Aga Khan University Hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan and Nairobi, Kenya are private, not-for-profit institutions providing high quality health care. The Main Hospitals serve as the principal sites for clinical training for the University’s Medical Colleges and Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Pakistan and East Africa.

Job Purpose/Summary

The BMI at AKU is recruiting a Project Assistant to support our study the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations – Psychosis, II (NeuroGAP-Psychosis II); sponsored by the Stanley Global Neuropsychiatric Genetics Initiative. The specific aims of the NeuroGAP-Psychosis II project are designed to build on the success of the work started in the original NeuroGAP-Psychosis study. The study aims to: (a) Expand knowledge of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the African continent through large-scale sample collection and analysis in Kenya and South Africa (b) Increase understanding of the genetics of African populations, through various methods for biospecimen collection and (c) Enhance neuropsychiatric genetic research capacity in Africa through the training of scientists and supporting the development of locally-led research programs.

The Project Assistant will support the Project Manager and PIs 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.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Support organization and attend research meetings/trainings, assisting in the preparation and pilot testing of research tools, and helping mobilize study sites by coordinating with key authorities
• Coordinate and supervise study activities, including participant recruitment and data collection.
• Ensure daily data submission, review, and secure storage, adhering to Kenya’s data protection laws.
• Maintain compliance with study protocols, ethics, and safety regulations, while managing study supplies and reporting.
• Collaborate with project leads to report research outcomes, account for project assets, and manage expenses as required by ethics and funders.
• Participate in post-project audits and dissemination activities.
• Document implementation lessons and challenges, prepare regular field reports, and maintain thorough records in alignment with the study protocol.

Relevant Experience and Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in any of the following (or closely related) fields: biomedical sciences, psychology, social sciences, anthropology, public health.
• At least one year experience in field data collection preferably in hospital settings.
• Educational or experiential knowledge of psychological tests administration
• Experience in using REDCap for data collection as well as data entry on mobile devices, for example tablets
• Academic exposure and interest in schizophrenia or bipolar and genetics