Research Specialist, Community Health Sciences

Requirements You should have:

• medical degree MBBS or BDS from a recognized institution
• master’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Public Health
• minimum two years of research experience in maternal and newborn health or public health programs
• experience in field-based research implementation and supervision
• strong knowledge of research methodology and protocol implementation
• ability to develop SOPs, training materials, and operational guidelines
• experience in monitoring data quality and preparing monitoring graphs and reports
• proficiency in data analysis and research reporting
• experience maintaining study master files and regulatory documentation
• excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary research teams
• willingness to travel to field sites for supervision and monitoring activities
• high standards of integrity and research ethics
• proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint) and statistical software including SPSS, STATA, and R for data management, analysis, and reporting.

Research Specialist, Community Health Sciences

Department: Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University

Location: Karachi, Sindh.

Aga Khan University chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research, and health care of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities and well-equipped diagnostic services. The University currently has teaching sites in Pakistan, East Africa, the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan, and is a major component of Aga Khan Development Network.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

The Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) is the leading unit of its type in Pakistan, recognized regionally and internationally for the relevance, quality, and extent of its work in support of public health and the development of primary health care systems. It comprises of five major operational sections: Epidemiology & biostatistics, Health policy & management, Population & reproductive health, Environmental health & climate change, and non-communicable diseases & mental health.

This is a grant funded contractual position.

You will be responsible for:

• coordinate day-to-day project activities and ensure implementation according to approved research protocols and timelines
• supervise field teams and monitor field operations including household visits and facility-based surveillance
• ensure proper identification, screening, and registration of study participants according to protocol
• ensure screening, informed consent, enrollment, randomization, and follow up procedures are conducted according to protocol
• monitor adherence to ethical standards and good clinical practice guidelines
• support monitoring of maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes including mortality surveillance
• develop standard operating procedures (sops) related to study implementation
• prepare training materials and operational manuals for field staff
• conduct training sessions for study staff and provide continuous technical support
• conduct spot checks and back checks to verify accuracy and quality of data collected in the field
• perform supervisory visits to project sites and ensure adherence to study procedures
• identify operational challenges and recommend corrective measures
• ensure completeness and accuracy of case report forms and study documentation
• collaborate with the data management team to review data quality and completeness
• prepare monitoring graphs, project dashboards, and summary reports
• contribute to preparation of monthly and periodic project reports
• ensure proper storage, accountability, and documentation of study drugs and research materials where applicable
• maintain inventory records and ensure compliance with study protocols
• maintain study master files and ensure proper documentation and archiving research records
• ensure regulatory and study related documentation is complete and well maintained
• support preparation of research proposals for funding agencies
• contribute to data analysis, manuscript preparation, and research publications
• present study findings in internal meetings and scientific forums
• perform additional tasks assigned by the principal investigator or designated supervisor