icddr,b is a Bangladesh-based international health research institute that strives to solve key public health problems through high-quality scientific research and innovation. icddrb as a values-based organization encourages women and people with disabilities.

Mental illnesses represent a significant burden on society, the economy, and the individuals affected. However, it is not well known what environmental factors are involved that can mediate resilience or vulnerability to mental illness during critical life stages. A 20-year follow-up MINIMat trial has the potential to contribute to our understanding of how exposure to various environmental factors (major life events/traumas, environmental pollutants, nutrition and diet, physical activity, social and economic conditions, and behavioral patterns) may impact mental health in adulthood, especially when the exposure to these factors occurs during sensitive periods of development such as early life and transition through puberty.

Position Description

Senior Research Assistant will be reporting to the Research investigator/Medical Officer and will also be responsible for assisting in planning, organizing and implementing research with the objective of conducting high-quality research within the guidelines of the research protocol and organizational values.

Major responsibilities are:

• Understand and assess present mental health condition of the study participants using a battery of different questionnaires (STAI, MADRS, SDQ, PCL-5);
• Understand and assess childhood trauma experiences of the study participants through retrospective data collection by CTQ;
• Assessment of current cumulative psychosocial risk (CPAS) of the study participants;
• Perform behavioural assessment of the study participants by an app-based test of avoidance behaviour (iAAT).
• Perform Bayley test for neurocognitive assessment of the selected study participants.
• Enter data in Laptop/tab computer appropriately;
• Monitor and providing guidance to Field Research Assistant (FRA) for patient tracking and communication;
• Support study nurse while taking anthropometric measurements and sample collection.
• Supervision and monitoring of supporting study staffs;
• Report to Research Investigator/Medical Officer on data collection on monthly basis;

Required qualification and experience:

• Masters in Psychology/Clinical Psychology/Educational Psychology/Counseling Psychology.
• 3 years of experience. Candidates having experience in perform Bayley test/any psychological assessment tool will get preference and experience will be relaxed.

Location: Matlab

Contract Type and duration:

• Short Term Contractual Service Agreement basis; duration will be 11 monthswith a possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and performance.

Salary & benefits:

• 43,423/-per month (consolidated) inclusive of house rent and conveyance allowances;
• Festival bonus, income tax paid by icddr,b and subsidized canteen; Transport and daycare facilities are subject to space availability.

Notes of attention:

• Only short-listed candidates shall be invited for written test/interview;
• The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised;
• icddr,b does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Interested candidates who fulfill the requirements should submit online applications using icddr,b website: career.icddrb.org by January 15, 2024.