Early Post-Doctoral Researcher – Empirical ethics studies on priority areas in global health (KWRP)

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a state corporation established through the Science and Technology (Amendment) Act of 1979, as the national body responsible for carrying out health research in Kenya. KEMRl’s vision is “to be a leading centre of excellence in research for human health,” and its mission is “to improve human health and quality of life through research, capacity building, innovation, and service delivery.” http://www.kemri.go.ke

The KEMRI-Wellcome Research Programme (KWRP) is a partnership between KEMRI, Wellcome, and the University of Oxford. The Programme established in 1989, has evolved from conducting research in the immunology and epidemiology of malaria to a world class research institute conducting multi-disciplinary research that spans molecular biology to health systems and policy research.

The KEMRI-Wellcome Research Programme (KWRP) seeks to invite applications from experienced person to fill the following position;

Job Purpose

We are looking for two experienced early to mid-level post-doctoral social scientists to join the Health Systems and Research Ethics department at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) in Kenya.

The post holders will work on one of the following:

1 – an exciting NIHR funded programme of research examining how international research programmes can ensure fairer research processes that protect frontline staff from moral distress. They will join an international interdisciplinary team to examine the nature, drivers and consequences of moral distress among frontline research staff working in Low and Middle-Income Countries. The team will investigate how research might be set up to minimize moral distress, co-design and evaluate promising interventions/support processes, and explore how support processes for research staff can benefit the health system colleagues they work alongside, and be spread across health systems. The goal is to advance policy, practice and understanding of this neglected area and contribute to fairer research conduct, more inclusive and creative research cultures, and strengthened health and research systems.

2 – a diverse Wellcome Trust funded programme of research interrogating institutional, national and regional ethics guidance and practice on key priority areas in global health research. Potential ethical areas for research include those related to benefit sharing in health research, mental health, climate change, data and sample sharing and artificial intelligence. These areas require an ethics lens to further understand fair, just and reasonable practices, and where consideration of implications for ethical practice in research and to develop over-arching normative principles, values and guidance would be valuable. The post holder will participate and lead activities related Global Health Bioethics Network https://www.ethox.ox.ac.uk/research/global-health-bioethics-network.

The two main institutions leading this work the University of Oxford in UK and KWTRP in Kenya, but there are links and interactions with colleagues across a number of international research networks. The post-holders will bring theoretical and practical expertise in topics such as empirical ethics, moral distress, power-relations in health and research systems, organisational and team functioning, health system resilience, and implementing and evaluating complex interventions. They will work closely with Department Head and Study PI based in Nairobi and based in Oxford and with a network of Kenyan based and international colleagues. In addition to coordinating the Kenyan-based elements of the programme and feeding into the international work, they will be supported to seek further independent funding in related areas. A key element of the role will be to contribute to capacity strengthening in empirical ethics and health systems research in KWTRP through teaching at phd and masters levels and strategic planning.

Description

Reports to: Department Head and Study PI in KWRP based in Nairobi and Oxford
Direct reports: Assistant Research Officers; Fieldworkers in KWRP
Indirect reports: None
Budget and Resource Responsibility: None

Key Responsibilities

Work as the lead scientists in Kenya within the Health Systems Research Ethics Department in partnership with Oxford including to help develop, conduct and report on a specific set of research objectives. This is likely to include overseeing and managing a budget, conducting literature reviews, writing specific ethics submissions, developing / refining mixed methods data collection tools, coordinating and conducting fieldwork, supervising research assistants, analysing data and writing first-author publications.
Bring theoretical and practical expertise in topics such as empirical ethics, moral distress, power-relations in health and research systems, organisational and team functioning, health system resilience, and implementing and evaluating complex interventions.
Contribute to building capacity in empirical ethics and health systems research in the programme through: building a small team of staff in Kenya working on the project, supervising masters and phd level researchers, and contributing to organising training and skills-sharing meetings
Engage with relevant stakeholders in Kenya (including KWTRP managers, senior researchers, ethics committee members, science advisors, health system managers, frontline staff, community representatives), and internationally (including with a frontline staff network, scientific advisors and funders).
Communicate research goals and findings to different audiences through presentations, talks, publications and other written outputs including as appropriate for websites and social media platforms
Ensure the ethical conduct of research and foster an inclusive and supportive research culture

Qualifications

The successful applicant will have:

A relevant PhD/DPhil in health-related topics such as empirical ethics, philosophy, health system resilience/responsiveness, organisational management, public/community engagement, human behaviour, psychology, anthropology.
Demonstrated experience in planning and undertaking empirical ethics or health systems studies, including planning for and collecting, analysing and interpreting data.
Demonstrated ability to conduct and manage complex empirical studies including the supervision of research assistants and data quality assurance so that high quality data is produced
Evidence of ability to produce and publish high quality research that draws on appropriate theory.
Experience of working with international research PIs and with frontline health system/ research staff
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write reports for different audiences and present the group at meetings.
0 – 4 years post-doctoral experience

Desirable

Demonstrated interest in equity in health systems and research conduct; knowledge and working experience in Kenya an added advantage

Competence

Proficiency in use of qualitative analysis software such as NVivo and, desirable, basic skills in quantitative analysis
Ability to conduct literature reviews including use of specific search strategies
Experience in developing an analytic plan and collating, analysing and interpreting qualitative data
Excellent range of skills across the MS Office suite
Have high energy, clear goal orientation and a strong work ethic.
Strong organisation/programme management skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and work within tight deadlines
Ability to write clearly for a scientific audience and to present clearly to non-academic audiences
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment and to multi-task
Ability to travel within Kenya to remote areas and reside for periods required to collect data or provide supervision
Ideally the person would be able to travel internationally as part of the multi-country partnership

Physical Environments/Conditions

The position will be based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Research Programme in Nairobi and Kilifi, Kenya, with the potential for some travel across Kenya and internationally to other partner or collaborating institutions.

Application Procedure

All applications for roles in KEMRI and its partners (including KWRP) are centrally applied for using http://www.kemri.go.ke, E-recruitment portal. To apply for this post, you must therefore register as a user using the link below. Log into your account, then proceed to the vacancies, view the post and click on the button: “Apply for this job”( www.kemri.go.ke/e-recruitment).

Applications which should include your CV, Cover letter, copies of certified academic certificates, testimonials and other relevant documents should be made through KEMRI Website portal on or before 24^TH August, 2025, at the latest 5:00 pm.

Please Note, the subsequent recruitment process after application, will be carried out by the KWRP HR team and all communication will be from the official KWRP emails.

All applicants are required to state their current/last salary.

Candidates are required to provide a valid email address and telephone number for communication regarding interview invitations. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. During the interview, shortlisted candidates must present the ORIGINALS of the following documents: National Identity Card or Passport, academic and professional certificates, academic transcripts, testimonials, a detailed curriculum vitae (CV), and a valid clearance certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct or its equivalent).

KEMRI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITED TO DIVERSITY; PERSONS WHO ARE ABLED DIFFERENTLY, WOMEN, YOUTH AND THOSE FROM MARGINALIZED AREAS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. DIRECT OR INDIRECT CANVASSING WILL LEAD TO AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION. KEMRI DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF ITS RECRUITMENT PROCESS INCLUDING APPLICATION, INTERVIEW AND PROCESSING OF OFFER LETTER. IF ASKED FOR A FEE, REPORT SUCH REQUEST IMMEDIATELY.

Job Location

Nairobi & Kilifi

Job Type

Full-Time

Reference Number

EPDR-SocialScience-07-2025

Job Grade

9.01

Country

Kenya