Research Scientist (Intern)

About Ifakara Health Institute (IHI)

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.

Position Summary

Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Scientist (Intern) to support a longitudinal follow-up study investigating the long-term effects of early-life malaria exposure on adult health outcomes, including height, weight, blood pressure, cognition, and lifestyle factors. This research builds on the Ifakara Millennium Birth Cohort (IMBC), a unique cohort of over 6,700 individuals born between 1998 and 2000 in the Kilombero Valley, originally established under the Kilombero Net Programme (KINET).

As part of the research team, the intern will play a vital role in both field and analytical activities that contribute to understanding the long-term health and socioeconomic impacts of malaria prevention efforts in early life. The research team will support the intern in applying for PhD scholarships.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in designing and piloting survey tools and data collection instruments.
• Support field teams during data collection, including quality assurance and supervision.
• Conduct data cleaning, management, and preliminary statistical analyses.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for project activities as needed.
• Participate in stakeholder meetings, community engagements, and dissemination workshops.
• Perform literature reviews related to malaria, bed net use, and long-term health/socioeconomic outcomes.
• Prepare application for PhD funding.

Qualification and Experience

• A Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Demography, Quantitative Sociology, Economics, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Strong foundation in quantitative research methods and statistical analysis.
• Experience with statistical software such as R or Stata.
• Familiarity with health and demographic surveillance data is an advantage.
• Previous experience with field research in low-resource settings is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Swahili.
• Experience with supervising staff, health project management including report writing, organizing and facilitating participatory trainings, working with rural communities, working with health workers and/or local government officials is a plus
• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player.

Skills and Competencies

• Self-motivated and team building.
• Interest in evaluation of malaria interventions and longitudinal studies.
• Familiarity with R or Stata statistical packages.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work successfully under minimum supervision but also within a team.
• Good training and facilitation skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of people including project staff, communities, health care providers and government leaders.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions.
• Adhere to IHI core values (Integrity, Initiative, Equity, Excellence, Accountability).

Remuneration

This is an internship position providing basic salary as well as the opportunities to learn and apply for a PhD position.

Equal Opportunity

IHI is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit intentional biases or discrimination and harassment of any kind at the workplace 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 17:00hrs (EAT) on Thursday, July 10th 2025. All email application subject lines should include: RESEARCH SCIENTIST (INTERN) – IMBC 25-27. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.

The Senior Human Resources and Administration Manager
IFAKARA HEALTH INSTITUTE
Plot 463 Mikocheni
P.O. Box 78,373
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania