Application are invited from suitable job seekers to fill up the position of Human Surveillance Research Assistant (2 positions) who will be responsible to a Lead Surveillance Manager of Epicenter for Emerging Infectious Diseases (EEIDI) project in Uganda at Bwindi Community Hospital.

Background

Bwindi Community Hospital is the primary partner implementing human surveillance
activities for the Epicenter for Emerging Infectious Diseases (EEIDI) that brings together
leading researchers to advance our understanding of virus emergence from wildlife in forests and rapidly urbanizing environments. Centered around human populations at high risk of animal-to-human disease spillover, our work focuses on arboviruses, filoviruses, and coronaviruses, which cause diseases such as Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19. As part of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) Network, EEIDI is one of 10 emerging infectious disease research centers established in regions around the world where emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks are likely to occur. This international network is dedicated to advancing an understanding of ecological, immunological, and evolutionary mechanisms driving emerging viral threats.

Purpose of the project

The EEIDI project in Uganda includes human surveillance that is integral to understanding
disease spillover dynamics. Surveillance activities will include biological sampling, behavioral questionnaires and focus groups with the aim of understanding the biological and ecological drivers of disease transmission. In order to target and enroll human participants into the study, we are working with our local collaborators at the Bwindi Community Hospital, Rugarama Hospital, Gorilla Doctors and Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). Human surveillance activities will require multiple research assistants who will work under the supervision of our Lead Surveillance Manager to ensure that the activities pertaining to project deliverables are executed.

Essential Responsibilities

1) Participate in training activities related to project protocols and standard operating
procedures to ensure competency and proficiency among all research assistants and
village health team (VHT) members

2) Conduct human surveillance activities in the Bwindi community hospital approved
catchment areas including: ensuring participants meet study eligibility criteria,
enrollment and consent of participant, biological sampling (collection of blood
samples and oro-pharyngeal swabs), questionnaire administration, and cold chain and
sample transport.

3) Ensure biosafety and compliance with all protocols during specimen collection and
handling.

Person specifications

 Advanced training as a Nurse or Medical clinical officer and registered with relevant
professional council with valid practicing license.
 Must have clinical skills in phlebotomy or venipuncture.
 Must be able to ride a motorcycle with a valid motorcycle riding permit
 Possession of relevant technical and behavior competencies.
 Must be able to consciously uphold hospital core values.
 Must be able to work effectively with diverse team members and stakeholders
 Must be able to work independently from a remote and rural areas of coverage.
 Must be able to travel to remote and rural areas as established.

Employment terms

This is a 3-year field project and for continuity of workflow, we are seeking for applicants with availability for the duration of the project cycle. The successful applicant will be appointed on contract for one (1) year, and renewable upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

Application process:

Applications with an updated CV addressed to the “Human Resource Manager,” Bwindi
Community Hospital, P.O. Box 58 Kanungu” should be submitted electronically as one
attachment only in portable documents format (pdf) indicating the name and position
applied for in the subject line to email address “secretarybwindihospital@gmail.com”and
copied to “hrbwindihospital@gmail.com” not later than 10/02/ 2021

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