RESEARCH ASSISTANT

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Possible is a collaboration that develops and tests innovations to improve health in Nepal by directly responding to local concerns, while drawing from and contributing to the broader disciplines of global health research, practice, and policy. Our partnership is between an independent Nepal-based non- governmental organization and a US-based non-profit. Possible envisions a world where everyone, everywhere has access to high-quality healthcare rooted in evidence, inclusion, and equity. As such, we engage in rigorous and collaborative research and innovation to address evidence, implementation, and policy gaps in the equity, quality, and accessibility of healthcare. Our research endeavors and partnerships aim to address challenges in context and from stated or established needs. Our first commitment is to develop and deploy interventions that improve health (rather than prioritize academic outputs that may be novel and methodologically sound but do not directly improve healthcare). We partner with community-based organizations, public and private sector academic institutions and research organizations to leverage research and evidence to inform and implement innovative solutions to healthcare challenges in Nepal. For the last 16 years, we have been a leader in healthcare innovation in Nepal, conducting implementation research with partnerships spanning several international institutions such as Harvard Medical School, University of California San Francisco, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and University of Washington.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Possible, a non-governmental organization registered in Nepal, is seeking Research Assistants (RAs) to support a randomized controlled trial to Lower depression and Address intimate Partner violence among young married women in Nepal. The RAs are required to conduct research activities in Nepali and/or Maithili languages, and will work closely with the assessment team, counselors and research team at Possible, its collaborating partners and stakeholders.

Reports to: Research Coordinator

Works collaboratively with: Possible, WOREC and other relevant stakeholders in study sites Location: This study will take place in Sarlahi, Sunsari and Udayapur districts, and we are looking for 2 RAs each in Udayapur and Sunsari districts, and 1 RA in Sarlahi district. These positions require extensive travel within the district.

Duration: Annual Contract subject to renewal Nature of engagement: Full-time 

Big Three Responsibilities:

The Research Assistant will be responsible for the following duties but not limited to:

1. Recruit research participants, and support the assessment team in conducting baseline and follow up assessments in accordance with the trial protocol.
2. Support in ensuring safety of the research participants
3. Coordinate with stakeholders, local government bodies and collaborative partners, representing Possible in the study sites.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Research Assistants will work under the direct supervision of Research Coordinator at Possible to be chiefly responsible for the following areas of work:

1.     Recruit Research Participants and Support the assessment team in Conducting Baseline and Follow- up Assessments according to Study Protocol

a.     Map out stakeholders in the district, establish contact and engage with them to establish referral of potential participants to the study

b.     Establish contact with the potential participants, coordinate and administer screening questions to assess eligibility for study participation.

c.     Recruit eligible participants by obtaining their written informed consent..

d.     Support assessment team in scheduling appointments with study participants for baseline surveys, follow-up assessments, and in-depth interviews.

e.     Coordinate with the research coordinators for randomization procedure

f.     Collaborate closely with the assessment teams to monitor participants' ongoing engagement and collect insights on their experiences.

g.     Maintain recruitment and assessment logs closely working with the assessment team.Facilitate the scheduling and conducting of in-depth interviews by working closely with the qualitative research team.

h.     Provide regular updates on study progress, enrollment, and challenges to the Research Coordinator and stakeholders through team meetings.

i.     Work with counselors, research coordinators and the research team to plan,schedule and track intervention sessions for participants.

j.     Support in maintaining ethical and methodological rigor in the study

k.     Work with the assessment team and data manager in data quality checks and validation.

l.     Keep track of participants who refuse to participate in the study, withdraw from participation or are lost to follow up.

2.     Support in ensuring safety of the research participants and data validation process

a.     Clearly communicate all aspects of the research to participants, including potential risks and benefits, and connect the participants to the assessment team, ensuring smooth transition.

b.     Safeguard participants' privacy by rigorously following the trial protocol;

c.     Coordinate with the assessment team to contact study participants to keep track of untoward/adverse events throughout the study period;

d.     Notify any untoward/adverse events in the study to the research coordinator, and support in documenting the events;

e.     Work together with research coordinator, counselors, mental health research manager, and partner organizations in following up and managing the participants with untoward/adverse events.

f.     Raise any concerns related to participants’ safety observed in the field to the study team, and discuss ways to address/manage them.

g.     Attend study team meetings as appropriate and provide inputs to maintain the ethical conduct of the trial.

h.     Participate in training sessions on the trial procedures and ethical conduct of the study.

i.     Guide assessment team in securely storing the research documents at the study sites, and liaise with the study team for the safe transfer of all research documents to the Possible office.

3.     Coordinate with study team, stakeholders, government bodies and collaborative partners, representing Possible, in the study sites and manage logistics

a.     Coordinate with stakeholders at multiple levels to inform and share about the study and continuously follow up for recruitment of participants, as required;

b.     Support the formation of community advisory board (CAB) and support Research Coordinators in coordinating meetings with CAB as required.

c.     Coordinate with District Coordination Committees (DCCs) for stakeholders engagement and plan the logistics along with partner organization.

d.     Manage overall logistics in the site offices and counseling centers in coordination with the operations team, partner organizations and research coordinator.

e.     Meet regularly with District Coordinators from partner organizations, update progress of the study, and address challenges during implementation.

The above list of responsibilities is not comprehensive, and the Research Assistant may be required to take on additional responsibilities, as determined and discussed with the research coordinator, and the study team.

MUST HAVES:

• Commitment to Possible’s values and work culture.
• Strong experience in local stakeholder engagement and coordination of research activities. Local candidates with flexibility regarding travel and working hours
• Minimum of one year of experience working as a Research Assistant (Preference will be given to female applicants with prior experience of using digital platforms such as ODK, commcare, REDCap, and in areas such as clinical trials, intimate partner violence, or mental health research.
• Bachelor degree in public health or relevant degree.
• Fluency in written and spoken Nepali. (Local language/Maithili fluency would be preferred for candidates working in Sarlahi and Sunsari districts)

APPLICATION PROCESS

If you are interested to apply for this position, please email your CV and Cover Letter to recruitment@possiblehealth.org. When applying, please include name and position in the subject line, and specify the location (Sarlahi, Sunsari or Udaypur) that you have applied for in the Cover Letter. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until filled. If we believe that you are a potential fit, we will contact you to advance the application process. Please note that due to a large volume of applications, we may not individually respond to your application.

Please visit our website to get a detailed description: https://possiblehealth.org/work-with-us/