Public Health Foundation of India

Oral diseases are very common conditions affecting over 3.5 billion people globally. Oral conditions have a major impact causing pain, infection, and reduced quality of life, time off school or work, and social isolation. In many developing countries, oral diseases are becoming much more common. Despite their prevalence and impact, oral diseases have been woefully neglected within global health research.

Oral diseases disproportionally affect poorer and marginalized groups, being very closely linked to levels of education and income. Oral conditions share common risks with other chronic diseases including sugar consumption, poor hygiene, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption, and the broader underlying social determinants (the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age). In many countries, dental services are often inaccessible and unaffordable to large segments of the population but particularly disadvantaged groups.

Our programme has following broad aims: Aim 1: Develop meaningful communication, dialogue and partnership with local communities to better understand their experiences of oral diseases and the best ways ahead of promoting sustainable community engagement in oral health research. Aim 2: Investigate the pattern and impact of oral health inequalities. Aim 3: Identify opportunities to reform dental care systems to improve their integration with the broader health system and their accessibility and affordability. Aim 4: Build research capacity in the evaluation of public health interventions and health system reforms through postgraduate training and short courses. Aim 5: Engage key stakeholders and partners on the importance of oral diseases and the need for policy and system reform.

This programme will use different research methods to collect and analyses various types of data. Existing national oral health survey data from each country will be analyses to assess oral health inequalities. Individual semi-structured interviews will be undertaken with people from disadvantaged backgrounds to explore their views of the impact of oral diseases on their lives.

Community engagement activities in this programme will take place to ensure that local communities, and in particular disadvantaged groups are fully consulted and given an opportunity to express their views and co-produce all aspects of the research programme from planning to dissemination of results. The results from our programme of research will be shared and disseminated across policy, professional, and community networks in each of the participating countries but also more widely across existing international networks.

The anticipated impact of this programme includes raising understanding and awareness of the public health importance of oral diseases and inequalities, developing the evidence base for population interventions and system reforms, and ultimately developing public health policies to promote better oral health.

• Assist with the development of research protocols, including working with the local research team to generate ideas and understand the feasibility and acceptability of different approaches.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of HMSC & ethics applications linked to the project.
• Finalize data collection tools and undertake both quantitative and qualitative data collection which includes:
• Developing data collection tools such as questionnaires and topic guides.
• Conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews.
• Moderation/facilitation of panel discussions and focus groups.
• Conduct both quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Support the setup of each study and coordinate the recruitment of participants and the consenting processes.
• Contribute to the training of local researchers in data collection methods.
• Actively contribute to the training and capacity building activities
• Perform all procedures as detailed in the approved study protocol, review all protocol deviations/instances of non-compliance, and take appropriate corrective action.
• Assist in the preparation of project monitoring reports.
• Contribute to the dissemination of research findings through presentations, participation in workshops and conferences, and scientific papers as appropriate.
• Organize advocacy events to bring together policy makers, researchers, clinicians, and community members to review progress and next steps for the further development of oral health research.
• Ensure compliance with good practice in relation to the conduct of research, the ethics policy and other organization policies.
• Internal as well as External with other project partners
• Preparation of donor reports quarterly
• Travel as required.
• Other duties as assigned by line manager or as per the needs of the programme.

Essential:

• Master’s in dental surgery or Master’s in public health or any other related allied field.

Desirable:

• PhD in epidemiology, population health or any other related discipline

Essential:

• 1-3 years of experience in independent quantitative data analysis
• 0-3 years’ experience of implementing community-based research projects
• Publishing manuscripts in high impact factor journals
• Proficiency in the use of quantitative software’s for data analysis

Desirable:

• Understanding of analyzing and managing qualitative data
• Ability to manage field-based teams
• Good networking abilities with varied stakeholders

Interested and eligible candidates may send their updated CV to recruit@phfi.org and fill the application form– https://forms.office.com/r/6YQ3uGVqpv . Please mention the exact Position Code (PHFI-RSRA-2459) in the email subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview.

Last Date of Receipt of Applications:  23 July 2024.

Remarks:

• Candidates are requested to refer PHFI website for position description & process for applying. Please note only those applications will be considered which are received as per instruction written on PHFI website.
• Candidates should have an excellent academic record, good communication skills, a commitment to high quality graduate / post-graduate education.
• Mere eligibility will not entitle any candidate for being called for interview.
• Persons employed in Government/Semi-Government Organization or Educational Institutions in India must apply through proper channel.
• PHFI reserves the right to fill or not to fill any or all available positions.
• The requirements of minimum qualification and/or experience may be relaxed in the case of candidates with outstanding credentials.
• No correspondence will be entertained from candidates regarding any delays, conduct & result of interview and reasons for not being called for interview.
• Please note that Annual Salary (CTC) will commensurate with available skills and fitment of the incumbent as per the selection process.   

“PHFI reserves the sole right to alter/modify/cancel the entire selection process or the position or the vacancy or to disqualify any candidature at any stage of the selection process”.

Women are encouraged to apply!