Health Researcher at Global Health Corps

HEALTH RESEARCHER

ORGANIZATION NAME: Population Council

LOCATION: Lusaka, Zambia

ELIGIBLE CITIZENSHIP: Zambia

ROLE CODE: Z04-Nat

Role Overview

The Health Researcher will be based in Lusaka and will have the opportunity to gain experience in operations research with the Population Council, a world-leading reproductive health institution, by working with senior research analysts to assist with qualitative and quantitative data analysis and policy research. They will work with Population Council staff to develop and execute multiple research agendas over the course of the fellowship, with the ultimate goal of presenting research findings and submitting manuscripts for peer review. There may be opportunities for the Health Researcher to utilize datasets, including interviews, focus group transcripts, household surveys, health facility assessments, and facility utilization data, in order to answer high priority public health research questions identified in consultation with their supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Conduct analysis on projects already in the pipeline, focusing on quantitative, qualitative, or policy analysis in line with the fellow’s skills and interests, with a senior researcher
• Upon completion of research and analyses, formally present findings to a variety of stakeholders in the form of posters, oral presentations or reports
• Develop manuscripts of completed research and analyses to submit to peer reviewed publications

Skills and Experience

Items indicated with an asterisk (*) are required

• Bachelor’s degree*
  • Preferred: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant health or social science field (e.g. applied informatics, public health, epidemiology, demography, or other related field)
• Strong writing skills with the ability to present complex scientific topics in a clear and accessible manner*
• Quantitative analysis skills, including experience with analytic software packages – preferably R or Stata, but SPSS, SAS, and others will be considered*
• Qualitative analysis skills, with experience conducting market analysis, market interviews, or policy analysis*
• Experience creating presentations in MS PowerPoint*
• Experience submitting manuscripts for peer review
• Experience researching healthcare policy or healthcare finance
• Experience with qualitative data analysis software like NVivo
• Able to learn on the job
• Willing to take initiative and work with inspiration and minimal direction once projects are agreed upon and assigned
• Flexible and creative thinker, strong project manager
• Self-starter who is organized, responsive to short timelines, inquisitive, and interested in a broad range of global health issues

About the Organization

The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental research organization that confronts critical health and development issues, from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health, and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world.

In Zambia, the Population Council initiates and collaborates research that contributes to the achievement of global and national outcome goals in the areas of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), HIV/AIDS, poverty, gender, and youth. The work entails helping the country achieve its family planning and reproductive health targets, which include the Family Planning 2020 goals, mitigating the effects of and curtailing the spread of HIV, addressing the social dimensions of poverty and its underlying causes, and helping to address the effects of gender inequality. The Population Council has a particular interest in youth, especially the discrepancies in opportunity that arise during adolescence and the critical requirements for attaining a successful and productive adulthood.

ROLE FUNCTION: Data Analysis / Statistics, Knowledge Management, Research

ISSUE AREA: HIV / AIDS, Maternal and Child Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Stipend, Benefits, and Logistics

• Monthly living stipend of $700
• Professional development funds of up to $600
• Award of $1500 upon successful completion of the fellowship year
• Housing Allowance
• Health Insurance
• Travel costs covered to and from GHC training and retreats
• Support in applying for visas and/or work permits, as necessary