The Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), owned by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), provides training for over 3,000 students. CUHAS is currently running programmes in Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Medicine (MMed), Master in Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Pediatric Nursing (M.Sc.PN), Master of Science in Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Biology (M.Sc. CMMB), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education (B.Sc.NED), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N), Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences (BMLS), Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy (B.Sc. MIR), Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS), Diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences (DMLS) and Diploma in Diagnostic Radiography (DDR).

Project Details and Title: EFFECTS OF ANTI-SCHISTOSOME TREATMENT ON

INTESTINAL IMMUNE CELLS AND RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASE

Schistosoma mansoni infection affects an estimated 30-50% of Tanzanian adults, particularly those living in communities near Lake Victoria. During S. mansoni infection, parasite eggs migrate through gastrointestinal tissue, where they cause symptoms including abdominal pain, bleeding, and diarrhea, and also changes in immune cell populations in the intestinal tissue. Treatment of the schistosome infection with praziquantel improves these symptoms, but we do not know how it affects immune cell populations. Further, some data have suggested that treatment of schistosome infection could increase risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases by increasing lipids, fasting glucose, and blood pressure. Our research findings will inform the design of prevention and treatment interventions and guidelines to treat schistosome infection and prevent cardiometabolic diseases in people in both Africa and worldwide.

Our long-term goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality related to both schistosome infection and cardiometabolic diseases. The study objectives are: 1) to compare the intestinal immune cell populations in adults with and without S. mansoni infection at baseline and 6 months after praziquantel treatment, and 2) to compare cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with and without S. mansoni infection at baseline and 6 and 12 months after praziquantel treatment. To this end, we are conducting a comparative cohort study of 150 people with and without S. mansoni infection with repeated measures of schistosome infection, intestinal sigmoidoscopies, and cardiometabolic disease risk factors.

On behalf of the Effects of Anti-Schistosome Treatment Project, CUHAS is looking for highly qualified and motivated persons to fill the following position/vacancy:

Position: Field Coordinator

Report to Site Principal Investigator

Location: Mwanza

Essential characteristics: Ideal candidates will have the following Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Medical Doctor (MD) who has successfully completed internship
Experience drawing blood and performing PITC for HIV (certification in PITC ideal but not required)
Substantial experience in conducting medical research
Interested in pursuing a career in medical research
Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision
High degree of proficiency in written and spoken English communication
Commitment to working as part of a multidisciplinary research team
Ability to work in a multicultural environment
Good in MS Office applications especially Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Good in preparing and writing reports
Good in data analysis (experience with Stata statistical analysis package ideal but not required)
Certification in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) for the conduct of human research is ideal but not required. All candidates must be willing to undergo GCP and additional ethics training.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The primary purpose and role of the Effects of Anti-Schistosome Treatment field coordinator is to function as a research coordinator for this and other projects based at BugandoCUHAS. As the work will be done in Mwanza, dedicated support for an administrator is needed given the multiple components of the research project. The job duties are, but not limited to, implementation of Effects of Anti-Schistosome Treatment project at Bugando CUHAS and to ensure collection of study data.

Essential Duties and key Responsibilities

Recruit, support, and follow up study populations
Collaborate with and support all study activities conducted by the Effects of Anti-
Schistosome Treatment research team and other research teams led by the PI

Ensure enrollment targets achieved on time, including coordinating recruitment at field sites outside of Mwanza city
Oversee scheduling of the field team to ensure adequate staffing is available (parasitologist, nurse) for all study visits
Communicate with study participants by phone to schedule visits
Ensure on-time follow-up for study participants and appropriate clinical treatment as needed
Organize and submit receipts for reimbursement
Coordinate and attend study visits at 2-3 other health facilities as needed

Maintain research files at Bugando – CUHAS
Coordinate with Bugando clinicians to provide clinical care for study participants diagnosed with infectious diseases, cardiometabolic diseases or other diseases.
Maintain records of study reagents and supplies needed and available for study visits and purchase and organize supplies as needed
Assist in the conduct of study sample collection, submission of laboratory samples, and study measurements including sigmoidoscopies
Provide Effective Team Functioning:
Schedule, participate and record minutes of monthly team meetings with the Effects of Anti-Schistosome Treatment team via Zoom or acceptable medium and upload them into the study database.
Coordinate with International Office of BMC/CUHAS and Peds CCM administration to coordinate Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) personnel visas, registration, work permits at BMC, as well as BMC/CUHAS personnel at WCM / NYPH.
Arrange study team meetings and assist with routine conferences including scheduling rooms, managing equipment, ordering meals, and assembling materials.
Disseminate routine communications such as memos, notices, emails, and letters, perform office duties including, but not limited to, handling of incoming and outgoing mail, entering data into basic tables, reports, or spreadsheets, making copies, and monitoring and ordering of office supplies, preparing documents for field work
Track facility and/or office equipment, such as keys, vehicles, and projectors, via logs, and schedule repairs as needed.

Review invoices for accuracy, and initiate purchase requisitions.
May make travel arrangements as directed in compliance with unit, university, and sponsor policies.
Document and report project activities that will inform actual implementation, the progress, challenges and propose a clear way forward
Perform other duties as assigned by the PI

Remuneration

A Successful candidate will be offered a Gross salary of Tshs. 1,700,000/= per month as per Project’s guidelines. The duration of the contract will be for one year with possible renewal based on performance.

• All applicants must be Citizens of Tanzania.



• Application must be typed in English.
• All application letters must state the reason for the applicant’s interest and the applicant’s long-term career goals. The application letter must be accompanied with detailed and current Curriculum Vitae, a professional writing sample, all relevant certificates and full transcripts.
• Names and valid addresses (and phone numbers or emails) of 3 credible referees must be provided.
• Government employees should not apply