Social Sciences Instructor at Aga Khan Academy

Job Summary

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the Department of Population Health entails a highly-skilled multi-disciplinary team with expertise in medical, public health, social, demography, statistical, and policy sciences with a vision to contribute to the health of populations, particularly those most in need, by using a population health science approach.

Responsibilities

The Social Scientist will take responsibility for teaching qualitative research methods and providing qualitative methods support to research projects conducted by faculty in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), and in qualitative FHS residents’ and students’ dissertation projects. S/he will also write and lead research grant proposals and their implementation in social science aspects of health. The individual will be expected to work towards developing an academic career in applied aspects of social sciences in health research. As an academic member of the Department of Population Health, the incumbent will:

1. Teach qualitative methods courses to residents and students in FHS
2. Provide qualitative research methodology advisory services for students’ and residents’ dissertations projects and specific FHS research projects.
3. Develop and/or continuously update and take responsibility for the qualitative component of the Research Methods course for residents and students in the FHS.
4. Contribute core expertise in social-cultural, behavioral, and organizational strategies for research projects within the department.
5. Lead specific research projects or components and contribute to qualitative data analysis, interpretation, publication, presentation.
6. Develop and maintain qualitative data quality assessment protocols and continuously monitor and advise research projects on data quality issues.
7. Provide support in interpreting qualitative analyses to colleagues and researchers in the department.

Requirements

1. Research experience as a lead researcher and/or key member of a research team
2. Teaching undergraduates or graduate students at the university level or mentorship of interns/students in a research environment.
3. Published author or contributing author to peer-reviewed publications
4. A PhD in Sociology/Social Sciences, Anthropology/Medical Anthropology, Public Health or any closely related field.
5. Demonstrated progress towards completion of a PhD in these fields (within 1 year of the date of appointment) will be considered.
6. BA and/or MA in any of the above or closely related fields.
7. Demonstrated social science/qualitative research experience, preferably in the health sciences.
8. Excellent computer skills and proficiency with one or more qualitative analyses software (including NVivo, Atlas or QDA).
9. Experience in teaching and/or supporting qualitative methods teaching/mentoring of learners.