Research Associate, School of Nursing and Midwifery

The Aga Khan University (AKU), a distinguished private international institution known for its commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service, invites applications for the position of Research Associate within the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Karachi, Pakistan. AKU’s teaching hospital, the Aga Khan University Hospital, is accredited by the Joint Commission International, reflecting the highest standards in healthcare. The School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM), established in 1980 as the founding academic entity of AKU, is recognized as a leader in nursing education in Pakistan. SONAM is dedicated to advancing education, research, nursing practice, and administration while fostering inclusivity and pluralism. This is a grant-funded contractual role, and the university is an equal opportunity employer committed to safeguarding and promoting respectful relationships among all stakeholders, including vulnerable populations.

Key Responsibilities

- Support the planning and execution of research activities in line with approved protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Conduct comprehensive literature reviews and assist in evidence synthesis related to neonatal care and clinical decision support.
- Aid in the development and refinement of study tools, data collection instruments, SOPs, and training materials.
- Manage data including cleaning, quality assurance, and preparation of datasets for analysis.
- Perform or assist in quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis under the supervision of study investigators.
- Contribute to the interpretation of research findings and assist in preparing detailed research reports.
- Coordinate with research staff and participating sites to ensure timely progress and completion of study activities.
- Monitor study progress and maintain thorough project documentation and reporting.
- Support the preparation of manuscripts, abstracts, conference presentations, policy briefs, and other dissemination materials.
- Assist in preparing presentations and dissemination activities for various stakeholders.
- Maintain accurate research records, ensuring confidentiality and appropriate data management.
- Support ethical and regulatory documentation and reporting requirements.
- Travel to participating study sites as necessary to facilitate research activities.

Required Qualifications

- A Master’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Health Sciences, Epidemiology, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of two years’ relevant research experience, preferably in health, nursing, neonatal, maternal-child health, or implementation research.
- Proficiency in quantitative and/or qualitative research methodologies.
- Experience with research data management and familiarity with statistical or qualitative analysis software is desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in manuscript preparation, literature reviews, report writing, and research dissemination.
- Strong understanding of research ethics, study protocols, and data confidentiality principles.
- Excellent analytical, communication, scientific writing, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency in MS Office and relevant research/data management platforms.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.
- Willingness to travel to participating study sites as required.

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted as part of the recruitment process. The Aga Khan University encourages applications from candidates who bring diverse cultural, ethnic, and experiential perspectives to enrich its academic community.