Research Officer position at CPMH, Department of Psychiatry and…

The Centre for Public Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health has been awarded a research grant: “Improving Adolescent mentaL health by reducing the Impact of poVErty (ALIVE).” The aim of the study is to develop and pilot-test an intervention that addresses poverty and strengthens self-regulation, thus preventing adolescent depression and anxiety in urban low- and middle-income settings.

The research will involve (1) developing a theoretical model of the causal mechanisms linking poverty, self-regulation and depression and anxiety among adolescents (age 10-19 years); (2) collaboratively developing a multi-component selective prevention intervention targeting self-regulation and skills for academic and employment success among adolescents at high risk of developing depression or anxiety living in urban poverty in Colombia, Nepal and South Africa; (3) adapting and validating key instruments to measure eligibility, implementation, mediators, and outcomes of the intervention; and (4) undertaking a 4-arm pilot randomized controlled trial of the selective prevention intervention in each site.

Research Officer role: The role of the UCT Research Officer will be to coordinate the various research activities required in the South African site, including contributing to the design of the study, training and supervising fieldwork staff and fieldwork processes, overseeing the collection of data, reporting to the Trial Management Committee, the ALIVE South Africa PI, and to the UCT Ethics committee and project Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB), assistance with the analysis of data, and writing up of study findings for publication in peer reviewed scientific journal articles and policy briefs.

Requirements include:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. psychology, public health, social science).
• Experience in either or both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• At least 3 years of experience working in public health or mental health in low resource settings.
• Project management experience.
• Evidence of a publication record in peer-reviewed academic journals would be an advantage.
• Ability to speak Xhosa and/or Afrikaans would be an advantage.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting relevant tasks at country level as required by the ALIVE programme. This includes, conducting qualitative research, identifying suitable research tools/instruments to assess major outcomes, training and supervising fieldworkers, and supervising the overall data collection system and processes during the course of the formative, intervention development piloting and experimental phases of the ALIVE study.
• Collecting, cleaning and analysing data and preparing reports and journal articles based on these findings.
•  Working with the South African ALIVE team to ensure the smooth running of the research tasks, including but not limited to making travel arrangements, maintaining project files and storing and managing data in keeping with the ALIVE data management policy.
• Attending meetings and preparing reports on indicators of progress with the South African PI on all work packages
• Submitting reports to the UCT ALIVE PI for submission to the ALIVE Director at Kings College London.
• Assisting with setting up and co-facilitating the youth advisory team.

The annual remuneration package, including benefits, is between R601 928 and R805 385.

To apply, please e-mail the below documents in a single pdf file to Ms Tracy Moore at recruitment05@uct.ac.za:
– UCT Application Form (download at http://forms.uct.ac.za/hr201.doc)
– Letter of motivation that speaks to the specific requirements of the position, and
– Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Please ensure the title and reference number are indicated in the subject line. An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and may be required to undergo an assessment.

Telephone: 021 650 5405
Website: www.cpmh.org.za
Reference number: E220277
Closing date: 20 July 2022

The advertisement and job description for the Research Officer post may be downloaded from the UCT vacancy page. 

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at www.uct.ac.za/downloads/uct.ac.za/about/policies/eepolicy.pdf.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.