Volunteer vacancy: OCA Research Committee Member

Background

The MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) Research Committee is a group of experts, including people from within MSF and externals, who are collectively responsible for ensuring OCA’s research efficiently delivers measurable benefit to the populations served by MSF within an accountable and transparent framework and according to medical, ethical, and humanitarian principles.

MSF OCA Research Committee role and responsibilities

• Act to ensure that OCA research meets OCA research principles and strategic objectives defined in topic research agendas 
• Focal points/champions for research, impact, and the use of research as an operational tool 
• Conduit for research difficulties and challenges from office and field 
• Support topical research agenda setting, sign off topical research agendas, and review the progress of these agendas annually
• Support development of 'ad hoc' research agendas as required 
• Review and request amendments to concept papers, protocols, and study outputs, drawing on internal or external advisors where needed 
• Propose mentors (internal or external) where required to support research development 
• Review research proposals from external bodies  
• Review impact and system functioning

The position

The Manson Unit is seeking a volunteer to join the OCA Research Committee, bringing with them relevant expertise, knowledge, and perspectives to improve the quality of OCA research. The objective of this position is to build upon the current knowledge and expertise of the OCA Research Committee to further improve the support provided to OCA research teams.

Commitments and deliverables

Regular commitment (approximately 2-4 hours every two weeks)

• Attend Research Committee meetings every two weeks – 1 hour
• Provide reviews for 1-3 submissions (concept papers, protocols, manuscripts, abstracts) and prepare to present opinions and recommendations at Research Committee meetings (submissions are assigned one week prior to RC meetings) – approximately 2-3 hours

Occasional commitment

• Occasional 1-to-1 discussions with research teams requiring additional support, in particular, advice around design/methodology

Profile of volunteer

Please only apply if you have extensive experience in conducting and evaluating operational research, ideally from humanitarian or low-resource settings. The ideal candidate will have a broad array of expertise, but topics of particular interest include non-communicable diseases, water and sanitation, HIV/TB. Knowledge of research ethical standards is essential and epidemiology experience strongly desirable. Knowledge of qualitative research and/or editorial experience would be beneficial. This position would be ideal for e.g. a Professor of Medicine/Global Health, who would like to contribute some time to help refine MSF research to ensure the care we provide is optimal.

To apply:

In your proposal, we would ask you to submit:

1. A letter of motivation
2. CV

For further questions, please contact Holly Baker holly.baker@london.msf.org