Department

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health EA

Entity

Aga Khan University

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction

The Aga Khan University is a pioneering institution of higher education whose mission is to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond, through world-class teaching, research, and healthcare delivery. AKU educates students for local and global leadership from campuses and teaching hospitals in six countries, primarily in Asia and Africa. It generates new knowledge to solve problems that affect millions of people, especially the most vulnerable. The University is a private, not-for-profit institution and part of the Aga Khan Development Network. www.aku.edu

The Medical College has 4-year Master of Medicine degrees in Anaesthesia, family medicine, medicine, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, pathology, radiology, and surgery. It also offers fellowship programmes in cardiology, infectious diseases, neonatology, and paediatric neurology.

As part of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Aga Khan University, the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa (CoEWCH, EA) targets population and public health, health systems strengthening, quality of clinical care, education and research in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH). The team of researchers includes experts in health systems research, social science, epidemiology, obstetrics – gynaecology, paediatrics, nursing and midwifery, family medicine, biostatistics and monitoring and evaluation.

Job Summary

The successful candidate will lead study activities related to provision of ultrasound based accurate pregnancy dating for research participants in the PRECISE study and other related pregnancy studies. His/her role will involve planning, coordinating, and reporting research activities including participants’ selection, recruitment, data collection and follow-up of research participants.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design of study activities involving ultrasound in pregnancy and gestational age assessment.
• Plan and coordinate all ultrasound related activities alongside the study/project coordinator.
• Train study research assistant on procedures involving obstetric ultrasound and relevant data collection.
• Regularly check the quality of procedures and saved videos of scans to ensure compliance to SOP and good quality.
• Directly supervise research assistants.
• Contribute to the selection, purchase, setup, and basic maintenance of ultrasound equipment and maintain inventory for ultrasound devices.
• Support the purchase and tracking of supplies for ultrasound related procedures.
• Develop site specific SOPs, policies, and processes for ultrasound related procedures.
• Contribute to data analysis for ultrasound related data.
• Preparation and compilation of reports for ultrasound related activities.
• Be directly involved in participant screening, informed consent, recruitment, follow-up, and data collection.
• Providing accurate pregnancy dating by performing obstetric ultrasound on research participants.
• Liaise with other AKU research studies, particularly those involving ultrasound in pregnancy and gestational age assessment.
• Support the setup and running of other PRECISE sub-studies and/or related studies as allocated by Principal Investigator.
• Any other responsibilities assigned by Principal Investigator.

• Higher Diploma in Sonography /Medical Imaging or equivalent.
• Other clinically qualified applicants with demonstrable competence in providing obstetric ultrasound will be considered.
• Registration with the Kenya Radiation Board or equivalent medical certification.
• Other qualification relevant to clinical research will be an added advantage. This includes clinical qualifications e.g., Clinical Medicine, Public health.
• At least 2 years’ clinical experience in providing obstetric ultrasound at a busy health facility.
• At least 1 year experience in a health research environment including community and public health facility setting. 
• Relevant experience in multi-centre/multi-country projects will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and supervise large teams.