Organization Summary:
Ciheb-Zambia is a non-profit local Zambian organisation supporting Ministry of Health to scale up comprehensive HIV prevention and testing services and find the best solutions to life threatening situations among communities in Zambia.
Position Summary
Ciheb Zambia is seeking a positive, highly motivated, organized individual with excellent communication skills to join our team as a Research Scientist. In partnership with the University of Michigan, our team studies the burden and causes of neurologic disease, particularly cognitive impairment and dementia, among aging adults in Zambia. The Research Scientist will work with the study principal investigator, Ciheb Zambia staff, and a multidisciplinary community-based team of data collectors to accurately and efficiently carry out a range of tasks associated with a variety of studies focused on aging and dementia in Zambia.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Working closely with the University of Michigan principal investigator of the Zambian-Cohort for Healthy Aging and Dementia (Z-CHAD) Study.
- Serve as the local site PI for community-based data collection of cognitive impairment and associated risk factors among Zambian adults.
- Design and implement population-based surveys, longitudinal cohort studies, and mixed-methods studies of neurologic disease, associated risk factors, and community understanding of disease in diverse community settings in Zambia.
- Supervise and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of epidemiologists, neurologists, statisticians, geriatricians, and stakeholders, including community members and government stakeholders to further our mission of improving the diagnosis and management of neurologic disease, specifically cognitive impairment.
- Lead data collection, ensuring data quality and ethical administration, and analysis efforts of complex survey data pertaining to neurocognitive function in multiple languages.
- Development of innovative and culturally appropriate methodologies for assessing neurocognitive function and interpretation of cognitive tests in coordination with a team of international investigators, including dementia prevalence, and related health conditions in diverse populations.
- Publish high-impact research findings in peer-reviewed journals and represent Ciheb Zambia and the University of Michigan and their associated work at national and international conferences.
Grant Development and Management
- Develop and submit competitive grant applications to international federal agencies (NIH/NIA, CDC, Welcome Trust), private foundations, and other funding sources.
- Oversee study administration, including ethical and financial aspects of the work, to ensure activities are in line with all local laws and regulations.
- Manage research budgets, timelines, and deliverables to ensure successful study completion.
- Maintain compliance with institutional, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.
- Manage study staff in day-to-day tasks to ensure study goals are met.
Mentorship and Training
- Guide research design, grant writing, manuscript preparation, and career development for the study team.
- Create opportunities for multi-disciplinary trainees to gain hands-on experience with survey research and population health data, study administration, and patient experience with neurologic disease.
Academic and Service Contributions
- Engage with community stakeholders and advocate for populations affected by neurologic disease, specifically cognitive impairment.
- Contribute to the academic mission through peer review, editorial activities, and professional leadership.
Minimum Qualifications:
Educational:
- Doctoral degree in clinical neuropsychology, psychology, or other related fields.
- Master’s degree in clinical neuropsychology, psychology, or other related fields.
- Registration and Accreditation with the Zambian National Health Regulatory Authority.
Experience:
- Experience conducting epidemiological and medical data collection in the community or clinical environment with participants affected by stigmatized diseases.
- Minimum 4 years of experience in research, including primary data collection with community-based participants.
- Experience in conducting qualitative research including involvement in the design and implementation of semi-structured interviews and software assisted qualitative analysis, or the desire to learn these skills.
- A working knowledge of medical terminology, specifically related to neurologic disease.
- Up-to-date responsible conduct of research certification through CITI or another related program, or the ability to complete training upon hire.
- A strong commitment to health equity and improving access to neurological care.
- Demonstrated experience administering, scoring, and interpreting neurocognitive testing in a variety of participant populations in Zambia.
- Documented research experience, including primary data collection with community-based participants.
- Experience supervising multi-disciplinary teams to conduct clinical or community-based research.
- Experience using e-research Regulatory Management systems in Zambia, RedCAP or other comparable platforms.
Required skills:
- Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written form with diverse individuals.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Superb interpersonal skills and professional demeanor.
- Strong ability to work independently, exercising good judgement, with minimal supervision as measured by interview, references, and performance evaluations.
- Ability to function with diverse teams of people in a diplomatic, collaborative, and effective manner.
- Strong problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to learn and use new skills quickly and effectively.
- Ability to maintain data confidentiality and participant/subject/patient privacy.
- Excellent attendance record and strong work ethic.
- Fluency or a high-level working knowledge of multiple Zambian local languages in addition to English.
- Proficiency in the PC environment and with programs including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
To Apply
Submit your Curriculum Vitae with three traceable referees and cover letter on or before 29th January 2026 by using the link below.
Application form link:
https://forms.gle/xh9uPr6o6yvK83fGA
