Title: Research Faculty

Reports to: Director Institute of Global Health Equity Research (IGHER)

Location:  Kigali, Rwanda, with occasional travel to Butaro, Rwanda 

Role Purpose:

 The Institute of Global Health Equity Research (IGHER) at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) is looking to appoint a Research Faculty to work on a range of research projects within the institute that contributes to UGHE’s vision and mission through high-quality research and research training. As the epicenter of global health equity research and research training, IGHER generate and disseminate new and important knowledge for eliminating health inequities. It will also develop and deliver education and training that will ideally equip researchers to identify and solve problems related to health inequity.

The IGHER’s Research Faculty programme is designed to build the capacity of promising young African physician-scientists. The Research Faculty at IGHER will participate in development of research protocol, support the design and conduct of research studies including contributing to the development of own research ideas and contribute to grant writing and submissions. The candidate will also contribute to the delivery of research courses and training in the UGHE MBBS and MGHD programme. The Research Faculty will be given mentorship in research and capacity building training while working at the IGHER.

Responsibilities

• To support the IGHER’s research and training activities.
• To support ongoing and upcoming clinical research with strict monitoring and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to finalizing research study protocols, data collection tools, consenting procedures and co-ordinate ethics submissions.
• Ensure research reports are of high-quality and submitted on time.
• To develop SOPs/MOPs for participant recruitment, procedures, data collection, management and overall conduct of clinical research.
• To support the design of research studies, including contributing to the development of case record forms, data management systems, and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor ongoing studies ensuring that the study protocols are adhered to consistently at study sites.
• Oversee the recording and reporting of research studies, proactively anticipate and mitigate risks for all clinical research, and promptly liaison with study PIs.
• Maintain excellent relations with research stakeholders locally, external partners, donors and collaborators.
• Contribute to dissemination, in particular the publication and abstract submission to national and international conferences of research findings.
• In collaboration with the IGHER faculty, proactively develop new research ideas and develop concept notes for generating future research income.
• Manage research grants and promote and ensure compliance with good practice in relation to the conduct of research, the Rwanda ethics guidelines, and other relevant UGHE and donor’s policies.
• Make an effective contribution to the wider UGHE academic community including contribute to the academic life by teaching MBBS and MGHD students in research methods and conduct.
• Conduct various administrative responsibilities such as research protocol submission to IRB, monitoring and reporting of research project budgets and   assessment of student progress and evaluation.
• Mentor UGHE students on research projects and advise them on study skills to ensure their projects are relevant and up to the University’s standards; and
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the line manager/ Director, IGHER.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), 5 years experience, oncology qualification and advantage
• Experience in clinical research, epidemiology, medical statistics, public health or relevant subject.
• Experience of working as a clinician managing patients in a clinical environment or experience of implementation and monitoring of clinical research.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster collaborative relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of work.
• Excellent time management skills and flexibility with the ability to work under pressure to meet tight timelines.
• Ability to develop ideas for new research projects and research income generation.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary environment in low resource settings.
• Ability to direct the work of a small research team and research assistants to produce a high standard of work.
• Ability to organize own work with minimal supervision; ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively.
• Advanced computer skills, including word-processing, spreadsheets, and G-suites
• Fluency in spoken Kinyarwanda, English and/or French