Research Associate, Department of Medicine - MC

Research Associate

Entity: Aga Khan University

Location: Karachi

Introduction to the Aga Khan University:
Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries distributed across three continents. As an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries in which it exists and has campuses, programs and/or teaching hospitals in Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the UK. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access; and AKU is a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change.

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.

This is a grant-funded contractual position.

Job Roles/Responsibilities:

You will be responsible to:

• Assist supervisors in overall program implementation and field-based research activities
• Mandatory field visits twice a week or as per project requirement
• Conduct data collection using qualitative (in-depth interviews, focus group discussions) and quantitative (surveys/questionnaires) methods
• Perform mandatory field visits (minimum twice weekly or as per project requirement) in Thatta and Matiari, including monitoring and verbal autopsy activities
• Support development and implementation of research tools
• Conduct literature reviews and assist in data analysis according to study objectives
• Coordinate communication between the research team and stakeholders/ Filed team for smooth data collection
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of research protocols and ethical approvals
• Conduct field visits for monitoring activities and facilitate monitoring visits as required
• Assist in preparation of weekly, monthly, and progress reports
• Contribute to manuscript writing, abstracts, and research publications
• Assist in grant writing and proposal development by identifying funding opportunities
• Prepare and deliver presentations at conferences and workshops
• Ensure compliance with research ethics, protocols, and regulatory requirements
• Maintain accurate documentation of ethical approvals and study records
• Stay updated with scientific literature relevant to the research area
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor or Principal Investigator.

Requirements:

You must have:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in public health from a recognized institution
• One to two years of experience in community-based research (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to coordinate with team members and stakeholders
• Excellent written communication skills, including report writing and meeting minutes documentation
• Basic scientific writing skills with participation in 1–2 research publications (preferred)
• Willingness to work in community settings and travel/stay at remote field locations as required
• Ability to effectively work in shifts as well as independently.

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.