The Aga Khan University is a private, autonomous university that promotes human welfare through research, teaching and community service initiatives. Based on the principles of quality, access, impact and relevance, the University has campuses and programmes in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its facilities include teaching hospitals, Faculties of Health Sciences with Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and Medical Colleges, Institutes for Educational Development, an Examination Board and an Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations. The Graduate School of Media and Communications, the East African Institute, the Institute for Human Development and the Kiswahili Centre have been launched recently while several Graduate Professional Schools and Faculties of Arts and Sciences are to be set up in Pakistan and East Africa. Through its needs-blind admissions policy, the University imbues the most promising leaders and thinkers of tomorrow with an ethic of service and the skills to help communities solve their most pressing challenges. The Aga Khan University is one of nine agencies in the Aga Khan Development Network.

Job Summary

• We are looking to hire six (6) Research Assistants who will assist with assessments and nursing care to study participants in various studies within the Institute for Human Development (IHD). The data collection will take place within the hospital facilities and schools. The Research Assistants will be expected to work with the hospital and school members of staff to ensure data collection and recruitment, while observing adherence to standard operating protocols for the specific studies and school and hospital requirements.
• The successful candidates will have a high level of responsibility for ensuring adherence to standard operating protocols and ethical regulations of the study, while ensuring that the collection of phenotype and biological samples runs smoothly.
• The initial contract will run for one year and may be renewed on need basis.

Responsibilities

• Assist with nursing and medical care particularly for people visiting neurodevelopmental and neurological outpatient clinics;
• Screen and identify eligible participants among children at homes, schools and hospitals;
• Provide information, education and support to families or guardians of potentially eligible research participants;
• Administer the informed consent process for the AKILI study;
• Assist in collection of sociodemographic and phenotype data, using research electronic data capture software;
• Assist in collection of blood and saliva samples for genetic studies, while ensuring proper storage and transport; and
• Foster good working relations with hospital’s nursing and clinical team and be willing to participate in continuous medical education (CME) activities in mental/neurological health care.

Requirements

• A Diploma in Nursing, Psychology or Clinical Medicine with a current registration with the relevant professional bodies;
• Research background will be desirable;
• At least 2 years’ experience in clinical care/ nursing or research studies;
• Flexible – able to work extra hours when needed;
• Able to work with vulnerable populations such as those with neurological or mental health disorders; and
• Experience of care for children and adolescents with behavioural or neurological disorder.