Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Principal Investigator / Head of Research – Africa Clinical Research Network
Salary: $50,000 pa (USD) in local currency, dependent on experience
Our Mission:
The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) works to develop and deploy advanced technology in pursuit of solving some of humanitys most challenging and enduring problems. Guided by world leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs, EIT seeks to accelerate innovation by driving scientific and technological advancements across four humane endeavours: health and medical science, food security and sustainable agriculture, climate change and clean energy, and government innovation and era of artificial intelligence.
Please visit eit.org for more details.
At the Ellison Institute, we believe that an inclusive, collaborative team atmosphere is just as important to our mission as our scientific aims and methods. We strive to build a supportive environment where everyone feels confident taking creative risks toward innovation. We value emotional intelligence and communicating with empathy and respect for others. We foster a team that is curious, has a deep sense of commitment, responsibility, and the resilience needed to achieve excellence.
Job Summary:
We are establishing a clinical research network and are on a mission to revolutionise clinical research in Africa. Our vision is to build a sustainable, African-led research ecosystem that drives health equity and innovation. By establishing a network of world-class clinical research sites and capabilities, we aim to generate the evidence Africa needs to inform health decisions and policies, while cultivating the next generation of African scientific leaders.
Africa has been underrepresented in global clinical research, conducting only 2% of clinical research despite shouldering 25% of the world’s disease burden. While there have been significant investments in disease-specific clinical research sites and networks, these approaches have often led to fragmented infrastructure, limited capacity, and reliance on expatriate leadership. Such models have struggled to drive long-term sustainability or meet the broader health needs of African countries and regions beyond narrow therapeutic areas. Consequently, health products and policies in Africa are often informed by data from other settings, which may not fully account for the rich diversity of African populations and local contexts. This lack of locally relevant evidence hinders the development of tailored health solutions that effectively address Africa’s unique challenges and priorities.
Our clinical research network is on a mission to transform this landscape. By partnering with leading institutions and trial units across the continent, we will establish a network of clinical research sites that serve two critical goals: diversifying global research and empowering Africa to meet the healthcare needs of its rapidly growing population.
Our network will be designed to catalyze Africa’s self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical and vaccine R&D and manufacturing, ensuring the continent can drive its own health innovation agenda. We will establish digital and clinical infrastructure, while prioritizing deep community engagement to foster trust, relevance and impact.
At our sites, we will conduct rigorous, ethical research that puts African populations and priorities at the centre. By generating high-quality local data that reflects the diversity of African contexts, we can accelerate the development and delivery of tailored global health solutions – for Africa, by Africa. Our goal is to build sustainable research capacity that outlasts any single study or funder, empowering African institutions to become global leaders in clinical research and scientific innovation for generations to come.
Overview:
We are looking for an experienced Social Behaviour Research Specialist to join our team, starting in Q1 2025. The successful candidate will integrate social behaviour research as a critical component of clinical studies, with a focus on evaluating behavioural patterns, societal influences, and community engagement in healthcare. This role will also involve adding social behaviour research as a cost/revenue element to enhance the overall financial and operational structure of studies.
Key Responsibilities:
Integration of Social Behaviour Research in Clinical Studies:
Design and implement social behaviour research as a core element of clinical trials, considering both societal and individual factors affecting health outcomes.
Work closely with clinical and operational teams to identify key behavioural indicators that may influence study results.
Develop protocols and methodologies to assess social behaviours, including patient interactions, compliance, and community engagement.
Cost/Revenue Element Design:
Integrate social behaviour research as a revenue-generating element in clinical studies by identifying cost-efficient methods to collect and analyse social data.
Work with financial teams to develop budgets that reflect the cost of implementing social behaviour research, balancing operational costs and potential financial returns.
Contribute to the development of funding proposals and grants to secure additional revenue through social research initiatives.
Data Collection & Analysis:
Oversee the collection of social behaviour data, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observational studies.
Ensure data collection methods comply with ethical standards, particularly concerning participant consent and privacy.
Analyse and interpret data to understand how social behaviours impact clinical study outcomes and overall healthcare interventions.
Community Engagement & Stakeholder Management:
Lead community engagement efforts to ensure the successful integration of social behaviour studies within diverse populations.
Collaborate with local communities, health providers, and other stakeholders to gain insights into social factors affecting healthcare access and behaviours.
Develop patient-facing materials to explain the role of social behaviour research and its impact on healthcare.
Reporting & Dissemination:
Prepare reports and presentations on the findings from social behaviour research, providing actionable insights for clinical, operational, and financial teams.
Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences.
Liaise with sponsors, regulatory authorities, and funding bodies to communicate the impact and value of integrating social behaviour research into studies.
Collaboration with Cross-functional Teams:
Collaborate with epidemiologists, health economists, clinical researchers, and data managers to ensure the holistic integration of social behaviour research in study design and analysis.
Contribute to cross-functional meetings, providing input on how social factors influence clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelors degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field (required). Masters degree or PhD in Social Behaviour Research, Health Psychology, or related discipline is preferred.
Experience:
Minimum of 5 years of experience in social behaviour research, preferably in a healthcare or clinical trial setting.
Experience in developing and implementing social research studies as part of larger clinical or operational projects.
Experience with budgeting and financial modelling for research studies is a plus.
Skills and Competencies:
Strong knowledge of social behaviour research methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.
Excellent data analysis skills, with proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, NVivo).
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage both academic and non-academic audiences.
Proficiency in integrating social research into broader study designs and managing its financial aspects.
Desired Attributes:
A keen interest in understanding how social and behavioural factors influence health outcomes.
Ability to work across multiple teams and disciplines, bringing a collaborative mindset to research design and implementation.
A proactive approach to identifying new opportunities for integrating social behaviour research as a revenue element.
Work Environment:
The role will be remote based with potential travel to research sites, community settings, and conferences. The candidate should be flexible and willing to adapt to a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment.
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