Senior Research Assistant, Brain, and Mind Institute

Senior Research Assistant, Brain and Mind Institute

Entity            Medical College

Location        Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction    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 Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) is a newly minted entity at the Aga Khan University (AKU), with key hubs in Nairobi (for East Africa) and Karachi (for South and Central Asia). The BMI seeks to build capacity in the domains of mental health and neuroscience. In collaboration with partners, the Institute is advancing research leadership capacity and support service delivery across East Africa and South Asia, and other regions served by the AKU. The Institute supports a hub for scholarship exchange and action on mental health issues, as well as educational, clinical, and community-based programs. BMI’s research focuses on the context of today’s youth in Africa and South Asia, while our programmatic offerings address mental health related and brain health issues, including stigma and resiliency. A significant area of interest is the implementation of science-based programming in hospital and community settings that translate new discoveries into prevention and treatment programs.

This is a grant-funded contractual position.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible to:

• collect data accurately and efficiently according to established protocols and guidelines
• ensure confidentiality and integrity of collected data throughout the process
• communicate effectively with study participants and always maintain a professional demeanor
• coordinate with the research team to resolve any issues or concerns arising during data collection
• complete necessary documentation in a timely manner
• adhere to ethical standards and research protocols throughout the data collection process
• participate in training sessions as required and stay updated on relevant procedures and guidelines.

Requirements

You should have:

• an intermediate or bachelor's degree
• at least one year work experience, preferably in community settings including school/hospital or research facility 
• experience of using REDCap on tablets 
• good interpersonal communication and leadership skills
• willingness to work in a community setting (schools) and travel as per work requirements
• the ability to work effectively in teams and cope under pressure.

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.