Jobs

Ongoing recruitment at The Institute of Human Virology, February 2016

---

The Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) is a leading and reputable indigenous non-governmental organization implementing a comprehensive family-focused HIV/AIDS prevention, care and
treatment program in partnership with local and international organizations and the different tiers of the Government of Nigeria at national, state, local and site levels. The Institute's mission is to be Center of Excellence in providing health service implementation, capacity building, and research, and ensuring equitable access to individuals and communities through innovative and evidence-based strategies.

The Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) is recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Program Officer, Laboratory Research

Location: Central Office, Abuja

Summary/Overview

• The Senior Program Officer, Laboratory Research will take part in the research and routine analytical work in the virology section. In particular the successful candidate will be involved in receipt of samples, keeping of sample inventory, RNA extraction, RT-PCR, PCR purification, sequencing and analysis of samples from the different cohorts.
• The person will be expected to work following Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) and safety guidelines.
• The person will also do other duties as assigned by the head of the unit to whom she/he will report.

Essential Functions
The Senior Programme Officer, Laboratory Research is to:

• Contribute to the scientific and organizational management of the Research Division
• Handle preparation, packaging and shipment of research samples
• Train staff and temporary hires
• Be involved in the evaluation of new technologies
• Prepare budgets and supply orders
• Provide monthly/regular updates of progress to both senior and junior staff
• AnalyzeHIV drug resistance proficiency testing panels
• Adhere to and enforce good research and laboratory practice including Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC).

Qualifications

• Must hold a Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, a Master's Microbiology of a PhD in Virology with at least 5 years of experience.
• She/he should have worked in an active research laboratory especially carrying out genetic sequencing in conjunction with the head of department and staff of Laboratory Research Division.
• Must be involved in the execution of projects within agreed time lines.

Job Title: Program Officer, Laboratory Research

Location: Abuja

Summary/Overview

• The Program Officer, Laboratory Research will take part in the research and routine analytical work in the virology section.
• In particular, the successful candidate will be involved in receipt of samples, keeping of sample inventory, RNA extraction, RT-PCR, PCR purification, sequencing and analysis of samples from the different cohorts.
• The person will be expected to work following Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) and safety guidelines.
• The person will also do other duties as assigned by the head of the unit to whom she/he will report.

Essential Functions
The Program Officer Laboratory Research is to:

• Accession, package and handle shipment of research samples
• Train other staff and temporary hires
• Be involved in the evaluation of new technologies
• Prepare budgets and supply orders
• Provide monthly and regular updates of progress to both senior and junior staff.

Qualification

• Must hold a Master's Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Biochemistry or Microbiology with at least 5 years of experience.
• She/he should have worked in an active research laboratory especially in genetic sequencing.

Note: The appointment will be for 6 months in the first instance but may be renewed subject to continued funding and to mutual consent by the two parties. The successful applicant must be prepared to accept flexible working hours.




Job Title: Research Officer, Laboratory Research (MARGIN Study)

Locations: Benin, Edo State and FCT, Abuja
Immediate Supervisor: MARGIN Study Coordinator

Objectives

• IHVN implements the MARGIN (Microbiome Affects Risk of Growth in HIV-Exposed but Uninfected Infants in Nigeria) study which is a 5-year grant funded by the U.S National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• The study is being conducted at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin (Edo state), and is in its second of the five year project period.

Duties and Responsibilities
The duties of the MARGIN Research Officer include, but are not limited to the following:

• Verify eligibility and recruit participants according to the MARGIN research protocol
• Collect all baseline and follow-up data from participants
• Ensure that samples are processed promptly following the Manual of Procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (MOP/SOP)
• Work with other study staff to ensure timely completion of Case Report Forms (CRF) and laboratory worksheets
• Conduct inventory for laboratory supplies
• Conduct DNA extraction on Stool, Meconium, Vaginal, Oral and Skin swabs specimens
• Performs other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

Minimum Qualification

• Must hold a Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Possess excellent oral and written communication in English, with proficiency in MS Office suite, especially Excel.
• Strong professional interpersonal and public relations skills
• Ability to work in a team, take instruction, share experiences, and cooperate with authority of Project Coordinator and Principal Investigator

Job Title: Research Assistant, Laboratory Research

Location: Benin, Edo State

Job Description
The Research Assistant, MARGIN Study, Laboratory Research will take part in the research and routine analytical work. In particular, the successful candidate will be involved in sample accessioning, processing andarchiving. The person will be expected to work following Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) and safety guidelines. The person will also do other duties as assigned by the MARGIN Study Coordinator to whom she/he will report.

Duties and Responsibilities
Research Assistant, MARGIN Study, Laboratory Research is to:

• Proactively liaise with nurses/counselors to ensure that samples are promptly collected from enrolled volunteers and that all laboratory supplies required for sample collection are available at site and time of sample collection
• Ensure that samples are processed promptly following the Manual of Procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (MOP/SOP)
• Collect blood samples from study participants
• Work with other study staff to ensure timely completion of Case Report Forms (CRF) and laboratory worksheets
• Ensure accurate completion of Case Report Forms and laboratory worksheets
• Work with relevant site staff on continuous basis, meet regularly with Site Principal Investigator, other sites staff and resource persons to troubleshoot, give progress reports, perform all activities at site necessary for the progress and smooth workings of the research protocol
• Provide regular progress reports
• Conduct inventory for laboratory supplies
• Performs other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

Minimum Qualification

• Must hold a Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Possess excellent oral and written communication in English, with proficiency in MS Office suite, especially Excel and Powerpoint
• Strong professional interpersonal and public relations skills
• Be able to work in a team, take instruction, share experiences, and cooperate with authority of Project Coordinator and Principal Investigator.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send a detailed Resume, genuine supporting documents, academic qualifications and a one page Cover letter as one MS Word document saved with applicants name in the following format e.g. Musa Okafor Application Program Officer explaining suitability to "Associate Director, Human Resources" through this email address: [email protected]

Note

• Application must explicitly state the position and location applied for in the subject of the email e.g. Laboratory Research Officer.
• Candidates are advised to provide two professional referees with functional email addresses and telephone numbers.
• Only applications sent in the required format will be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted.
• The appointment will be for 6 months in the first instance but may be renewed subject to continued funding and to mutual consent by the two parties.
• The successful applicant must be prepared to accept flexible working hours.

Application Deadline  24th February, 2016.

---