Junior Scientist

**Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit**

**(CAPE TOWN)**

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) strives to improve the nation’s health and quality of life by funding and conducting relevant and leading health research. It further aims to promote equity, career development and progression. The organisation prides itself on three core values: being pioneering, striving for excellence and working collaboratively.

**Junior Scientist**

**12-Month Contract**

The Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCDRU) is looking for an experienced Junior Scientist who is familiar with and has experience in research field work. The incumbent will be responsible for managing the fieldwork at an allocated site/s and/or at the NCDRU research clinic, under the supervision of the project management team. The role entails literature (systematic) reviews, executing investigative protocols that tackle deficits in scientific knowledge, then disseminating insights obtained by publishing results. It also entails undertaking research and research co-ordination - coordinating small teams and fieldworker teams - engage with research partners, train, and supervise fieldworkers, conduct the quality control and be responsible for managing, cleaning, and analyzing a complex data set (qualitative and quantitative).

**Responsibilities**:
**1. Project Work**

Co-ordination and supervising of fieldwork

Data collection - independently

Organization and management of data

Analysis of data

Research activity report writing

**2. Data Management and analysis**

Transcribing

Data entry

Cleaning data

Coding qualitative data

Data analysis: increasing complexity

**3. Contribution to publications**

Co-author peer-reviewed paper, proposal (accepted for funding, ethics, or peer-reviewed)

Conference presentations

Posters, chapters, technical report research briefs

Policy briefs

**4. Research Admin**

Logistics and planning data collection - bookings, car hire, etc.

Keeping records of data collection

**5. Presentation / research dissemination**

Feedback to communities

Report in project meetings (report on literature reviews / methods / designs / data analysis)

Journal clubs / Seminars / Workshop / Presentations at national conferences

**Core Requirements**:

- Four-year Tertiary Qualification or Honours degree in related field (Sciences, Public health)
- Minimum of 3-years research related working experience
- Understanding of Good Clinical Practice or a valid certificate in Good Clinical Practice
- Computer literate and experienced in using electronic devices for data collection (tablet, laptop, smart phones)
- Be fully bilingual, English/Afrikaans or isiXhosa (be able to read, write and communicate fluently)
- In-depth knowledge of data collection, management and analysis
- Familiarization with a statistical software package
- Driver’s license

**Added Advantages**:

- Masters Degree
- Some published research manuscript(s)
- Lab-related data analysis specialization
- Previous experience working in non-communicable disease (NCD) research setting, also responsible for NCD-related data handling and quality control
- Project management skills or experience
- Demonstrate excellent technical and interpersonal skills
- Be willing to assist project staff in day to day tasks

A salary in the region of R377 223 per annum, cost-to-company will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.

Closing date: 07 June 2023

**PLEASE QUOTE THE REFERENCE NUMBER (R609A) IN ALL COMMUNICATIONS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT YOUR SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SHOULD YOUR APPLICATION NOT BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION.**

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