Sr Research Associate - SAMASTH

Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH); Bengaluru; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH Bengaluru) invites applications for a Senior Research Associate on the SAMASTH project to strengthen mental health care through realist evaluation and capacity building. The role requires leading community-based programmes, coordinating field activities, and performing data analyses for reports to PI and funding agencies.

The candidate will work at IPH Bengaluru with potential postings at Mysore/Chamarajanagar and will contribute to training initiatives

Qualifications

• PhD/MD in a relevant field or in final stage with expected graduation within 3 months
• Clinicians with mental health experience (psychology/psychiatry/occupational health/psych/social work) considered
• Master's in psychology, psychiatric social work, or mental health occupational therapy may apply

Responsibilities

• Based at IPH Bengaluru; report to Principal Investigator
• Provide leadership in community-based mental health programmes
• Conduct systematic and scoping reviews relevant to mental health programmes
• Undertake regular field visits and maintain research integrity
• Work with Data Manager to adhere to IPH data policies
• Perform data analysis across mental health programmes and prepare reports
• Contribute to training activities and educational initiatives at IPH

Skills

Research leadership

Policy engagement

Data analysis

Field coordination

Education

PhD/MD in psychiatry or community medicine

Master's in psychology/psychiatric social work/mental health occupational therapy

Job description

Job Summary

Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH Bengaluru) is an academic research institute driven by the need for community-driven action and with a mission to strengthen health policy and systems to ensure healthy communities through a team of committed and value-based professionals. We hope to make a difference with an emphasis on addressing health inequities. Our main activities are organized around the domains of research and action, education and outreach (public/policy engagement). IPH Bengaluru carries out and consolidates its research interests and outputs across the following - T. T. Narasimhan School of Advanced Studies (TTN SoAS), Centre for Commercial Determinants of Health (CDOH), Centre for Health Systems (CHS), and Centre of Adivasi Health (CAH). IPH Bengaluru is recognised by the Ministry of Science and Technology as a Scientific Research Organisation. IPH Bengaluru has a global network of collaborations with leading national and global Universities, NGOs and academia as well as long-term learning sites/field stations as needed for participatory action and community engagement.

We are looking for: Senior Research Associate in SAMASTH.

SAMASTH project evaluates an integrated program-combining self-harm registers, staff mental health training, and digitally assisted assessments-to strengthen mental health care for self-harm patients in state-run general hospitals. It will assess feasibility across three hospitals and measure improvements in mental health assessments, service engagement, repeat self-harm, and staff competencies. Using realist evaluation and Theory-of-Change methods, the study will also inform policy, generate implementation guidance, and build sustainable research and training capacity in self-harm care.

Location:

The position will be based at Institute of Public Health Bengaluru/Mysore/Chamarajanagar and the post holder will be housed at the Centre for Health Systems.

Duration

The appointment will initially be for 12 months, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and extension of the project.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have completed a PhD/Doctors with community medicine/MD in Psychiatry/ Applicants who are in the final stage of their terminal degree and are expected to graduate within the next three months may also apply
• PhD qualification: Clinicians with experience in mental health, including psychology, psychiatry, occupational health, or psychiatric social work.
• Master's qualification: Master's degree in psychology, psychiatric social work, or mental health occupational therapy may apply.

Work Experience

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience.

Roles and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be based at the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru and will report directly to Dr. Murali Krishna, Principal Investigator.
• Provide leadership in the implementation of community-based mental health programmes as directed by the Principal Investigator.
• Conduct systematic and scoping reviews relevant to mental health programs hosted by the Centre for Health Systems.
• Undertake regular field visits and ensure high standards of integrity in the conduct and delivery of research activities.
• Work closely with the Data Manager to ensure strict adherence to IPH data management policies.
• Perform regular data analysis across mental health programs and prepare interim and final reports for the Principal Investigator and funding agencies.
• Contribute to training activities in mental health, as well as other training and educational initiatives at IPH.