Laboratory Research Liaison Person for AFRICOS supporting the implementation of AFRICOS Study at the Mbeya Referral Hospital (MRH).

Walter Reed Program is seeking qualified candidate to fill the position below.  Cover letters and resumes should be sent to the Human Resources Manager, P.O. Box 6396, Mbeya or e-mailed to;  jobswrpmbeya@gmail.com.  NOTE:  to be considered, applicants must put the TITLE OF THE JOB in the SUBJECT LINE. Deadline for submission of the application is Friday August 9^th, 2013. Those who do not meet the minimum requirements as detailed below should not submit applications.

JOB TITLE:    Laboratory Research Liaison Person for AFRICOS supporting the implementation of AFRICOS Study at the Mbeya Referral Hospital (MRH).

GENERAL:   

The Walter Reed HIV Program of the Southern Highlands together with the NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Center (MMRC) the University of Munich and the Mbeya Referral Hospital (MRH), aim to improve treatment and care of HIV infected patients through clinical research tightly integrated into the routine implementation of the national ART Program. Projects conducted in the collaborative setting focus on treatment experienced HIV infected patients, the management of HIV associated diseases such as Cervical Carcinoma and Tuberculosis and program evaluation of the PEPFAR funded ART program in the southern highlands of Tanzania, integrating research activities into the routine patient care, capacity building and infrastructure development.

In this context, the collaboration aims to implement the AFRICOS Study, a cohort study following up to 500 HIV positive patients on Care at MRH and 100 HIV negative participants over a long period of time.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The candidate will be responsible for ensuring that laboratory tests are carried out according to principals of Good Clinical and Laboratory Practice (GCLP), as stipulated in the AFRICOS research study protocol. He/She will be responsible for the day to day logistics of the planning and implementation of AFRICOS laboratory procedures as a liaison person Walter Reed Program, Mbeya Referral Hospital (MRH) and Mbeya Medical Research Centre (MMRC). He/She will be required to work closely with the Laboratory in charges of WRP, MRH and MMRC to ensure smooth flow of patient samples and results between the different collaborating laboratories. The candidate is expected to ensure that there is harmony between AFRICOS and other research studies that are conducted at the study site, as much as the routine laboratory tests of MRH and MMRC, ensuring integration of AFRICOS into the laboratory setting at MRH.  

Job Description for Walter Reed Program Laboratory Research Liaison Person for AFRICOS

1. Ensuring the Laboratory Tests are carried out on time and according to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the specific assays.
2. Assist in Development and Compilation of onsite Laboratory Manual of Operation (MOP).
3. Assist in development of SOPs for new Laboratory assays for AFRICOS.  
4. Work with the labs involved in AFRICOS to ensure that reagents for assays are purchased on time and that reagent inventories are developed and are up to date.
5. Work with the Laboratory Managers to ensure that laboratory data generated is validated before use.
6. Assist in generating and compiling laboratory assay data as required.
7. Assist in Reagents Quantification for AFRICOS assays.
8. Assist in carrying out Laboratory assays for AFRICOS study at the MRH Laboratory.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The suitable candidate should have:

• A Bachelor of Science Degree in Laboratory Science related field.
• Able to carry out Laboratory assays like CD4 tests, Hematology tests and Chemistry tests, among others.
• Good understanding of Mbeya Referral Hospital Laboratory set up and Practices
• Demonstrate a good understating of Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures Development and Utilization.
• Be conversant with Principles of Good Clinical and Laboratory Practice. 
• Be able to comprehend Research Practices and Procedures, and ready to learn.
• Knowledge of English required

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Excellent organizational skills
• Good coordination skills and ability to work in a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Fluency in English 

·         High degree of commitment

·         Willing to work independently in a multidisciplinary team.