; Prepare basic field reports for review by the project coordinator/leads; Develop and monitor a study risk register as per AKU’s Audit guidelines. Work with project leads to initiate reporting of research experiences and outcomes as well as expenses incurred as required by ethics and funders among other interested persons; Liaise with project leads to ensure all project assets are accounted for; Participate in research dissemination activities (presentations, publications, etc.) and Any other related responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor.

Requirements

Master’s level training in a related field (i.e., Biomedical Sciences; Neuropsychology, Psychometrics, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Public Health); Completion of doctoral level coursework and clinical training is an advantage; 3-5 years of experience in research with preference for managing multi-component projects; At least 1 year of experience in field data collection preferably in community and hospital settings; Educational or experiential knowledge of psychological and neuropsychological test administration in aging populations and psychometrics; Experience in using SPSS or any other quantitative statistical software; Academic exposure and interest in neuroanatomy and brain-behaviour relationships is an advantage; Peer-reviewed publications, presentations, or other records of scholarly output; Keen ability to work independently, show initiative, and take ownership, as well as a natural problem solver with a goal-oriented mindset; Excellent inter-personal relationship with ability to work well with study participants, colleagues and full spectrum of academic staff from trainees to senior faculty members and researchers, located in different geographic zones; and Ability to work within short deadlines even outside normal working hours to meet targets.