Position: Assistant Researcher II – Social Science

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with frequent travel to project sites in Ethiopia.

Employment Type: Full-time, Contract

Reports to: Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator

About Us

The Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) is one of Ethiopia's leading biomedical research institutions. Established in 1970 through the initiative of the Norwegian and Swedish Save the Children organizations in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the Institute is named after the Norwegian physician Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen, who first identified Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy.

Since joining the Ethiopian Ministry of Health in 2004 and becoming a federal government health agency under Council of Ministers Regulation No. 376/2016 in 2016, AHRI has expanded its research portfolio to address infectious diseases and other public health priorities through high-quality biomedical, clinical, implementation, and social science research. The Institute works closely with national and international partners through competitive research grants, clinical trials, capacity-building initiatives, and postgraduate training programs, contributing to evidence generation that informs health policy and practice.

About the Project

The successful candidate will initially join a multidisciplinary research team implementing a multi-arm, multi-stage clinical trial on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), MAMS4CL project, in selected hospitals in Ethiopia. The social science component of the project includes a pre-trial qualitative study to understand community, patient, caregiver, and health system perspectives, as well as a patient experience study conducted alongside the clinical trial. The research aims to generate evidence on patient experiences, treatment acceptability, barriers and facilitators to trial participation, and broader social and health system factors that influence treatment outcomes and implementation.

The project offers an excellent opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, biomedical scientists, epidemiologists, and social scientists while contributing to nationally and internationally significant clinical research.

Position Summary

The Assistant Researcher II – Social Science will support the design and implementation of qualitative and mixed-methods research activities embedded within the clinical trial. The successful candidate will participate in fieldwork, data management, qualitative analysis, stakeholder engagement, scientific writing, and dissemination activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative and mixed-methods data collection, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observations.

• Coordinate fieldwork activities at ALERT Comprehensive Specialized hospital (one of the project sites).

• Recruit study participants in accordance with approved study protocols.

• Obtain informed consent while ensuring compliance with ethical standards.

• Maintain high-quality research documentation and field records.

• Transcribe, translate, and organize qualitative data.

• Assist with qualitative data coding and analysis using qualitative data analysis software.

• Support data quality assurance and study monitoring activities.

• Contribute to report writing, manuscript preparation, conference presentations, and dissemination activities.

• Participate in stakeholder and community engagement activities.

• Perform other research-related duties assigned by the Principal Investigator.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Public Health, Health Promotion, Social Epidemiology, or another relevant social science discipline.

• Minimum CGPA of 3.00 for Male and 2.75 Female applicants.

• Minimum of 4 years of demonstrated experience conducting qualitative or mixed-methods health research.

• Experience with qualitative data collection and analysis.

• Excellent written and spoken English.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Willingness to travel to project sites.

Desirable Qualifications

• Previous experience working on clinical trials, implementation research, or infectious disease research.

• Experience using qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti).

• Experience in scientific writing and manuscript preparation.

• Knowledge of research ethics and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural research teams.

• Proficiency in Amharic and other local languages relevant to the study areas is an advantage.

Required Competencies

• Strong organizational and time management skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• High level of integrity and attention to detail.

• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and ethical research practices.

Number of Positions: 01

Terms of Employment: One year with a possibility of extension based on performance and budget availability.

Salary: As per the organization's approved salary scale 

How To Apply

How to apply 

Interested applicants who fulfilled the above requirements should send the following through ethiojobs.net.

• A cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the position.

• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV).

• Copies of academic credentials.

• Contact information for three professional referees.

• Publications (if any) should be listed in your CV

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

AHRI is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce. To improve gender balance within its research teams and encourage women's participation in health research, qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Selection will be based on merit, qualifications, and the requirements of the position.

Job Requirements The successful candidate should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Public Health, Health Promotion, Social Epidemiology, or another relevant social science discipline, with a minimum CGPA of 3.00 for male applicants and 2.75 for female applicants. A minimum of 4 years of demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative or mixed-methods health research is required. Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research, mixed-methods research, public health research, data collection, data analysis, research design, fieldwork coordination, report writing, stakeholder engagement, and research ethics is essential. Strong analytical, communication, interviewing, and report-writing skills are highly desirable. How to Apply Apply using the provided link below.