Research Assistant

Background

The Center for innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) is a World Bank supported African Center of Excellence hosted in the College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University. The main objective of CDT-Africa is to support equitable access to interventions (medications, diagnostics, and other interventions) and bring about sustainable development in Africa through high quality capacity development for innovative drug and therapeutic discoveries.

As part of this effort, CDT-Africa would like to hire an experienced research co-ordinator who can co-ordinate CDT-Africa projects. The research assistant would be linked to the SPARK project (Supporting African communities to increase the Resilience and mental health of Kids with developmental disorders and their caregivers). SPARK is a cluster randomized controlled trial of the WHO Caregiver Skills Training program for children with developmental disorders. SPARK will be working in Addis Ababa.

The Role of the Research Assistant

The successful applicant will be responsible for carrying out research activities for the SPARK project

Principal responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Principal Investigator, project manager and research coordinators to carry out research activities
• Supervise the field co-coordinators.
• Take the lead in planning and overseeing the quantitative data collection
• Contribute to qualitative data collection Carry out data quality checks in the field Lead on data cleaning.
• Ensure safeguarding protocols are implemented in the field.
• Monitor quality of the intervention implementation.
• Contribute to papers using data from SPARK.
• Involvement in research dissemination activities.
• Enter process data
• Additional tasks as directed by the Head of the Center or study investigators.

No. required: One

Terms of employment: Full time, one and half years post subject to six-monthly contract renewals

Reports to: CDT-Africa Center Lead

Terms and conditions

• Salary: Negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.
• Hours of Work: Are governed by the laws of Ethiopia. However, the nature of the work is such that it might require working overtime and weekends, with due financial compensation.
• Holidays: Are governed by the rules of Addis Ababa University for project workers.
• Length of Contract: one and half years full-time position subject to six-monthly contract renewal.
• Probationary Period and Notice Period: There is a three-month probationary period for this role. The notice period is one month.

Essential qualifications

• MSc in public health-related field, with thesis.
• At least 2 year of work experience as a research assistant.
• Experience with population-based studies.
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis.
• Strong computer program literacy and knowledge.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.

Personal attributes

• Well organized.
• A high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to work with others, including international collaborators
• Excellent English language, communication and organizational skills