Summary
Date Posted: 29th January 2019 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed , Employment Type: Full-Time , Currency: Tsh

JOB DETAILS:
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.
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 ).

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Job application procedure
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 sample Closing date: Sunday February 10th, 2019 Candidates should have Tanzanian nationality or be in possession of a Tanzanian resident and working permit.