Research Assistant, IHD

Research Assistant

Department
Institute for Human Development

Entity
Aga Khan University

Location
Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (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 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 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 Institute for Human Development (IHD) is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge with direct relevance for policies, programs, and practices that enhance life experiences at all stages of human development.  In its foundational years, the Institute seeks particularly to become a visible instrumental force, locally as well as globally, for advancing knowledge about the earliest years of children’s development and for harnessing such knowledge for the purpose of shaping policies and interventions that ensure a strong start in life for all children wherever they may live.

Job Summary

The Research Assistant will contribute to collaborative research that transforms people’s lives through new scientific findings by collecting quality data for the AKILI study while adhering to the standard operating procedures and ethical regulations. AKILI is a study on genetic characterization of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the Kenyan and South African populations.

Responsibilities

• Share information, education and support related to the AKILI study to families or guardians of potential eligible research participants
• Participate in conducting the informed consenting process for the AKILI study
• Participate in the screening and identification eligible participants among children and adolescents at the hospitals, schools or the community
• Participate in the collection of sociodemographic and phenotypic data using research electronic data capture software
• Participate in neurocognitive and/or psychiatric assessments of all study participants such as KSADS and SNAP-IV
• Participate in preparing proper, accurate and timely documentation of study-related activities. 
• Participate in sensitization and/or training of teachers, community health promoters and any other stakeholders AKILI will engage. This will entail active involvement in preparing training materials on ADHD and the different neurocognitive and/or psychiatric assessments.
• Participate in ensuring data completeness and safety by working with other team members to crosscheck data against the AKILI’s enrolment checklist and ensuring that data has been uploaded to server before leaving the field/site of participant enrolment as highlighted in AKILI’s standard operating procedures and protocol. 
  Ensure all participants receive their gifts, reimbursements and snacks as outlined in the protocol; and present all proofs of payment (payment and registration forms and receipts) for accounting. 
• Participate in accounting for field expenditure as will be guided. 
• Ensure proper use, storage and handing-over of all filed items assigned to you to minimize the risk of damage and to ensure their safety.
• Foster good working relationships with all stakeholders including all participants and their parents as well as the personnel in the different institutions we will engage – at the different hospitals, at schools and in the community. 
• Any other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.
   

Requirements

• A minimum of Diploma in Psychology, Sociology, Nursing, Clinical medicine, Community Development or any other related field
• Research background will be desirable

Relevant Experience

• 2 years’ work experience in research
• Flexible – able to work extra hours when needed
• Able to work with vulnerable populations such as those with neurological or mental health disorders
• Be computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

Personal Characteristics

• Can work under minimal supervision
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a good team player
• Good communication skills (both written and oral)
• Attention to detail
• Keen desire to learn and share knowledge