Overview
The Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) is an
international research institute that works to develop sustainable
solutions to major health problems. By taking a problem-oriented
approach, AIGHD transcends the boundaries of traditional academic
disciplines and integrates three fundamental activities into one
institute: global health and development research, education and policy
advice.
AIGHD is a dynamic research and education institute that thrives on
intense collaboration among experts from multiple disciplines including
biomedicine, economics, and social and behavioral sciences. With its
interdisciplinary and translational approach, AIGHD addresses the most
critical medical, social, economic and political challenges in global
health and development that cut across national and political borders.
To realize its vision of “access to high-quality health care for all”,
AIGHD closely collaborates with implementing partners and organizations
from both public and private sectors around the globe. AIGHD works by
linking expertise, resources and programs from organizations involved in
health-related research, education, capacity building, and policy
making, bringing a ‘delivery perspective’ to health research and a
‘quality aspect’ to health care services.
Background: The Shinyanga HIV Test & Treat project
The new WHO guidelines advocate the so-called ‘HIV Test and Treat
approach’: immediate antiretroviral treatment (ART) for all HIV infected
persons, independent of clinical stage or CD4 count. AIGHD has been
awarded the task of scientific evaluation of a unique HIV T&T
project in Tanzania, aiming to put 20,000 HIV patients on ART through
T&T and decentralized ART provision through a Hub and Club model.
The implementation of the Shinyanga HIV T&T project is led by an
Italian NGO (Doctors with Africa CUAMM) through a network of Tanzanian
healthcare providers, under the Diocese of Shinyanga. In this context,
AIGHD, as the research partner, is responsible for performing
multi-disciplinary operational research (clinical, epidemiological,
economic and socio-anthropological) under the final guidance of a
Principal Investigator (PI) from the United Kingdom and a co-PI from
Tanzania.
Vacancy : Social Science PhD student
Hours : 40-hour work week, Full-time
Location : Shinyanga, Tanzania
The Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) is
looking for a highly motivated PhD student to work on a social science
study within an innovative HIV Test & Treat and Differentiated HIV
Care project in Shinyanga and Simiyu regions, Tanzania (in short ‘the
T&T project). The project is carried out by an international multi-
stakeholder consortium with both implementing and research partners. The
PhD student will be part of a larger multi-disciplinary team on site,
consisting of scientific, project operational and health care staff and
report to the AIGHD lead social science research in Amsterdam.
Main Responsibilities
The PhD student will be responsible for collecting and analyzing data
and scientific writing up of the qualitative research performed within
the T&T project. In order to complete a PhD at the University of
Amsterdam the PhD student will also need to complete all the
requirements of the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research
(AISSR). The PhD student is
expected to complete and defend a PhD thesis within 4 years. Aside from
conducting ethnographic fieldwork the PhD candidate is expected to spend
one day a week on the broader multidisciplinary research questions
within the project, coordinating with the economic and clinical PhD
projects,
The work will include the following tasks:
- Write PhD proposal, do ethnographic data-collection and qualitative analysis, write scientific papers, contribute to project reports and write and defend doctoral thesis
- Organize and participate in regular meetings with supervisory team (face to face and via conference call) and with internal staff and core partners
- Coordinate the PhD project with the implementation studies performed by Doctors with Africa CUAMM team
- Assist Post-doctoral researcher in gathering data required to answer the broader social science (mixed method) and multidisciplinary research questions
- Submit to and present research findings at national and international conferences, and apply for scholarships to attend conferences Educational qualifications
Academic level: Master degree in Social Anthropology, Sociology or Development studies.
Work experience
At least 2 years of professional experience in social science research in HIV programs, using qualitative methods such as participant observation and in-depth interviewing. It is crucial that the candidate has proven independent research experience. Experience with the following is an advantage: working with a (international) research institution, evidence of (co-)authorship of peer-reviewed publication(s), data management and qualitative analysis skills, quantitative research skills.
Desired skills
- Ability to work proactively and independently with minimal supervision, flexible work-attitude
- Attention to detail, structured and well-organized
- Excellent analytical and writing skills
- Excellent computer software skills – Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint), .ly N-VIVO
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to connect to diverse groups of people
- Willingness to travel and live within the project region and occasionally travel to Dar es Salaam and Amsterdam
Languages
Excellent command of both written and spoken English and Kiswahili and Kisukuma, or willingness to learn Kisukuma is a pre.
Duration
The opportunity for doing a PhD is a 2-step process. After 1 year the academic progress of the PhD candidate will be evaluated and the experiences and motivation of the candidate to pursue the program discussed. Should both parties decide to continue, the second phase will encompass a 3 year period with the opportunity to complete a PhD degree at the University of Amsterdam. In this context AIGHD offers annual short-course trainings in the Netherlands.
AIGHD offers
AIGHD offers an excellent job opportunity in a cutting-edge working environment in global health and development and a salary in line with prevailing sector standards. For more information about the job description please contact Ilona Sips (i.sips@aighd.org).
Interested candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, a CV, and evidence of writing skills to HR Support (hrsupport@aighd.org). Evidence of writing skills can include a publication, an MA thesis written by the candidate or another writing sampleClosing date: Sunday February 10th, 2019
Candidates should have Tanzanian nationality or be in possession of a Tanzanian resident and working permit.
