RESEARCH ASSISTANT (AD.14.5)

Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) Wits University; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A South African research institution is seeking a Research Assistant to support a project focused on understanding suicidality and reasons to live among youth in peri-urban areas. Responsibilities include data collection, fieldwork, and ensuring project timelines. Candidates should have a BSc honours in health sciences and a strong interest in mental health research. Excellent organizational skills and relevant research experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Relevant research experience including ethics process and data collection.
• Ability to assist the principal investigator effectively.
• Knowledge of ethical practices in research.

Responsibilities

• Attend collaborators meetings.
• Conduct quality control.
• Manage field work including participant recruitment.
• Ensure project timelines are met.

Skills

Health sciences knowledge

Interest in mental health research

Organizational skills

Data quality handling

Teamwork

Independent work capability

Proactivity

Education

BSc honours in health sciences

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a Research Assistant to join the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care as part of the U’GOOD Reason to Live Project. The overall goal of this project is to generate evidence on suicidality and key “reasons to live” among youth in peri-urban areas of South Africa, Tanzania, and Ghana, and to develop tools for surveillance, case identification, and support. The post holder will work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, and collaborators to support the planning and implementation of the project. The successful applicant will be based at the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care at Philip V Tobias Health Sciences Building and may travel periodically to Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape for data collection.

Responsibilities

• Attend the collaborators meetings
• Quality control
• Field work including participant recruitment and consenting
• Equipment management
• Training on measurement techniques
• Ensuring project timelines are met
• Financial and project administration
• Data collection (in field and onsite)

Relevant Experience, Skills And Knowledge

• BSc honours in health sciences preferably in Public Health, Epidemiology, Psychology, Public Health, Mental Health
• Strong interest in mental health research
• Relevant research experience (ethics process, participant mobilization data collection)
• Excellent organisational skills
• Experience with capturing and checking data quality
• Teamwork
• The ability to work independently
• Willingness to assist, and take instruction for the principal investigator and project coordinator to ensure smooth operation of the project
• Knowledge of sound ethical practice in the conduct of research
• Self-motivated, proactive, innovative, and able to use initiative where appropriate

Application and Eligibility

For queries, please contact Prof Joel Francis at [e-mail]

Please apply via I-Recruitment https://irec.wits.ac.za by 05 November 2025. Submit a covering letter indicating your interest, a detailed CV with names, addresses, contact numbers and e-mail addresses of 3 referees via I-Recruitment https://irec.wits.ac.za. By applying for this post the Applicant acknowledges that their personal information will be processed by the University. The Applicant consents to the processing of personal information as required by the University’s Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Policy, including logging information, background and reference checks, and disclosure to university employees involved in the selection and recruitment process. The confidentiality of the Applicant\'s personal information will be maintained. The University is committed to employment equity and may give preference to applicants from designated groups. The University reserves the right not to appoint or re-advertise. Correspondence will be entered into only with shortlisted candidates.