Research Scientist

About the role

The Research Scientist will join Innovations for Poverty Action’s Applied Research & Methods team, leading coverage surveys, data audits, and impact evaluations for large‑scale infectious disease prevention programs across Sub‑Saharan Africa. The role combines technical survey design, health‑systems expertise, and field research management to produce credible evidence for program partners and funders.

Key responsibilities

• Design and lead coverage survey protocols, sampling strategies, questionnaire development, and quality‑control procedures.
• Serve as principal investigator for evaluations, surveys, and facility‑level data audits, ensuring rigorous extraction, validation, and interpretation of health data.
• Provide technical guidance on health‑system contexts in Nigeria and other West African countries.
• Collaborate with the Survey Delivery Unit on data‑collection platforms, field protocols, and quality assurance.
• Manage relationships with government health partners and program stakeholders to secure data‑collection access.
• Supervise and mentor field research staff, including enumerators and research associates.
• Write and review research proposals, including study design, budgeting, and funder narratives.

Required profile

• PhD or equivalent doctoral‑level training in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, health economics, or a related social science.
• Substantive expertise in health‑systems operations and facility‑level data quality.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research or fieldwork in Sub‑Saharan Africa.
• Proven ability to write research proposals with clear study designs and budgets.
• Expertise in malaria or other infectious‑disease programs.

Required skills

• Survey design and sampling methodology
• Questionnaire development
• Data audit and validation
• Health‑systems analysis
• Project leadership and team supervision

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape high‑impact health research in low‑ and middle‑income countries.
• Collaboration with global partners and funders.
• Professional development in applied research and evaluation.