Posted on : May 18, 2022 Application deadline : May 24, 2022
Senior Research Investigator with the Enteric and Respiratory Infections under the Infectious Diseases Division (Internal#109/2022) icddr,b is a Bangladesh-based international health research institute that strives to solve key public health problems through high-quality scientific research and innovation. Established 60 years ago, we continue to provide life-saving services to the people of Bangladesh, and to nurture the next generation of global health leaders.
Senior Research Investigator Dhaka Applications from women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged
icddr,b invites applications from suitable candidates for the position of Senior Research Investigator with the Enteric and Respiratory Infections under the Infectious Diseases Division. The appointment will be made on Fixed Term basis for 1 year which is renewable depending on performance and availability of funds.
Position description
The studies “The effects of polluted water usage on the long-term carriage of enteric pathogens” will be implemented to demonstrate enteric pathogen acquisition in the gut microbiome of humans drinking untreated surface water and determine the effect on the gut microbiome of changing to a cleaner water source for drinking.
The Senior Research Investigator will report to the Senior Scientist. The major responsibilities of this position holder will be to conduct scientific research on public health issues; support development of successful proposals; secure independent funding for small projects; develop and implement rigorous protocols; coach junior scientists with the objective of generating knowledge from research evidence within the strategy of the center; and organizational values and guidelines.
This position may require frequent travel to all the activity sites and offices in Bangladesh.
Duties and Responsibilities
Research Proposal Development
Brainstorm research ideas with scientists; Draft proposals for study questions articulated by the team; Identify new research ideas and develop proposals; Secure funding for small projects; Review concept notes for peers and provide comments in order to conduct research in new areas. Research Protocol Development
Create detailed research design and methodology to achieve the study objectives; Estimate requirements for financial and non-financial resources based on research methodology; Identify research leaders (PIs, Co-PIs etc.) and collaborators (external partner organizations etc.) for research projects; Circulate protocol drafts internally and externally, seek feedback and modify accordingly; Seek approval from Finance, RRC, ERC etc. on protocol; Coordinate with Research Administration (RA) for registering projects with government / international authorities and for securing licenses or approvals for research-related activities; Contribute to other colleagues' research protocols in order to develop effective protocols that meet the research objectives. Project Management
Create detailed project plan covering milestones, deliverables etc.; Secure financial and non-financial resources; Support CSU to hire staff, process salaries, update budgets, arrange transport and other logistics etc; Supervise data collection; Monitor quality of collected data, and response rates against timelines and research criteria; Initiate procurement of necessary laboratory supply items; Train staff on reagent preparation, sample collection, laboratory experiments and data collection and entry procedures; Assign work to team as required and initiate activities as per project plan; Conduct and oversee Laboratory research and related scientific activities including writing; Supervise data collection; Coach staff on how to address issues faced during field-work; Data including DNA sequence analysis for scientific presentation and publication in peer reviewed journals. Take corrective actions to comply with donor mandates and research protocols in order to complete the research, with adherence to quality standards and project timelines. Scientific Analysis, Knowledge Creation and Translation
Critically asses data quality; Apply rigorous scientific analysis to derive meaningful inferences from data; Guide team to analyze data and draw appropriate scientific inferences; Present findings to other scientists and seek inputs; Derive implications for public health; Discuss preliminary findings with key stakeholders; Deliberate on those inputs and develop sound scientific manuscripts; Actively disseminate the knowledge at conferences and seminars; Develop articles for peer-reviewed journals; Conduct peer reviews of manuscripts of other researchers; Provide consultation services to the Government of Bangladesh and other stakeholders in the area of scientific expertise in order to generate new knowledge based on research evidence. Scientific Capacity Building
Coach junior scientists / interns / research fellows on data collection methods; Involve junior scientists in discussions, manuscript writing etc.; Demonstrate to junior scientists the rigor with which scientific reasoning and scientific documentation should be conducted; Set high standards and challenge junior scientists to meet these standards; Recommend staff for internal and external training programs; Conduct workshops and training sessions to share knowledge and experiential learning in order to develop sound scientists and researchers within the center; Analyze training feedback from participants and make appropriate changes in order to build statistical capabilities within the center. People Management
Interview candidates and make hiring recommendations, if required; Promote a spirit of collegiality and gender diversity amongst team members and in the organization; Encourage team members to collaborate across areas; Address and resolve any diversity related issues; Set goals and conduct appraisals for the team; Set high standards and confront poor performance where needed; Mentor young professionals and prepare them for higher responsibilities; Identify and reward high performers; Recommend promotions; Take appropriate actions to manage poor performance (such as creating Performance Improvement Plans, coaching, job rotations, planning separations from icddr,b) in order to build and develop an engaged and high performing team. Required experience and qualifications
Education:
Masters or equivalent degree in Microbiology /Biochemistry /Biotechnology/ Molecular Science / Bioinformatics / Biostatistics /Statistics/ Applied Statistics from any reputed university. Candidate should have a good academic track record.
Experience: 8 years of working experience in a research laboratory including project implementation, laboratory data generation, data analysis, grant and manuscript writing. However, experience may be relaxed up to 4 years for the candidates who have PhD and have 1st authored publications in international peer reviewed journals.
Candidates having in-depth experience in computational biology and genome evolutionary analyses is highly desirable.
Competencies:
Core Innovation
Excellent analytical and abstract reasoning skills; Ability to make new and useful ideas work; Ability to persuade others to follow; Ability to deal with ambiguity. People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction; Demonstrated leadership ability and team management; Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build consensus and resolve conflicts. Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform; Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills; Fluency in English and proficiency in Bangla. Delivery
Excellent organizational skills; Ability to get things done while exercising good judgment; Possesses a drive for excellence; Superior decision-making skills. Technical/Functional
Knowledge Management
Excellent understanding of Statistical approaches used in public health research, including but not limited to study design, sampling design, regression analysis with mixed variables; Excellent Knowledge of Scientific Writing and Publication; Excellent Knowledge of Fundraising Process, Concepts and Principles; Excellent knowledge of Laboratory Equipment Usage, Buffers and Cell Culture Media Preparation and Laboratory Testing Methods; Excellent knowledge and skills on Specimen Collection and Handling Guidelines and Techniques; Adequate Knowledge on Biohazards, Biosecurity, Biosafety and Waste Management Requirements; Very good Knowledge of Budgeting, Expenditure Monitoring and Project Resource Management skills; Excellent knowledge of Quality Assurance Standards; Very Good knowledge on Regulatory and Compliance Requirements; Very Good knowledge of Laboratory IT Systems and MS Office. **The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also consider performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references.
Salary: Annual Tk.17,12,810/- inclusive of house rent and conveyance allowances and other admissible benefits.
Number of posts: 01
Benefits/facilities: 14.8% provident fund contribution, income tax paid by icddr,b, children allowance @Tk.1,917/- per child per month, festival bonus, contributory healthcare support including dependent spouse and children, group life insurance, and subsidized canteen. Transport and daycare facilities are subject to space availability.
Interested candidates who fulfill the requirements should submit online applications using icddr,b website: career.icddrb.org by May 24, 2022. Internal candidates must mention their Identification Number in the application and their performance appraisal of the last 3 years will be evaluated.
Only short-listed candidates shall be invited for written test/interview.
The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.