Rural Lighting Project
Position: Research Associate
Deadline to Apply:1st March 2015
Start Date: 13th April 2015
Location: Busia / Siaya
About Innovations for Poverty Action: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a non-profit research organization that creates and evaluates approaches to solving development problems. IPA disseminates the results of its evaluations to policymakers, practitioners, investors and donors around the world.
IPA seeks qualified applicants for
the position of Research Associate for the “Rural Lighting Project”, which is a
Randomized Control Trial looking at the take-up, use and impact of solar
lighting on rural households in Western Kenya.
We are looking for an enthusiastic
Research Associate to manage data collection, quality assurance and initial
analysis. The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field
management experience in an organization at the cutting edge of development research.
Position Summary: The Research Associate will oversee all aspects of
field work in Kenya, under the supervision of a Research Manager, and in close
consultation with the Principal Investigators based at the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.
Responsibilities:
·
Manage multiple data collection
activities simultaneously;
·
Develop and pilot survey instruments;
·
Help design forms for electronic data
collection (using ODK) and manage survey data;
·
Train and manage field team to conduct
surveys together with the field manager;
·
Ensure all aspects of data quality
and assist with data cleaning and preliminary analysis;
·
Manage logistics of all project
activities;
·
Manage project budget, including
tracking project expenses and adherence to the project budget;
·
Work closely with the Principal
Investigators and the local partner organization to ensure study protocols are
followed;
·
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
·
A Bachelor’s degree (Master’s
preferred) in economics, statistics, social science, or related field.
·
Excellent management and
organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills.
·
Solid knowledge of STATA is a strong
plus.
·
Familiarity with database management
and randomized control trials is a strong plus.
·
Experience screening, training, and
managing staff a strong plus.
·
Outstanding interpersonal, verbal and
written communication skills. Fluency in English required.
·
Flexible, self-motivating, able to
manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player.
·
Be detail oriented and able to work
independently.
·
Experience living and working in a
developing country required.
To Apply: Please send a cover letter and detailed CV
including daytime phone number, email address, and 3 professional references.
Your CV should include your scores or grades and other measures of academic
achievement, and details about any relevant work experience.
Applications must be submitted by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org, please ensure that the subject line reads: “RESEARCH ASSOCIATE: REF NO: RURAL LIGHTING-2015-02-01.
Position: Senior Research Associate - Parasitology
Deadline to Apply:28th February 2015
Start Date: Flexible, June 2015 at the latest
Location: Western Kenya
Eligibility: This position is open to all applicants
About Innovations for Poverty Action
(IPA): Innovations for Poverty Action
(IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and promoting
effective solutions to global poverty problems.
In close partnership with decision
makers - the policymakers, practitioners, investors, and donors working with
the poor around the world - we design and evaluate potential solutions to
poverty problems using randomized evaluations, the most rigorous evaluation
method available.
We also mobilize and
support these decision makers to use these solutions to build better programs
and policies at scale.
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) seeks a qualified applicant for the position of Parasitology and Environmental Sampling Coordinator for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Benefits Project.
Currently in the midst of a five-year
study, WASH Benefits is collecting rigorous evidence on the health impacts of
improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices, alongside improved nutrition
in rural Kenya.
Low-cost technologies and behavior
change communications strategies are being implemented to promote drinking
water treatment, good sanitation practices, handwashing with soap and improved
nutrition.
One of the objectives of the WASH
Benefits project is to assess the impact of these interventions on child
parasite infections. A second objective is to evaluate how improved water,
sanitation, and hygiene affects child exposure to fecal contamination in the
household environment.
This position is located in Kakamega,
Kenya.
This position is supervised by the
Research Manager with guidance from the project Principal Investigators (PIs)
Dr. Clair Null (Innovations for Poverty Action), Dr. Amy Pickering (Stanford
University), and Dr. Audrie Lin (UC Berkeley).
The Coordinator will also work
closely with collaborators at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
The Senior Research Associate-Parasitology, under the general supervision of the Research Manager and within the limits of Innovations for Poverty Action-Kenya policies and procedures coordinates the facilitation of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Benefits activities and functions within IPAK.
Below is a list of some of the
general duties and responsibilities of the Senior Research Associate, to be carried
out as needed according to the determination of the Research Manager in close
coordination with the Implementation Manager and Project Director.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will work
closely with senior project management and staff to perform a variety of tasks
including, but not limited to:
·
Develop and supervise implementation
of sample collection and processing systems described below to ensure of the
highest quality data, including; development/modification of lab standard
operating procedures (SOP), process documentation, tracking systems, and
monitoring of staff performance
·
Keep senior management (managers,
directors and PIs) appraised of all key developments related to parasitology
and environmental sampling and analysis activities, including provision of
written reports
·
Supervise laboratory technicians and
field staff involved in parasitology and environmental sampling activities,
including holding regular meetings and coordinating trainings
·
Oversee sample collection, processing,
and microbial analysis of samples from drinking water sources, household stored
water, child hands, and child toys for quantitative enumeration of fecal
indicator bacteria using membrane filtration.
·
Oversee sample collection,
processing, aliquoting, and sample flow of child stool and blood samples to
measure biomarkers of parasite infections among young children (e.g. microscopy
of stool for soil-transmitted helminth infections, aliquoting of stool)
·
Liaise with collaborators at the
Kenya Medical Research Institute in analyzing project stool samples by ELISA
and qPCR to detect soil transmitted helminth infections and protozoan
infections, and analysis of blood spots by Luminex for other enteric pathogen
infections.
·
Coordinate and oversee logistical
planning for sample collection, processing, flow, and data entry by tracking
enrollment, specimen collection, and follow-up targets; working with
supervisors to determine when corrective action is needed in order to ensure
that activities are consistent with approved SOPs and project objectives
·
Lead the design and participate in
the coding of survey instruments to be used during field sample collection
·
Assist with data management, data
cleaning, and analysis of all lab and field sample collection data
·
Provide projections, and basic
oversight of financial accounting related to lab activities.
·
Participate HR oversight process and
provide recommendations to senior management on all aspects of HR for parasite
and environmental sampling components of the study
·
Overall responsibility for inventory
and procurement coordination for all lab and field parasite and environmental
sample collection activities
·
Closely coordinate with Data
Management, Data Collection, Logistics and Procurement personnel
Desired Qualifications and Experience:
·
Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in a
relevant field such as parasitology, biology, environmental health, public
Health, or other related field
·
Laboratory experience, preferably in
the context of a field lab in a low-income country
·
Experience with culture based
bacterial assays a plus
·
Experience processing blood and stool
samples a plus
·
Experience with soil transmitted
helminthes or Kato Katz analysis a plus
·
Experience with qPCR and/or running
ELISA assays a plus
·
Experience with Open Data Kit, Survey
CTO, CS Pro and STATA a plus
·
Experience shipping and tracking
samples
·
Excellent management and
organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
·
Excellent management, organizational,
critical thinking and interpersonal skills
·
Flexible, self-motivating, able to
manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player
·
Strong written and oral communication
skills and complete fluency in English is required. Kiswahili proficiency is
preferred.
·
Experience working in a low-income
country (particularly sub-Saharan Africa)
·
Familiarity with randomized
controlled trials
We are looking for a commitment
period of 1 year for this position with the possibility to extend.
To Apply: Please send a cover letter and detailed CV
including daytime phone number, email address, and 3 professional
references.
Your CV should include your scores or
grades and other measures of academic achievement, and details about any
relevant work experience.
Applications must be submitted by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org, please ensure that the subject line reads: “SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE-PARASITOLOGY REF NO: REF NO: WASH B-2015-02-03.
Shortlisted candidates will be
contacted by email for an interview.
Applicants are encouraged to apply
early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Senior Research Associate _ Parasitology. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization. Please direct questions to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org.