Senior Research Officer - Public Health Foundation of India (Apply by: 22 May 2014)

Position Vacant : Senior Research Officer

Position Code : PHFI/2014/106-AEFI

Place of Posting : PHFI, Delhi

Organization Name : Public Health Foundation of India

Public Health Foundation of India, is a public private initiative that has collaboratively evolved through consultations with multiple constituencies including Indian and international academia, state and central governments, multi & bi-lateral agencies and civil society groups. PHFI is a response to redress the limited institutional capacity in India for strengthening training, research and policy development in the area of Public Health.

Structured as an independent foundation, PHFI adopts a broad, integrative approach to public health, tailoring its endeavours to Indian conditions and bearing relevance to countries facing similar challenges and concerns. The PHFI focuses on broad dimensions of public health that encompass promotive, preventive and therapeutic services, many of which are frequently lost sight of in policy planning as well as in popular understanding.

The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, launched PHFI on March 28, 2006 at New Delhi. PHFI recognizes the fact that meeting the shortfall of health professionals is imperative to a sustained and holistic response to the public health concerns in the country which in turn requires health care to be addressed not only from the scientific perspective of what works, but also from the social perspective of, who needs it the most.

Project Brief: 

The Government of India has declared 2012 as the year of Strengthening Routine Immunization. PHFI has set up an Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) within Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide technical support to the Ministry to revitalize and successfully implement the Universal Immunization Program (UIP). ITSU will provide technical and management expertise and build capacity to design, create, implement, and institutionalize a stronger immunization program fully lead by GOI.

Job Description / Responsibilities:

• Collect and review literature on various serious and non-serious adverse events following vaccination and their management in different countries.
• Conduct and facilitate the documentation, review and conduct of quarterly causality assessment meetings at LHMC and liaise with trained AEFI experts
• Conduct review of scientific evidence and synthesize and summarize relevant scientific literature (global, regional and national) on AEFIs /ADRs and strategies for reporting, investigation and assessment of AEFIs and vaccine safety
• Good quantitative and qualitative research skills including in-depth interviews with vaccine safety experts and focus group discussions with health workers and regulatory and program management officials.
• Collate available scientific evidence on pertinent immunization related issues, particularly regarding vaccine safety and AEFI surveillance program to prepare initial drafts on scientific articles to expand knowledge base.
• The person will have to liaison with doctors in the department of Pediatrics and other departments in the Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. He/she will also liaison with the officials of the Immunization Division of the MOHFW, AEFI unit in ITSU, National AEFI Committee and other pharmacovigilance stakeholders.

Qualifications / Experience required

• A University degree in medicine (MBBS) is essential.
• Diploma in Public Health /Child Health is desirable
• Minimum one year in the field of documentation of vaccine/infectious diseases research, evidence synthesis and analysis. Candidates with publications in peer reviewed immunization /science journals will be given priority.
• Should have:
o Effective Communication skills
o Good Interpersonal skills:
o Ability to work in cross cultural teams
o Ability to plan, conceptualize and organize
o Ability to innovate/ “think tank” for the organization
o Ability to make logical decisions and ensure transparency

Interested and eligible candidates may send in their CV to recruit@phfi.org by highlighting the Position Code (PHFI/2014/106-AIFE) in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview.

Last Date for receipt of applications: 22 May 2014