Job Description

Description:
AHRI seeks a Principal Investigator/Senior Research Associate to be responsible for providing scientific leadership, strategic oversight, and operational direction for clinical trials conducted within the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU). The Principal Investigator/Senior Research Associate ensures that trials are designed, implemented, and reported in accordance with scientific, ethical, regulatory, and institutional standards, while advancing AHRI's mission to improve health through research and innovation.
The Principal Investigator/Senior Research Associate will be expected to be based in AHRI Somkhele at least three days a week. Clinical trials are expected to take advantage of the laboratory and population infrastructure available at AHRI to address the intractable problems of infectious diseases (tuberculosis and HIV), and adolescent mental health in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. AHRI promotes cross-disciplinary and collaborative research and encourages Principal Investigators to undertake research activities that are aligned with the scientific strategy and institutional guiding principles.
This is an academic-track position, with clear expectations for academic outputs in line with the DORA principles. The role also requires generating individual grant funding, supervising trainees, and contributing to social responsiveness, with anticipation of academic progression and development toward a faculty member-level appointment.
Overview of Duties:
Overview of Duties:
1. Scientific leadership

• Develop and lead high-quality, innovative clinical trial protocols aligned with AHRI's strategic research agenda.
• Provide scientific input into study design, methodology, and analysis plans.
• Ensure trials generate impactful data that contribute to advancing scientific knowledge and public health outcomes.

2. Trial oversight & governance

• Serve as the overall scientific and medical lead for assigned studies.
• Oversee trial implementation in compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), regulatory requirements, and institutional policies.
• Chair or actively participate in study-related committees
• Ensure robust monitoring, auditing, and reporting systems are in place for each study.

3. Stakeholder engagement

• Act as primary liaison with sponsors, collaborators, ethics committees, and regulatory bodies.
• Represent AHRI at local, national, and international forums related to clinical trials.
• Strengthen relationships with community stakeholders to ensure ethical and culturally appropriate trial conduct.

4. Capacity building & mentorship

• Mentor and support junior investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical research staff.
• Contribute to building sustainable scientific capacity within AHRI and partner institutions.
• Deliver training sessions, seminars, and workshops on clinical trials.

5. Research grant funding

• Lead grant applications and funding proposals for new trials and related research.
• Manage awarded grants, ensuring timely reporting, financial accountability, and compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Contribute to AHRI's overall research funding strategy.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• MBChB (or equivalent qualification) and current registration with HPCSA
• Substantial accomplishments in research, as demonstrated by a significant number of clinical trials conducted as principal investigator, and first and/or senior author publications in peer-reviewed journals, and initial success in obtaining external research support.
• Preference will be given to a candidate with a clinical trials research focus relevant to infectious diseases, especially HIV and TB. AHRI encourages and actively supports research programmes that may lead to improved tools, biomarkers, diagnostics, drugs, or vaccines to combat TB and related diseases in under-resourced communities.
• Demonstrated experience in training and mentoring students and early career researchers, including successful supervision of trainees to completion.

Please also do not hesitate to reach out to Prof Limakatso Lebina, Director for the Clinical Trials Unit at AHRI, if you have any questions: limakatso.lebina@ahri.org.
Worker Type: Employee
The application closing date: 11 Oct 2025
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful if you do not hear from us within 14 days of the application closing date.

Skills Required