About the Role
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is seeking a Research Scientist to join our Applied Research & Methods team. This role offers the opportunity to design and lead technical research initiatives focused on infectious disease prevention, particularly malaria control programs across Sub-Saharan Africa. You will combine survey design expertise, health systems knowledge, and field research management to generate credible evidence that directly impacts program outcomes and informs policy decisions for global health partners and funders.
Key Responsibilities- Design and lead coverage surveys and audit methodologies, including sampling strategies, questionnaire development, and quality assurance procedures
- Serve as principal investigator for impact evaluations, data audits, and health facility assessments across Sub-Saharan Africa
- Provide technical guidance on health systems operations, data quality constraints, and facility-level data validation in Nigeria and West African contexts
- Collaborate with survey delivery teams and government health partners to ensure successful data collection and stakeholder engagement
- Supervise and mentor field research staff, including enumerators and research coordinators
- Develop research proposals, including study design, budgeting, and funder narratives for new health initiatives
- Conduct technical quality reviews of research proposals and contribute to analysis and reporting of findings
- Required: PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, health economics, or related social science
- Substantive expertise in health systems and facility-level data quality and validation
- Demonstrated research or fieldwork experience in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Proven experience writing research proposals with study design and budgeting expertise
- Desired: Expertise in malaria, infectious disease programs, or measurement methodologies; knowledge of Nigerian or West African health systems; RCT design experience; publications in public health; French language proficiency