Research Assistant – Research for Health Systems Strengthening in Syria (R4HSSS)

Job description

The Research for Health Systems Strengthening in Syria (R4HSSS) team is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates for the post of Research Assistant. We are a small and hard-working team based at King’s College London working with partners in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. The main objective of this project is to produce a model on health system strengthening in conflict settings which could be applied in other contexts affected by protracted and complex conflicts.    

The successful candidate will work primarily for the project Co-Investigators and directly support Senior Research Associate, Dr. Nassim El Achi, as part of the King’s research team. The postholder will support quantitative data analysis and research dissemination for research projects in collaboration with INGOs and NGOs involved in health service delivery in northern Syria.  

The overall purpose of the role is to 1) contribute to the design and implementation of the various quantitative research tools and activities; and 2) work with the wider research team at King’s, our partners UOSSM, and other collaborators to analyse large sets of quantitative data; and 3) produce high quality academic and policy publications. 

The post offers an excellent opportunity for an early-career researcher to enhance their quantitative expertise using unique, health data resources, whilst also learning from a multi-disciplinary team. 

The post is part-time, and funding is currently available for 12 months. The job will be through the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Cancer   and Pharmaceutical Sciences, however, the successful candidate will work from the King’s Strand Campus in central London. It is not anticipated that there will be any travel related to this role. 

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 12 months 

This is a part-time post - 50% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Contribute to the design and the conduct of quantitative research alongside the other researchers and investigators.
• Conduct data analysis and participate in data validation workshops as appropriate
• Interpret research findings, including contextualising them in terms of relevant policy and the research literature.
• Take a lead in writing high quality publications for submission to peer-reviewed journals and wider dissemination of research findings to stakeholders including research-participants, policymakers, data providers and professionals.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. 

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, or related fields.

2.       Evidence of excellent quantitative skills, including in accessing, preparing and analysing administrative or other large quantitative data for health research that informs policy and practice, using appropriate statistical software (e.g. STATA, R).

3.       Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

4.       Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team to strict deadlines.

5.       Ability to organise and prioritise workload.

Desirable criteria

1.       Knowledge about Health Systems, Health Education and Health Services in conflict settings

2.       Experience of working with Syrian diaspora groups in the UK and internationally

3.       Emerging record of publications in peer reviewed social science and/or global health/ medical journal

4.       Knowledge about and experience of designing research projects and writing grant funding proposals.