Junior Research Officer/Research Officer at University of Cape Town

The Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products (REEP), based at the University of Cape Town, is the premier research group on the economics of tobacco control in Africa. It is also a Knowledge Hub for the Convention Secretariat of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (one of only eight worldwide). Our goal is to support public health through independent and rigorous research. We are a dynamic, collegial, and collaborative team .

REEP currently has a vacancy for a Junior Research Officer (the research equivalent of Junior Lecturer), or a Research Officer (the research equivalent of Lecturer). This appointment will be on a permanent, soft-funded basis, and the successful candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible.
The successful candidate will be part of a team of economists whose research and policy work is focused on the economics oftobacco control, alcohol policy, and sugar-sweetened beverage policy. To see the type of research that we do.
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Requirements for both levels:

• Proven ability in applied quantitative economics and/or econometric research
• Proficient in Stata or similar statistics software
• Proficient in Excel
• Willingness to travel internationally
• Strong written, oral and presentation skills
• Has never received funding from the tobacco, nicotine, and/or alcohol industries

Additional requirements for Junior Research Officer:

• A completed or near-completed Masters degree in Economics or a related discipline, with an average mark of at least 70%(upper second) in the Honours (or senior undergraduate years) and the coursework component of the Masters degree
• An interest in public health

Additional requirements for Research Officer:

• A completed Masters degree in Economics or a related discipline, with an average mark of at least 70% (upper second) in the Honours (or senior undergraduate years) and Masters degree
• Proven ability to conduct research

The following will be advantageous:

• Ability to communicate in French and/or Spanish
• An understanding of tobacco control and/or alcohol-related and/or sugar-sweetened beverage-related policies
• A publication record, e.g., published peer-reviewed journal articles or authorship on reports

Responsibilities for both levels:

• Initiate and undertake research on the economics of tobacco control and/or alcohol policy and/or SSB policy
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals
• Provide research support to the Principal Investigators and senior researchers in the unit
• Mentor students, appropriate to the level of the position
• Present research at workshops and conferences
• Travel to countries to provide in-country technical assistance
• Support the Principal Investigators with reporting to the funders
• Participate in grant-writing