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UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU NATAL (UKZN)
 


​The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representativeness within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan. 
 
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES 
RESEARCH ASSISTANT 
12 months Fixed-Term Appointment 
DISCIPLINE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE 
SCHOOL OF NURSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH 
HOWARD COLLEGE CAMPUS 
REF NO.: T/NPH07/2025 
 
The Discipline of Public Health Medicine has recently been awarded a grant by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), known as WEATHER (Warning system for Extreme weather events, Awareness Technology for Healthcare, Equitable delivery, and Resilience). The goal of this project is to develop, implement and evaluate an Early Warning System intervention (EWS) as a local alert system for communities and government to detect, identify and prevent disease outbreaks, strengthening the health systems response. 
The Discipline invites suitably qualified candidates to apply for the WEATHER Research Assistant position. 
 
Duties and Responsibilities: 
• The successful candidate will conceptualise and implement a sub-study aligned with the WEATHER project's objectives, which will form the basis of their Master's research. 
• Within the first six months, the candidate must enrol in a Master's degree program. 
• Key responsibilities include tracking and reporting project activities, ensuring timely collection and quality assurance of data, performing data cleaning and biostatistical analyses, and interpreting results for dissemination. 
• The candidate will actively participate in sharing findings through conferences, workshops, seminars, and publications, fostering meaningful collaborations with the WEATHER team and fellow postgraduate students. 
 
Minimum Requirements: 
• Holders of an Honours degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, Data Science, or Health Informatics. 
• Have the academic achievement of >65% in Honours degree. 
• Interested in public health, biostatistics, health data science. 
• Have skills in data management, programming, data analysis and visualization, 
• Willingness to work in a multidisciplinary team. 
• Have excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. 
• Valid motor vehicle driver’s licence in South Africa. 
• South African citizen. 
 
Essential Requirements: 
• A strong foundation in mathematics, statistics or computing 
• Good skills in computer programming, with experience of at least one high-level programming language (e.g. Python/R) 
• Experience of Data Quality Management experience and use of Data Quality Management Tools. 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively 
• Experience in working within a multidisciplinary team. 
• Experience in working within multinational collaborations. 
 
 
The successful candidate will be expected to register for Masters within the first six months of date of assumption of duty. 
 
In addition, applicants should submit a cover letter detailing their suitability, a comprehensive CV, contact information for two referees, certified copies of qualifications (Bachelor's, Honours, and relevant certificates), and a certified copy of their ID or passport. 
 
The post reports to Dr Fikile Nkwanyana. Enquiries (NOT applications) may be addressed to (Nkwanyana@ukzn.ac.za).
 
Applicants are required to complete the relevant application form (support) which is available on the Vacancies website at www.ukzn.ac.za. Completed forms may be sent to nadesanreddy@ukzn.ac.za. 
 
Enquiries and details regarding this post, as well as a request for a job profile may be directed to Dr Nadesanreddy on email: nadesanreddy@ukzn.ac.za. 
 
The closing date of receipt of applications is 31 March 2025. The University, however, reserves the right to accept late applications or to extend the above date in order to facilitate further searches. 
It is compulsory for all applicants to complete and to submit the academic application form which is available on the Vacancies website at www.ukzn.ac.za
 
The Advert Reference Number Must Be Clearly stated in the subject line.










​The University of KwaZulu-Natal is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representivity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Equity Plan. 
 
College of Health Sciences 
RE-ADVERTISMENT
RESEARCH ASSISTANT- MHINT PSYCHOSIS 
(1-year fixed term contract) 
Centre for Research in Health systems 
School of Nursing and Public Health 
uMgungundlovu District 
Reference Number: MHP2/RA2025 
Preamble: The CRH conducts research to strengthen health systems with a focus on developing and testing innovations and service delivery improvement within resource constrained settings, extending to improving governance, participation, and universal health coverage. 
 
Project description: Feasibility and acceptability of critical time intervention to support people with severe mental illness following post-acute hospital discharge in South Africa 
Evidence-based interventions in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) that promote positive outcomes for people living with severe mental illness (SMIs) in community settings, particularly following the disruption and trauma of acute psychiatric hospitalization, remain limited. This period of transition is a particularly promising window wherein the effects of interventions aiming to prevent psychiatric relapse and promote individual wellbeing can be maximized. The overall aim of this research is to determine the feasibility of real-world implementation of a co-produced health system strengthening intervention in reducing hospital re-admission rates related outcomes among people living with severe mental illness following acute psychiatric hospitalization in South Africa. 
 
Brief Summary of position: - Fieldworkers x2 (Health Care Facilities) 
The Research Assistant- MhINT Psychosis will be required to work with mental health patients and their families, and community health workers, and WBPHCOTS using established research procedures. Duties include administration of psychological assessments for patients with psychosis, visits to households, administration of questionnaires and interviews, liaison with family members of patients with psychosis, and health care facilities and stakeholders. 
 
Minimum Requirements: 
• 4 Year Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) degree with registration with HPCSA OR MA in Social Work specializing in mental health OR 4 year Diploma in Nursing OR 4 year Degree in Nursing 
• 1 year Fieldwork experience in qualitative interviewing and administering questionnaires 
• Driver’s license with at least 2 years’ experience driving 
• Experience working with people with psychosis 
 
Essential Requirements: 
• Proven capacity to work independently / without constant supervision 
• Work experience in health research settings involving communities 
• Work experience in mental health services 
• Fluent isiZulu /English 
• Willing to travel to rural and urban community settings 
• Willing to travel between healthcare settings and within communities, including conducting research within households 
 
Additional information 
The remuneration package offered will be in line with university salary scales and dependent on the qualifications and experience of the successful applicant. The contract period is 12 months with the possibility of extension depending on availability of external funding. Please note these posts are based in uMgungundlovu District. The project does not cover any relocation or associated costs if applicable, for the successful candidate who does not reside in the area. 
 
This post reports to the Project Coordinator. The job profile is available from Dr Tasneem Kathree, Tel Number: 031 260 1569 or e-mail: crh@ukzn.ac.za. 
 
The closing date for receipt of applications is 04 April 2025. The University, however, reserves the right in special circumstances to accept late applications or extend the above date in order to facilitate further searches. 
 
Applicants are required to complete the relevant application form, which is available on the Vacancies website at www.ukzn.ac.za. Completed forms must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae formatted to include each minimum requirement as stated in the advertisement, together with supporting documents where applicable, and a covering letter and must be sent to E-mail address crh@ukzn.ac.za. Please quote “Research Assistant -MhINT Psychosis ” as a reference in your subject line. Candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Candidates who have previously applied for this post are requested not to apply as their applications are already in the system. Re-applications will not be considered.