Vacancies at The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate data acquisition processes with external data holders and manage data-sharing agreements, dataset transfers and linkages.
• Extract data from surveys, registries, mortality databases and other relevant sources.
• Clean, validate, quality assure, merge, recode, transform and prepare large and complex datasets for analysis.
• Conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, disease modelling and estimation of disease trends from heterogeneous data sources.
• Conduct literature reviews and quantitative evidence synthesis.
• Prepare figures, tables, scientific papers, technical reports and policy-related outputs.
• Present research findings at conferences, workshops and stakeholder meetings and support dissemination to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Mentor or provide technical support to students, interns, junior researchers and data analysts, where applicable.
• Contribute to training, knowledge-sharing, grant applications, funding proposals and collaborative research opportunities.
• Monitor project deliverables and reporting deadlines, maintain research documentation and contribute to progress and performance reports.

Remuneration

• A salary in the region of R 966 586.00 per annum, cost-to-company, will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.

Requirements

Core Requirements:

• Master's degree in Health Sciences, Data Sciences, or a registration as a PhD candidate with substantial progress towards completion (preferably in the final year, write-up, or post-analysis phase)
• At least 3 years’ experience in data science, data analytics or related science field.
• Record of 5 lifetime publications, including ISI journal articles, editorials, book chapters or technical reports, with at least 3 as first or senior author.
• Substantial contribution to successful grant application. Successful research and/or equipment grant application of at least R100,000, for example an external travel award or NRF Thuthuka grant.
• Successfully supervised/co-supervised at least 2 postgraduate students to graduation.
• Record of translating professional, scientific or clinical expertise, new knowledge and research findings into public understanding, policy and/or practice to improve health.
• Exposure to budgeting, financial management and risk management.
• Excellent interpersonal relations and communication skills.

Advantageous:

• PhD or MBChB.
• 5 years’ relevant experience.
• HPCSA registration or equivalent, where the candidate is a clinician.

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Responsibilities will include:

• Maintain laboratory facilities, equipment, glassware and workstations.
• Prepare reagents, buffers and laboratory consumables and support routine laboratory activities.
• Collect, handle and track wastewater and biological samples.
• Maintain laboratory stock, records, temperature logs and quality documentation.
• Support scientists, technologists, students and researchers while ensuring compliance with health, safety, biosafety and GLP requirements.

Requirements

Core Requirements:

• Grade 12 (NQF level 4) and a 1- or 2-year accredited course/certificate relevant to the job/discipline (only 3-year qualification where registration is required) or/ equivalent.
• Two or more years' practical experience operating standard laboratory equipment.
• Two or more years' working knowledge of laboratory safety procedures, PPE requirements, and waste disposal regulations.
• Experience maintaining laboratory glassware, consumables, and storage facilities.
• Experience monitoring laboratory freezers, temperature logs, and alarm systems.
• Experience supporting laboratory technologist or scientists during laboratory testing and experiments.
• Experience with specimen collection, transport, and handling.
• Exposure to inventory management, stock control, and laboratory supplies.
• Experience providing laboratory support to postgraduate students and researchers.
• Experience in assisting with animal experiments

Advantageous:

• Experience sterilizing laboratory equipment and consumables using autoclaves.
• Experience in preparing laboratory instruments, reagents, and workstations for daily laboratory activities.
• Experience processing biological specimens and preparing samples for analysis.
• Experience transporting hazardous chemicals in accordance with safety regulations.
• Experience managing hazardous chemical inventories and waste disposal records.
• A valid driver's license.

Closing Date:

9 October 2026