The Ugandan Jobline

Job Title:  Senior Epidemiologist – Disease Burden Analysis    

Organisation: Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About Organisation:

Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is an independently governed institute within the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University and has the mission “To strengthen health systems in Africa, with a strong emphasis on infectious diseases, through research and capacity development.” IDI has operations across Uganda as well as in a number of other African countries and has a staffing of over 1,000 managing multiple projects in research, clinical services, public health and training.

Job Summary: The Infectious Diseases Institute is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Epidemiologist to lead the analysis and documentation of the comprehensive disease burden in Uganda and some selected African regions. The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping scientific questions, refining analysis methods, and identifying relevant literature and data sources for the project. Working closely with a senior statistician, the Senior Epidemiologist will be responsible for conducting literature searches, scoping reviews, and synthesizing findings into high-level scientific reports. The primary objective of this role is to produce a robust evidence base that informs advocacy, health programming, and planning efforts across the African continent.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to define research questions, study objectives, and analysis methodologies for disease burden assessment in Africa.
• Lead literature searches and scoping reviews to identify relevant studies, datasets, and evidence sources related to disease epidemiology and burden in African countries.
• Work closely with a senior statistician to refine data analysis methods, interpret statistical findings, and integrate epidemiological insights into scientific reports.
• Conduct comprehensive data synthesis and interpretation, including meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and meta-regression analyses where appropriate.
• Write and contribute to the development of scientific reports, manuscripts, and presentations summarizing key findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals and dissemination to high-level scientific audiences.
• Serve as a liaison with collaborators, and stakeholders, including technical working groups) to ensure alignment of project objectives and deliverables with strategic priorities and funding requirements. He/she will be responsible for convening meetings with technical working groups regularly.
• Engage the already established technical working groups and the donor to ensure that the employed methodologies and results from analyses make scientific and policy sense.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff members involved in literature reviews, data extraction, and report writing activities.
• Stay abreast of advancements in epidemiological methods, data analytics, and public health research, integrating new methodologies and best practices into project activities.
• Represent the organization at scientific conferences, workshops, and meetings, presenting research findings and networking with key stakeholders in the field.
• Work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to meet project timelines and deliver high-quality results under tight deadlines.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Health, or a related field. A Ph.D. is desirable but not mandatory.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in conducting epidemiological research, literature reviews, and data synthesis in a relevant field, preferably within the context of infectious diseases or global health.
• Previous experience in health policy analysis, program evaluation, or strategic planning is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multicultural environment, with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Experience working with donor-funded projects, international organizations, or research consortia focused on health programming and planning in Africa is advantageous.
• Knowledge of infectious and non-infectious diseases, epidemiological transitions, and public health challenges specific to the African context.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong methodological skills in epidemiological study design, data analysis, and interpretation, with proficiency in statistical software packages (e.g., R, SAS, Stata).
• Experience in Geo-spatial analysis techniques to document regional variations in healthcare access, utilization, and outcomes will be an added advantage.
• Experience in conducting comprehensive literature searches using various search engines.
• Proven track record of first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals and active engagement with the scientific community, including serving on editorial boards or peer-reviewing for top scientific journals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences in a clear and compelling manner.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in additional languages commonly spoken in Africa is desirable.

How to Apply:

All interested candidates should submit a comprehensive CV, a cover letter outlining their relevant experience and qualifications, and contact information for three professional references to the IDI Human Resources Director. Candidates are also requested to include in their CV links to their previously authored scientific documents, including manuscripts, reports, or grant proposals. Apply at the link below.

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Deadline: 1st July 2024

NB: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

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