Volunteer Medical and Health Research PhD Students

What will you be doing?

Main Responsibilities

Carrying out Medical and Health research using existing secondary data sets or primary research; Organising, designing and carrying out research fieldwork, often with marginalised or vulnerable people, in different locations and contexts across the UK, Africa and the world; Conducting quantitative or qualitative analysis of data conducted through interviews, focus groups, workshops or other methods such as surveys using online forms such as Google online forms or Survey Monkey. Carrying out desktop research, using a range of methods and sources of data, related to determinants of health, socioeconomic, health inequality and social innovation practice globally. Producing high quality and varied research outputs for a range of audiences including analysis, report writing and presentations where necessary; Publish your research output in reputable journals across the UK, Africa and the world; Liaise between your research institute and Africa Health Organisation (AHO) to ensure collaboration and authenticity; Ensure you obtain permission from and follow research enthics procedures from AHO and from your institute and comply with research ethics in your country before carrying out research; Making sure your work is participatory, including working with peer researchers and valuing the importance of communicating with different audiences. Taking responsibility for data and project management and administration as it relates to delivering work. Delivery of particular work strands relating to your research. This will include taking personal responsibility for key elements of work as well as supporting others in the team. Any other duties as required by the line manager in line with the role.

What are we looking for?

Person specification Prior experience - essential

Masters degree in medicine, public health, global health, criminology,  sociology, psychology, engineering, mathematics, biostatistics, biology, chemistry, sciences, etc AND 1+ year of professional experience conducting medical and health research at a university, think tank, charity or consultancy Studying a doctoral degree (PhD) or equivalent in medicine, public health, global health, criminology,  health and social care, sociology, psychology, engineering, mathematics, biostatistics, biology, chemistry, sciences or equivalent subject that is related to medical and health doctoral degree; Experience of designing quantitative research tools Experience of quantitative and statistical data analysis, including of large existing data sets, using Excel and/or SPSS Experience of designing qualitative research tools Experience of conducting and organising qualitative fieldwork Experience of conducting qualitative analysis using Excel, Word and/or NVivo Experience of having conducted robust desktop research and knowledge of a range of methodologies for doing this Evidence of ability to grasp complex concepts and debates quickly and to engage with these effectively through research Ability to communicate effectively – in writing and in person - about research findings to a range of audiences Evidence of having delivered or contributed to the delivery of high-quality social research outputs

  Prior experience – desirable

Able to lead work packages and deliver work in different areas on time; Experience of having designed and conducted participatory research; Experience of research with people from a range of backgrounds, including from vulnerable or disadvantaged backgrounds such as disabled, homelessness and from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities; Experience or understanding of ethnographic methods; Published medical and social research outputs;

This role is open to anyone studying a PhD or equivalent from across the world at an approved research institute, thinktank, charity or university globally.

What difference will you make?

The volunteer's impact on the organisation is increasing awareness for the charity through research to enable it carry out its projects in Africa and the UK and the world. The volunteer will be able to allow the Directors time to concentrate on managing the organisation and reduce stress from the Director by reducing his responsibilities. The organisation will be able to carry out its activities better with evidence from research. This will increase the morale of the staff if they know that they have data to help them do their work. Another impact is to enable AHO set up a research institute in Africa and the UK. As for the impact on beneficiaries, this will be enormous. Our beneficiaries are people in Africa and UK with health and social care issues. We will be able to understand the issues people face specially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. We will be able to improve health and well-being for people with myraid conditions such as diabetes, cancers, kidney failure, etc. Having a resaerch officer enables us to showcase our work in research and better support to people in humanitarian emergencies facing wars, diseases and starvation such as in South Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria and Central African Republic and people will be able to donate to the charity. We will be able to improve the welfare of the people in emergency situation. We will also be able to prevent maternal deaths and infant mortality which are high in Africa due to shortage of research information and data. In UK, the impact will be providing information and help improving the lives of refugees and deprived communities such as BAME communities