Research Assistant at UKZN for unskilled Statistics, Biostatistics, Data Science, Health Informatics graduates

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representativeness within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

12 months Fixed-Term Appointment

DISCIPLINE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE

SCHOOL OF NURSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH

HOWARD COLLEGE CAMPUS

REF NO.: T/NPH07/2025

The Discipline of Public Health Medicine has recently been awarded a grant by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), known as WEATHER (Warning system for Extreme weather events, Awareness Technology for Healthcare, Equitable delivery, and Resilience). The goal of this project is to develop, implement and evaluate an Early Warning System intervention (EWS) as a local alert system for communities and government to detect, identify and prevent disease outbreaks, strengthening the health systems response.

The Discipline invites suitably qualified candidates to apply for the WEATHER Research Assistant position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The successful candidate will conceptualise and implement a sub-study aligned

with the WEATHER project's objectives, which will form the basis of their Master's

research.

• Within the first six months, the candidate must enrol in a Master's degree program.

• Key responsibilities include tracking and reporting project activities, ensuring timely collection and quality assurance of data, performing data cleaning and biostatistical analyses, and interpreting results for dissemination.

• The candidate will actively participate in sharing findings through conferences, workshops, seminars, and publications, fostering meaningful collaborations with the WEATHER team and fellow postgraduate students.

Minimum Requirements:

• Holders of an Honours degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, Data Science, or Health Informatics.

• Have the academic achievement of >65% in Honours degree.

• Interested in public health, biostatistics, health data science.

• Have skills in data management, programming, data analysis and visualization,

• Willingness to work in a multidisciplinary team.

• Have excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Valid motor vehicle driver’s licence in South Africa.

• South African citizen.

Essential Requirements:

• A strong foundation in mathematics, statistics or computing

• Good skills in computer programming, with experience of at least one high-level programming language (e.g. Python/R)

• Experience of Data Quality Management experience and use of Data Quality

Management Tools.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

• Experience in working within a multidisciplinary team.

• Experience in working within multinational collaborations.

The successful candidate will be expected to register for Masters within the first six months of date of assumption of duty.

In addition, applicants should submit a cover letter detailing their suitability, a comprehensive CV, contact information for two referees, certified copies of qualifications (Bachelor's, Honours, and relevant certificates), and a certified copy of their ID or passport.

The post reports to Dr Fikile Nkwanyana. Enquiries (NOT applications) may be addressed to (Nkwanyana@ukzn.ac.za).

Applicants are required to complete the relevant application form (support) which is available on the Vacancies website at www.ukzn.ac.za. Completed forms may be sent to nadesanreddy@ukzn.ac.za.

Enquiries and details regarding this post, as well as a request for a job profile may be directed to Dr Nadesanreddy on email: nadesanreddy@ukzn.ac.za.

The closing date of receipt of applications is 31 March 2025. The University, however, reserves the right to accept late applications or to extend the above date in order to facilitate further searches.

Application form - Support

It is compulsory for all applicants to complete and to submit the academic Application form which is available on the Vacancies website at www.ukzn.ac.za

The Advert Reference Number Must Be Clearly stated in the subject line.

Post by UKZN