Medical Research Council Unit, the Gambia
Position: Field Epidemiologist
The MRC Unit, The Gambia is the Council’s largest establishment conducting medical research in a developing country The Unit aims to improve the health of people in low income countries by excellence in multi-disciplinary research programmes. We have developed an exciting new research agenda to reflect changes in national and global health priorities. Our new science portfolio is organised around three themes. Child Survival, Disease Control & Elimination and Vaccination.
The Disease Control & Elimination theme has recently secured a research grant entitled “Community-based scheduled screening and treatment of malaria in pregnancy for improved maternal and infant health: a cluster-randomized trial”, funded by the European Union (FP7). We are looking for a Field Epidemiologist to coordinate the activities of the research grant and liaise with colleagues in the other 2 participating countries. Villages in the study area will be randomized to the intervention or control arm. Village health workers in the intervention arm will be trained on performing rapid diagnostic tests on pregnant women and treat them if positive. In addition, they will encourage pregnant women to attend the antenatal climes as early as possible in order to receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine as intermittent preventive treatment. The primary end point is the prevalence of placenta malaria at delivery.
We seek someone with:
Essential:
- MBBS/ MD or equivalent medical qualification.
- M.Sc in epidemiology or MPH.
- FWACP part 1 or equivalent
- Extensive experience in malaria research.
- Significant experience working in a research institute.
- Significant experience on research projects conducted in low-income countries.
- Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Experience in data analysis.
- Proven experience of managing staff.
- Excellent record keeping skills.
- Practical experience in the implementation and co-ordination of epidemiological studies or randomized trials.
- Capacity to coordinate a complex group of studies.
- Computer literate, e.g. Word, Excel, Email.
- The ability to work well in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Excellent inter-personal skills and a willingness to work with others to overcome problems as and when they arise.
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment, provide mentorship to junior colleagues and supervise M.Sc and PhD students.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Ability to deal sensitively with the collaborators and sponsors.
Preferred:
- PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
- Experience in laboratory procedures in research or experience of collaborative research involving laboratory determined outcomes and/or exposures.
- Experience and demonstrable success in training and supervising research staff.
The post will be for 3 years and is subject to a probationary period of 6 months.
The salary will be in Occupational Group E3 at a salary range of 1,178, 281 to 1. 553, 704 Dalasis per annum before tax and 905,171 to 1,221, 739 Dalasis per annum after tax. This converts to a salary range of $30, 172 to $40, 724 per annum after tax using the prevailing Dalasis/Sterling exchange rate. The final salary within the E3 scale will be dependent on qualifications and experience.
Please note, however, that the salary package is paid in Dalasis and the USD figure quoted is just given as a guide. For displaced staff the package will include rent-free furnished accommodation, flights, contribution to school fees and shipment of personal effects.
If you are interested and have the skills and abilities for this senior position, please contact the Human Recourses Office for an application form and a copy of the job description and person specification for the post. Completed application forms together with photocopies of qualifications should be returned to:
Human Resources Office
Vacancy for: Field Epidemiologist (COSMIC)
MRC Unit, Fajara,
P.O. Box 273,
Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa,
Telephone: 00220 4495442-6 & 00220 4494072-9
E-mail: hr@mrc.gm
The closing date for the receipt of applications is 18th December 2012. MRC is an equal opportunities employer and operates a strict no smoking policy.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
