The Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) is a World Bank supported center of excellence for education and research at the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The main aim of CDT-Africa is to serve as a platform for equitable access to interventions (medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and complex interventions) and bring about sustainable development in Africa through high-quality capacity development for innovative therapeutic discovery.

As part of this effort, CDT-Africa would like to hire experienced research associates who can assist CDT-Africa diagnostic reagent and assay development research projects. 

The Role of the Research Associate

The successful applicant will be responsible for conducting relevant diagnostic product development work for CDT-Africa under the guidance of CDT-Africa Centre Lead, & the key innovation unit heads.

Principal responsibilities

• Work closely with project investigators to plan and co-ordinate study activities.
• Responsible for designs, conduct, and analyzes experiments for assay development activities throughout feasibility, design, and development stages of the product development cycle
• Designs and, where needed, re-designs assay conditions, buffer compositions, experimental parameters, and any other factors required for assay robustness
• Work on multiple projects, either individually or in small teams
• Assist and/or lead trouble-shooting activities for specific products
• Design and Perform rigorous method validations and data analysis/write-up/submission support.
• Assist in review data and make the appropriate decisions and takes action on them to drive projects to meet timelines
• Generate documentation in compliance with Quality Systems and Good Laboratory Practices
• Identifies potential problems early in a project and implementation phase and makes suggestions on how to resolve them while keeping key deadlines in mind
• Maintain laboratory notebooks
• Additional tasks as directed by the Head of the centre or study investigators

Terms and conditions

• Salary: negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.
• Hours of work: are governed by the laws of Ethiopia. However, the nature of the work is such that it might require working overtime and weekends, with due financial compensation.
• Holidays: are governed by the rules of Addis Ababa University for project workers.
• Length of contract: this is a two years subject to six monthly contract renewal.
• Probationary period and notice period: there is a three-month probationary period for this role. The notice period is one month. 

Reports to

• CDT-Africa Center Leaders

Terms of employment

• Full-time, 2 years, post subject to six monthly contract renewal

Skills Required:

• Technical knowledge and experience  on  quantitative or qualitative diagnostic assay development

Requirements

• MSc in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Laboratory Science, molecular biology, Biochemistry or related field, where the MSc is completed with thesis.
• Experience in the development of diagnostic products  preferred
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential and sensitive information
• Experience with diagnostic kit development  research methods /procedures
• Strong computer program literacy and knowledge
• Strong administrative and organisational skills.

Personal attributes

• Well organised
• A high level of attention to detail
• Ability to work with others, including international collaborators
• Excellent communication and organizational skills