Research Officer

The Centre for Public Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town,has been awarded a research grant: Emerging mental health systems in low and middle-income countries (EMERALD). 

The main purpose of this position is to conduct research related to Work Package 3 (WP3) of EMERALD. WP3 will identify the resource inputs needed to scale-up a defined set of mental health services; assess the impact of inadequate mental health service access on household consumption and production, as well as the economic consequences of improved access to appropriate care; and identify sustainable health financing strategies for scaled-up delivery of mental health services in participant countries. The project is led from King’s College, London, with UCT one of 12 international partner organisations. We are seeking a Research Officer to work closely with the UCT Co-Investigator of EMERALD and a range of international partners including the WHO, to successfully implement the programme. This will be a 3.5 year fixed term contract.

Requirements include:

• A completed Master’s degree in public health, specialising in health economics.
• At least 1 year experience working in public health or mental health research in low resource settings.

Experience of project management or coordination in research and evidence of a publication record in peer-reviewed academic journals, particularly in health economics research would be advantageous.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting research with an international team of researchers to:
  • Identify and quantify the human, infrastructural, informational and financial resource inputs needed to scale-up a defined set of mental health services;
  • Assess the extent and impact of inadequate mental health service access or coverage in different national settings on household consumption and production, and the economic consequences of improved access to appropriate care; and
  • Identifying sustainable health financing strategies for scaled-up delivery of mental health services in participant countries
• The above responsibilities will include providing support to the country teams in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda with respect to designing research protocols and questionnaires, collecting the relevant data for this research, collating and analysis of the data, and working with partners to write up and publish the data in peer reviewed academic journals.
• Assisting with data collection and analysis of mental health information systems in the South African site.
• Capacity building for research in mental health, including post-graduate supervision.
• Monitoring project progress with respect to WP3.
• Reporting to the funder and project management team at KCL and liaising with finance staff at UCT regarding financial management.
• Facilitating collegial relations and team building both at UCT and internationally.

There are opportunities for study towards a PhD through the programme. The annual remuneration package, including benefits, is between R341,000 and R430,000.

To apply, please e-mail the completed UCT Application form (HR201) and all other relevant documentation as indicated on the form, with the subject line “RO Psychiatry” followed by the reference number to Mrs Melanie Falken at melanie.falken@uct.ac.za 

Address: Staff Recruitment Office, Bremner Building, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7700

Telephone: +27 21 650 5764; Faculty website

Download the application form

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Reference number for this position:    SR470/13

Closing date for applications:             30 April 2013

UCT is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress. Our Employment Equity Policy.