| Job Summary | |
| Position: | Research Officer (Intern in Biostatistics) – 1 post |
| Reports To: | Project Leader / Principal Investigator |
| Work Station: | Ifakara |
| Apply By: | 16th June, 2025 |
Institute Overview
Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) is a leading research organization in Africa with a strong track record in developing, testing and validating innovations for health. Driven by a core strategic mandate for research, training and services, the Institute’s work now spans a wide spectrum, covering biomedical and ecological sciences, intervention studies, health-systems research, service delivery and policy translation.
Job type Full-time Job
Position Summary
Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) is looking for highly motivated and skilled graduates to join our team as Research Officer Interns and train in biostatistics. Selected candidates will receive specialized training while contributing to a cutting-edge research project titled Molecular Surveillance of Malaria in Mainland Tanzania (MSMT2). The project aims to strengthen capacity for malaria molecular surveillance in Tanzania and beyond.
The MSMT2 project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) through the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR). The project is currently in its second phase of implementation.
The MSMT2 team, in close collaboration with multidisciplinary researchers, public health professionals, and local and international stakeholders, will appropriately train the successful candidates. The training will be part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen and scale up local capacity for molecular, genetic, genomic, and serological laboratory and data analytics to support malaria molecular surveillance and other requirements based on the project’s objectives. The project endeavors to ultimately support policy change and informed decision-making for malaria control and elimination in Tanzania.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Intern will receive training and become part of the team that is involved in performing routine and specialized tasks in the implementation of the MSMT2 project. Generally, he/she will have the opportunity to obtain training support and contribute to data analysis for the project.
The Internship will provide hands-on training in data management, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of findings of different studies to be conducted by the project. The duties and responsibilities of a successful candidate shall include theoretical and hands-on training in the following areas:
- Familiarizing with data management strategies and procedures of the MSMT2 project.
- Supporting the management (cleaning, processing, and analysis) and appropriate storage of the data generated by the project.
- Familiarizing with data-analytics to support the MSMT2 project deliver its milestones.
- Preprocessing and cleaning raw data for statistical analysis.
- Analyzing real-world biomedical data focusing on malaria molecular surveillance.
- Developing statistical computing skills in one of the programming languages (R, STATA, python or SAS).
- Developing oral and written presentation skills.
- Understanding and identifying options for higher studies or developing a career in biostatistics.
- Obtaining training in and applying statistical models (e.g., linear regression, logistic regression, survival analysis) to research questions.
- Generating statistical reports and presentations for research teams.
- Attending and contributing to research meetings, discussions, and journal clubs.
- Develop skills in manuscript preparation for scientific publications.
- Any other areas as may be determined by the Project Leader, Principal Investigator and other superiors.
Qualification and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in either Mathematics and Statistics, Biostatistics, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science or any related qualifications received within the past 24 months.
- Pass in the first degree with a minimum GPA of 3.8 and with exceptional ability for science leadership development.
- Experience in bioinformatics and practical skills in mathematical/statistical modelling will have an added advantage.
Skills and Competencies
- The position requires some practical and technical abilities as a potential for training to acquire key skills of high relevance to the MSMT2 project.
- Applicants should have complex problem-solving skills, decision-making, independence, critical thinking, time management, and teamwork skills.
- The applicant must have the ability to work well with partial supervision.
- Have good verbal and written communication skills; with good commands of both Kiswahili and English.
- Adhere to IHI core values (Integrity, Initiative, Equity, Excellence, Accountability).
Remuneration
An attractive and competitive remuneration package will be offered to successful candidates as per IHI salary scales.
Equal Opportunity
IHI is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit intentional biases or discrimination and harassment of any kind at the work place and during recruitment. All employment decisions are based solely on job requirements and individual qualifications, and our recruitment process is governed by the labour laws of Tanzania.
Mode of Application
All candidates who meet the above job requirements should send their application letters together with their detailed curriculum vitae (CVs) showing contact addresses including email, telephone/cell phone numbers and copies of academic and professional certificates to the email address below.
The deadline for this application is 17:00 hrs (EAT) on Monday, June 16th 2025. All e-mail application subject lines should include: RESEARCH OFFICER (INTERN IN BIOSTATISTICS) – MSMT2 Project. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview.
The Senior Human Resources and Administration Manager
IFAKARA HEALTH INSTITUTE
Plot 463 Mikocheni
P.O. Box 78,373
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Email: [email protected]
