Research Assistant

The Woolcock Institute is lung health research organisation, based at Sydney University, Australia (http://www.woolcock.org.au/). The Institute has operated in Vietnam since 2009, and is undertaking large and important operational and epidemiological research projects in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Program in 9 Provinces, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Research in Vietnam currently focuses on tuberculosis but we anticipate that it will expand into other areas including programmatic management of chronic lung disease (asthma and COPD), air pollution research and preventive interventions that are relevant to lung health. The Woolcock also runs training in epidemiological and operational research methods for Vietnamese doctors and public health workers.

Role:

This person will conduct research into the diagnosis of TB disease, and its risk factors, within a larger tuberculosis screening project in Ca Mau province (the ACT3 study). This person will conduct the follow-up interviews of TB patients diagnosed as part of the ACT3 study and other related studies.

Main duties and Responsibilities:

• Carry out administrative arrangement for the research implementation
• Conduct in-depth interviews with patients with TB using quantitative and qualitative research methods, under the guidance of other researchers in the team.
• Use geographic information system (GIS) technology to collect spatial coordinates of participants in the research.
• Liaise with staff in the NTP throughout the province, to locate and interview TB patients diagnosed within the National Tuberculosis Program (e.g. in district health centres, hospitals)
• Conduct workshops/meetings to educate staff from the NTP about our research project
• Interpret and translate English – Vietnamese to support international experts.
• Prepare monthly project activity reports
• Ensuring that invoices and supporting documents are legal and valid according to Vietnam law and the policies of the Woolcock Institute
• Perform other tasks required for the ACT3 project, as directed by the Senior Research Officer and ACT3 supervisor

Required education, skills and qualities

a.Education:

• A bachelor’s degree in public health or another health-related university qualification

b.Professional Experience:

• At least 1 year experience, preferably working experience with an official development assistance organization.
• Previous experience in health-related research (desirable, not essential)

c.Skills:

• Good English language skills (the ability to communicate using spoken and written English)
• An ability to work with members of government health services
• An ability to liaise with patients
• Excellent communication skills
• An ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Interest in health research and willingness to learn new skills

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should send an application letter together with a CV in English to the following address with the subject title “Research Assistant Application”, no later than October 8th, 2014. The detailed Job Description is available upon request. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. The application will not be returned. Electronic application is acceptable.

Applications should include:

• A cover letter including a response to each of the selection criteria
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae
• The names and contact details of three referees

Send applications by mail or email to

Vu Thuy Hoa (Ms)
No.4, 97/51 Lane, Van Cao Street, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Fax: (84-4) 3 762 1884
Email: [email protected] & [email protected]