Post Doctoral Fellow, Epidemiology & Population Health at Aga Khan University Hospital

Role Summary

The Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK) is a flagship population-based cohort platform designed to generate high-quality evidence on ageing, cognitive health, and life-course transitions in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. LOSHAK integrates large-scale household surveys, cognitive assessments, biomarker data, and contextual social and environmental information, and is embedded within regional and global networks on ageing and health.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow who has completed a PhD in Epidemiology, Population Health, Public Health, Demography, Biostatistics, or a closely related field is ideal for an early-career scientist seeking advanced training and leadership in survey research, ageing, and cognitive epidemiology in LMICs, while contributing substantively to a world-class longitudinal cohort platform.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will lead, and co-lead high-impact research embedded within LOSHAK, contributing to:

• Design and implementation of large-scale ageing and cognition survey components.
• Advanced epidemiological analysis of cognitive ageing and later-life health.
• Methodological innovation in longitudinal and survey-based research in LMICs.
• High-quality scientific outputs and grant development.
• Supervision and mentorship of PhD students and junior researchers.
• Development of funding proposals.
• Design nested studies within the cohort.

The role bridges independent scholarship with platform leadership, positioning the Fellow for a competitive academic or research career.

Key Responsibilities

Research leadership & design

• Co-lead development of LOSHAK sub-studies in ageing and cognition; refine research questions and analytical frameworks; support ethics and regulatory submissions.

Survey & field systems

• Lead design, piloting, and optimization of ageing and cognitive survey modules; support field training and QA

Data analysis & methods

• Conduct advanced analyses of longitudinal and survey data; develop reproducible analytical pipelines; contribute to harmonization with global cohorts.

Scholarly outputs

• Lead and co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts; present findings at scientific fora; contribute to policy briefs.

Grant development & platform growth

• Contribute to proposal development and donor engagement; support expansion of LOSHAK research portfolio.

Mentorship & team engagement

• Supervise PhD and MSc students; mentor research staff; engage multidisciplinary teams.

Professional development

• Build an independent research profile in ageing and cognitive epidemiology; pursue advanced training.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Epidemiology, Population Health, Public Health, Demography, Biostatistics, or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and epidemiological methods.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong interest in ageing, cognition, or life-course health.
• Ability to lead components of complex, multi-site research.
• Excellent academic writing and communication skills.

Relevant Experience

• Experience with large-scale population surveys or longitudinal cohorts.
• Familiarity with LMIC research environments.
• Experience in cognitive assessment or mental health research.
• Exposure to grant writing and collaborative research networks.

Personal Characteristics & Behaviours

• Demonstrates high scientific integrity and attention to detail. 
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills. 
• Strong communication skills.
• Culturally sensitive and adaptable in diverse environments. 
• Committed to mentoring and continuous professional development.