Research Associate : Sangath

Apply by 30th Oct 24

Sangath (www.sangath.in) is one of India’s leading mental health research non-profit organization. It was founded in 1996 with its headquarters in Goa; major hubs in Delhi and Bhopal, and programme sites in many parts of the country. Sangath’s mission and expertise lies in developing and evaluating mental health interventions to be delivered through existing public systems. Its major thematic areas are: Child development and disability; adolescent health; mental disorders; and ageing. Sangath was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Foundation International Prize for Creative and Effective Institutions in 2008 and the WHO Public Health Champions Award for India in 2016. It has completed a number of randomized controlled trials for mental disorders in India, including the only two autism trials in the country.

About the Programme:
Neurodevelopment and AutisM in South ASia Treatment and Evidence (NAMASTE) is an exciting new program which will be implemented by Sangath, an Indian not-for–profit working in the field of public health research for over 25 years. NAMASTE will aim to design and implement a flexible evidenced pathway towards universal health coverage for children with Autism, through a programme of research, training and capacity building across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

NAMASTE is the result of a 10-years collaboration, Sangath, and the University of Manchester that have carefully adapted the ‘ Parent-mediated Autism Social Communication Intervention for non-Specialists Plus (PASS Plus), which has shown real-world effectiveness in two initial randomized trials, with large-scale evaluation now within the New Delhi health system. NAMASTE will leverage Sangath’s extensive experience with digital training and supervision, which can support both health workers and researchers. NAMASTE will also be collaborating with the World Health Organization’s ‘Caregiver Skills Training’ (CST) for more general neuro-disability. Care pathway components will include a novel, flexibly staged, digitally enabled, detection protocol (for neuro developmental difficulties and autism); combined with a complimentary and evidenced intervention protocol consisting of CST training for general delays and the PASS Plus intervention for autism. In each region and at each stage, community partners and co-applicants will help co-design awareness materials and advise on tool and protocol development.

AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY IN RESEARCH ON NUERODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND AUTISM

Role: Research Associate
Number of positions: 01
Programme: Neurodevelopment and AutisM in South ASia Treatment and Evidence (NAMASTE)
Location: Goa, India
Reports to: Programme Coordinator – Detection and Monitoring
Tenure: Minimum 24 months
Time: Full-time (working 5 days a week)
Remuneration: 3.5 – 3.6 lakh per annum (All staff benefits excluding EPF, health insurance and gratuity will be additional as per organizational policy)

About the Role: Sangath is seeking to recruit a Research Associates for NAMASTE. The Research Associate will be managing various research activities like providing training and support to anganwadi workers, supporting the designing of data collection tools and implementation of programme activities, supporting the development and review of associated clinical and research documentation in Marathi and Konkani. We will expect the candidate to:

Roles & Responsibilities:

Training and supervision

1. Deliver and support training of Anganwadi workers in the study site.
2. Support and provide supportive supervision to Anganwadi workers in coordination with the team leads.

Tools and documentation development

3. Support the translation and documentation tools and any other programme documents into Marathi and Konkani (from English).
4. Draft programme activity reports as per the protocol under supervision.

Data collection

4. Ensure smooth functioning of all programme activities including data collection and analysis at the study site.

Other

5. Support the implementation of formative phase and definitive phase of Detection and Monitoring activities in the programme.
6. Participate in joint programme activities including meetings, academic activities with the programme team.
7. Report to Programme Coordinator and provide as well as receive regular feedback on all activities.
8. Have regular coordination and communication with Programme Coordinator and the other team leads and all team members of the programme.
9. Any other programme related duties as assigned by senior programme management team.

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential:

10. Bachelor’s degree in be Humanities/Social work/Economics/Statistics/Health or related fields
11. Minimum experience of 2 years of working in research programme.
12. Fluency in Konkani/Marathi, English, Hindi etc.
13. Proficient in using digital tools (Mobile phones, laptops and audio/video recorder etc.)
14. Proficient in MS-Office with excellent MS-Excel knowledge, internet, outlook and email.
20. Excellent interpersonal skills
21. Excellent documentation skills.
22. Commitment of minimum 2 years.
23. Two wheelers driver’s license
24. Willing to work late evenings as per project requirements

Desirable:
25. Skills of qualitative and quantitative data collection and data management.
26. Experience and knowledge in mental health research.
27. Previous experience of working with participant population (Autism Spectrum Disorders and/or neurodevelopmental disorders).
28. Experience of working with parents, gatekeepers and community members

How to apply: Please send your CV along with any contributions to mental health research through written or community engagement activities e.g. report, poster, handout, skits, talks, etc. to ritu.rani@sangath.in before
30 October, 2024 with the subject line.

“Application for Research Associate-D & M, Goa

Sangath is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.