The Research Assistant will be part of the Educational Development and Quality Center (EDQC) at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE). This role is crucial for supporting research initiatives within the center.

Responsibilities or duties

1. Literature Review and Evidence Synthesis

• Conduct structured literature reviews in priority research areas including health professions education, competency-based education, mentorship, faculty development, and quality assurance.
• Develop annotated bibliographies and evidence of summaries to support research projects.
• Assist in developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks for research studies.
• Contribute to drafting background and literature review sections of manuscripts, reports, and research proposals.

2. Research Design and Protocol Development

• Support the development of research protocols and methodological frameworks.
• Assist in developing research instruments such as surveys, interview guides, and Delphi questionnaires.
• Contribute to preparation of ethics and Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions where required.
• Assist in preparing research implementation plans and timelines.

3. Data Collection and Research Management

• Support quantitative and qualitative data collection activities.
• Organize, clean, and manage research datasets.
• Maintain secure documentation and version control for research materials.
• Prepare data dictionaries and research documentation.

4. Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Conduct preliminary quantitative analyses using tools such as Excel, SPSS, STATA, or R.
• Support qualitative coding and thematic analysis using NVivo or manual approaches.
• Develop summary tables, figures, and charts to present research findings.
• Contribute to interpretation of research findings aligned with study objectives.

5. Manuscript Development and Scholarly Dissemination

• Assist in drafting, editing, and formatting manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
• Ensure referencing accuracy using recognized citation styles (Vancouver or APA).
• Support the preparation of conference abstracts, posters, and presentations.
• Track journal submission requirements and assist in coordinating manuscript submissions.

Expected Outputs

• Literature review briefs and evidence synthesis reports.
• Draft research protocols and data collection instruments.
• Organized datasets and supporting documentation.
• Analytical summaries including statistical tables or thematic analyses.
• Contributions to manuscript drafts and scholarly dissemination of outputs.

Professional Development and Supervision

The Research Assistant will receive structured mentorship and supervision to support professional growth in educational research and scholarship. This includes:

• Orientation and onboarding at the start of the appointment.
• Regular supervision meetings with the Chair of EDQC.
• Mentorship in research methods and academic writing.
• Opportunities to contribute to publications and conference presentations when contributions meet authorship criteria.
• Exposure collaborative educational research initiatives involving regional and international academic partners.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or final-year postgraduate student) in Health Professions Education, Public Health, Education Research, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in academic writing and literature review.
• Familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency in Excel and at least one research analysis software (SPSS, STATA, R, or NVivo).
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary academic environment.

Experience needed

Demonstrated experience in academic writing and literature review. Familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

This is a Full-Time Fixed-Term Contract position for one year. The role offers professional development opportunities through mentorship and supervision.

• Conduct structured literature reviews in priority research areas including health professions education, competency-based education, mentorship, faculty development, and quality assurance.
• Develop annotated bibliographies and evidence of summaries to support research projects.
• Assist in developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks for research studies.
• Contribute to drafting background and literature review sections of manuscripts, reports, and research proposals.
• Support the development of research protocols and methodological frameworks.
• Assist in developing research instruments such as surveys, interview guides, and Delphi questionnaires.
• Contribute to preparation of ethics and Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions where required.
• Assist in preparing research implementation plans and timelines.
• Support quantitative and qualitative data collection activities.
• Organize, clean, and manage research datasets.
• Maintain secure documentation and version control for research materials.
• Prepare data dictionaries and research documentation.
• Conduct preliminary quantitative analyses using tools such as Excel, SPSS, STATA, or R.
• Support qualitative coding and thematic analysis using NVivo or manual approaches.
• Develop summary tables, figures, and charts to present research findings.
• Contribute to interpretation of research findings aligned with study objectives.
• Assist in drafting, editing, and formatting manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
• Ensure referencing accuracy using recognized citation styles (Vancouver or APA).
• Support the preparation of conference abstracts, posters, and presentations.
• Track journal submission requirements and assist in coordinating manuscript submissions.

• Proficiency in Excel
• Proficiency in at least one research analysis software (SPSS, STATA, R, or NVivo)
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong documentation skills
• Academic writing
• Literature review
• Qualitative research methods
• Quantitative research methods

• Master’s degree (or final-year postgraduate student) in Health Professions Education, Public Health, Education Research, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in academic writing and literature review.
• Familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency in Excel and at least one research analysis software (SPSS, STATA, R, or NVivo).
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary academic environment.