Research Assistants, 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

The Research Assistants in the Genetic of PTSD in African Ancestry Populations Study will be domiciled in the Brain and Mind Institute and perform the roles attached to the study. The Research Assistants will ensure smooth and successful enrollment of participants into the study. They will also be expected to meet study targets as well as report to the research manager.

We are looking to engage three Research Assistants on a one-year renewable contract for a maximum of three years.

Responsibilities

·Conducting comprehensive structured interviews to ascertain eligibility;

·Good knowledge of the protocol will help identify eligible study participants;

·Ensure enrolment of eligible participants based on the study PTSD protocol;

·Identify potential study participants and recruit them into the study;

·Meet the manageable monthly and yearly targets as given by the study Principle Investigator under supervision of the co-ordinator;

·Participate in data entry and data management;

·Document the PTSD implementation lessons, challenges and possible mitigation strategies;

·Prepare monthly and semi-annual field reports for the PTSD study; and

·Good Record keeping and management as per the study protocol.

Requirements

·Bachelor’s Degree in any of the following (or closely related) fields: Public Health, Social Sciences, Project Planning and Management, Community Health or Health Systems Management.

·Proficiency in MS Office suite of software;

·Working knowledge of databases e.g. redcap;

·Two years of work experience in a research program;

·Experience working in mental health projects strongly preferred;

·Computer literate and able to use various applications; and

·Knowledge of data collection as per Data protection guidelines.