Research Fellow

Expected salary: PKR 150-175K

Hours of work:  Full-time (40 hours per week)

Duration of Post: 1-year contract, renewable up to 3 years.

Probation Period: 6 months

Leave Entitlements: As per the HR policy of the contracting institution 

Contracting Institution: The Initiative

Based at: 1) SINA Health Education & Welfare Trust Hospital, Karachi and 2) The Aga Khan University, Karachi

Introduction

The Centre for IMPACT is a dedicated team of researchers working closely with several local and international partners and collaborators. Our overarching mission is to enhance both physical and mental health in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are concentrating on addressing three key health conditions: common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, heart diseases, and diabetes. To achieve these goals, we are bringing together experts, the public, patients, and policymakers to identify and implement practical solutions for these health challenges. We are also committed to nurturing the next generation of researchers and students, offering them capacity-building opportunities and facilitating them to become future leaders in healthcare practice and research.

Our research study aims to integrate Collaborative Care in primary care clinics. Collaborative Care is a model of care that can be used to provide high-quality evidence-based care for depression efficiently. We aim to implement and evaluate this model of care in primary health centres in Karachi and investigate the challenges associated with its implementation, opportunities for enhancement, and its potential to improve patient care and healthcare practices.

We are looking to recruit a full-time research fellow for this study. Our priority is to hire an individual who is passionate about mental health and multimorbidity research, and who can demonstrate their potential to develop as an independent researcher in time, with support. Applicants are required to provide evidence of a strong commitment to a research career, prior experience, and a record of success in the form of, for example, research publications and grant capture.

Our Centre for IMPACT is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research in the United Kingdom. The selected candidate will be an integral part of our multidisciplinary team of health professionals and researchers and will benefit from guidance and mentorship from world-leading experts in the field. The post holder will be able to access and participate in numerous career development and capacity-building activities led by experts in public health and multimorbidity.  This position will be based at the SINA Health Education & Welfare Trust Hospital and The Aga Khan University, Karachi. The post-holder will work under the supervision of experienced research and healthcare experts.

Key Responsibilities

(Role holders will be required to undertake some or all the duties below)

1. Coordinating with the lead institution (University of York, United Kingdom), local partner organisations (Institute of Psychiatry, Rawalpindi, The Initiative, The Aga Khan University) and SINA Health, Education, and Trust in Karachi, where the post-holder will be placed primarily. It involves working alongside the SINA team, and closely with postdoc researchers and managers at the Institute of Psychiatry and The Initiative.
2. Coordinating via email and other in-person or online platforms such as emails and WhatsApp, scheduling both in-person and remote meetings, recording meeting minutes, and facilitating the distribution of information.
3. Monitoring progress, planning, and reporting activities to line supervisors, placed at the Institute of Psychiatry, Rawalpindi, The Initiative and University of York, United Kingdom. The focus should be on efficient long-distance collaboration for progress reports, strategic planning, and clear communication to ensure successful task execution despite the geographical separation.
4. Supervising research assistants placed at different locations within Karachi, tracking their progress and reporting their progress to line supervisors. Provision of research support and guidance to the team placed in SINA headquarters.
5. Conducting, managing, and overseeing a comprehensive mixed methods research programme including qualitative and quantitative reviews, interviews, group discussions, consultation meetings and clinical trials.  This project is extended to numerous primary care clinics located within Karachi.
6. Developing and reviewing resource materials for community engagement and involvement (CEI) and stakeholders’ consultation in research. Also supporting arrangements of selecting, recruiting and an active engagement in CEI and stakeholders’ consultation activities. Facilitating the arrangement of meetings for CEI and stakeholder working groups will also be part of this job.
7. Developing, adapting, translating, and reviewing resource materials for both qualitative and quantitative research including participants\\\\\' information sheets, promotional materials, consent forms, topic guides for interviews/ focus groups, agenda points for stakeholder and community consultations, case report forms and other relevant materials.
8. Systematically, capturing, storing, and managing all data gathered in the project, also contributing to data collection and analysis.
9. Acquiring, recording, and compiling all necessary information to develop summary reports, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
10. Disseminating reports and necessary information to collaborators, lead organisations, partner institutions, stakeholders, community members, funders, or others.
11. Contribute to disseminating findings through writing research reports, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting at national/ international conferences.
12. Maintaining the office decorum and following the ethical code of conduct.
13. Any additional responsibilities within the scope of the job allocated by the manager, supervisor or investigators while consulting with the post-holder.

Person specification

  Qualifications

First degree in a relevant subject area (health-related or social sciences)

Essential

Masters in relevant area (health-related or social sciences)

Essential

A completed or ongoing PhD in a relevant field (health-related or social sciences)

Desirable Knowledge

Knowledge of applied health research methods relevant to both mental and physical health

Essential

Knowledge of common mental disorders

Desirable

Knowledge of non-communicable diseases 

Desirable

Skills, abilities, and competencies

Highly developed communication skills to engage effectively with a wide-ranging audience, both orally and in writing, using a range of media

Essential

Ability to conduct research with patients, carers, and healthcare staff

Essential

Ability to accept, give and build on feedback for personal development

Essential

Ability to write up research work for publication and engage in public dissemination with the assistance of a mentor if required

Essential

Ability to develop healthcare research objectives, projects, and proposals with the assistance of a mentor if required

Essential

Competency to make presentations at conferences or exhibit work in other appropriate events

Essential

Competency to conduct individual and collaborative research projects

Essential

Ability to identify sources of funding and contribute to the process of securing funds, with collaborators if required

Desirable

Ability to contribute to the writing of research grant applications if required

Desirable

Experience

Experience in carrying out both independent and collaborative research

Essential

Experience in writing up research work for publication

Essential

Experience in conducting research with patients, carers, or healthcare staff

Essential

Experience in a relevant health area such as mental health

Desirable

Experience with behavioural lifestyle interventions

Desirable

Personal attributes

Commitment to high quality

Essential

Collaborative ethos

Essential

Interest in and enthusiasm for the subject matter of the project(s)

Essential

Positive attitude to colleagues and others involved in the project in any capacity

Essential

Willingness to work proactively with colleagues in other work areas/institutions

Essential

Ability to plan and prioritise own work to meet deadlines

Essential

Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills

Essential

Willingness to respect equality & diversity

Essential

Ability to accept, give and build on feedback for personal development

Essential