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: HIV, SLEEP, NOCTURNAL NON-DIPPING, AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: A TANZANIAN COHORT (HIV&HTN SLEEP)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) including heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV (PWH) worldwide with the highest HIV-attributable CVD risks observed in Africa. Elevated blood pressure at nighttime and poor sleep may contribute to this increased risk of CVD in PWH. Our cohort study in Tanzania is the first to investigate the relationship between nighttime blood pressure, poor sleep, and the onset of CVD in PWH. Our research findings will inform the design of prevention and treatment interventions and guidelines to prevent CVD in people with HIV in both Africa and worldwide.

Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring with a portable cuff worn for 24 hours provides mean daytime and nighttime blood pressures and detects abnormalities in the diurnal variation of blood pressure such as nocturnal non-dipping, which is defined by the absence of the >10% usual fall (dip) in blood pressure at night. ABP more accurately predicts CVD events than office blood pressure. Elevated nighttime blood pressure and non-dipping may contribute to the excess CVD risk in PWH. Small, cross-sectional studies suggest that nondipping is more common in PWH and may be associated with CVD. Our long-term goal is to reduce CVD morbidity and mortality in PWH. The study objectives are to 1) compare the time course of non-dipping and resulting preclinical CVD in PWH vs. HIV-uninfected adults and 2) to identify potential pathophysiologic pathways that could be targets for future intervention. To this end, we are conducting a comparative cohort study of PWH and HIVuninfected adults with repeated measures of ABP, sleep, sympathetic nervous system activity and preclinical CVD in an established cohort of 500 PWH and 500 HIV-uninfected adults at Weill Bugando.

On behalf of the HIV&HTN Sleep 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)
Experience with ultrasound and a desire to learn to perform cardiac ultrasound and other advanced cardiovascular disease measurements
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 Power point
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 HIV&HTN SLEEP field coordinator is to function as a research coordinator for this and other projects based at Bugando-CUHAS. 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 HIV&HTN SLEEP at Bugando-CUHAS and to ensure collection of study data.

Essential Duties and key Responsibilities

Recruit and support study populations
Collaborate with and support all study activities conducted by the HIV&HTN Sleep research team and other research teams lead by the PI
Ensure enrollment targets achieved on time, coordinating recruitment at Bugando
Ensure timely completion of study surveys and test instruments by participants
Organizing and submitting receipts for reimbursement
Coordinate and attend study visits two other health facilities as needed
Ensure coordination of study activities with other activities conducted in the Bugando CTC and other Bugando clinics and wards.
Documentation and reporting project activities that will inform actual implementation, the progress, challenges and propose a clear way forward
Maintain research files at Bugando – CUHAS
Coordinate with Bugando clinicians to provide clinical care for study participants diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or other diseases. Assist in the conduct of cardiovascular disease measurements
Provide Effective Team Functioning:
Schedule, participate and record minutes of monthly team meetings with HIV&HTN SLEEP 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.
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.