Research Fellow - HIV and Sexual Health

Omschrijving van de vacature

Research Fellow - HIV and Sexual Health

Department of Public Health - HIV and Sexual Health Unit, Sexual and Reproductive Health Group

 

More than 480 staff members at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) contribute every day to improving the health of millions of people worldwide. Our researchers conduct more than 200 scientific projects in the fields of tropical medicine and international health. Our teaching staff welcomes more than 500 professionals from around the world each academic year to attend our highly regarded medical courses. Tens of thousands of travel and STI consultations take place in our clinic each year, and our internationally recognized reference laboratories examine many hundreds of thousands of samples.

There is only one way we can accomplish these very diverse tasks: thanks to a great passion for our mission. Does the ITM appeal to you as a workplace? If so, we would be delighted to welcome you as a Research Fellow at the HIV and Sexual Health Unit, Sexual and Reproductive Health Group, at the Department of Public Health.

 

Introduction

The Department of Public Health of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp (ITM) aims to conduct public health research of international standing, provide postgraduate education of high quality and engage in service delivery to advance public health. The department is organized into multidisciplinary research groups, including public health specialists, epidemiologists, and social scientists.

The Sexual Health, including HIV, Unit, within the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Group of the Dept of Public Health, aims to contribute to equitable access to sexual health services and improve sexual health among diverse populations in a range of settings, with a particular focus on HIV prevention. We achieve this by linking scientific research, advanced education, policy support and capacity-strengthening in Belgium and other countries, including in West and Southern Africa. We use quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods inter-disciplinary approaches (e.g. epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, psychology, demography, implementation and evaluation research) to understand risk and vulnerability and to evaluate interventions to improve sexual health outcomes.

The Sexual Health, including HIV, Unit is looking to strengthen its epidemiological research capacity by recruiting a Research Fellow with epidemiological expertise. The Research Fellow will develop research lines related to STI prevention, with a particular focus on HIV and key populations, and lead on the design and implementation of teaching on the epidemiology, prevention and control of HIV and other sexual health outcomes.

 

Assignment

  • You will design, organise and deliver teaching related to the epidemiology and the prevention and control of STIs, including HIV, for master, postgraduate certificate and short course students.
  • You will contribute to teaching on epidemiology and statistical methods for epidemiology and other quantitative methods for master, postgraduate certificate and short course students.  
  • You will contribute to the capacity strengthening activities of the SRH Group in the domain of sexual health, including through supervision of MPH and PhD students.
  • You will develop and lead a research line on the sexual health of key populations, with a particular focus on the prevention of HIV and other STIs, by leading and contributing to research grant applications.
  • You will report to Dr. Bernadette Hensen and collaborate with others within the Unit and the SRH Group, other research groups within ITM and partners outside ITM, including partners in low- and middle-income countries.

Gewenst profiel

Profile

We are looking for an outstanding Research Fellow who is passionate about conducting high quality teaching and research in support of equitable access to sexual health services. This is a unique opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team, develop your own research ideas, broaden your network of research partners, and contribute to high-quality teaching and capacity-strengthening activities of the SRH Group.

Competencies and skills

  • You hold a PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics or other, related, public health field.
  • You have experience in teaching on epidemiology, statistics and other related public health topics.
  • You have experience supervising students.
  • You have experience leading/contributing to high quality and rigorous epidemiological research, ideally with a focus on STIs in lower-resource settings.
  • You have strong epidemiological skills.
  • You have a strong track-record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and of successfully applying for competitive funding.
  • You are willing to travel overseas as required.
  • You have good organizational and analytical skills, are able to work independently as well as part of a team and across cultures respectfully, and are open-minded.
  • You have excellent knowledge of English.
  • Additional
  • Knowledge of Dutch and French is an asset.
  • You are clinically trained (i.e. medical doctor, nurse).
  • You have experience working in low- and/or middle-income countries.

Ons aanbod

Offer

The Institute of Tropical Medicine is an open and international campus where staff, students and researchers work on new international health challenges. We strive for excellence, integrity, and efficiency. Your assignment contributes to this vision. We value human dignity and diversity, academic creativity and a critical spirit, solidarity and cooperation, and the well-being of employees, students, patients and clients. Together we ensure a pleasant working atmosphere with attention to work-life balance and opportunities for training. We offer you:

  • An intellectually stimulating, international and socially committed environment, encouraging personal initiative and development.
  • A full-time contract of undetermined duration.
  • A salary package depending on your profile and professional experience, and supplementary benefits, such as private pension scheme, meal voucher subscription and reimbursement of transport.
  • A workplace in the middle of the vibrant city of Antwerp, easily accessible by public transport.
  • An immigration and relocation assistance package.

Contact

For more information about this position, please contact (recruitment@itg.be). 

Selectieprocedure

Excited about this role?

 

Apply before February 24, 2025 via the form on our website. We Ask you to add your CV and motivation letter.

For more information about this position, please contact (recruitment@itg.be). 

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