Job Description

The Human Sciences Research Council is a statutory research agency whose mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
The Research Impact Division comprises five interconnected units, each contributing to our overarching goal of translating research into measurable impact: Impact Assessment and Evaluation; Publishing; External Capacity Development and Internship; Strategic Partnerships and Internationalisation; and Research Ethics. Together, these units ensure that the HSRC's research is not only rigorous and relevant, but also transformative -- helping to shape a more inclusive, informed, and just society.The Research Impact division (RID), plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the Human Sciences Research Council's (HSRC) work extends beyond academic outputs to create real and lasting change in society. Our mission is to support, strengthen, and institutionalise the impact of HSRC research by aligning it with South Africa's development priorities and the broader African and global context.
The HSRC's Research Ethics Committee seeks to appoint two committee members. In these two committee positions, it is essential that the applicants have a sound background in: Biostatistics, epidemiology or/and Children's law background. The function of The Research Ethics Committee (REC) within the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). is to promote research ethics and research integrity in the organisation, including the ethics review of research proposals. The HSRC REC is accredited with the South African National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) and has Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) in place with the US Office of Human Research Protections.
EXPERT MEMBER OF THE RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (REC) OF THE HUMAN SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL (HSRC)CONTRACT DURATION: FIVE (5) YEAR CONTRACT
PART-TIME
Ref. REC MEMBER RID 05/25
Minimum Requirements
Suitable candidates should:

• Have a good understanding of research ethics, human rights, and community welfare.
• Awareness of the role of research in society.
• Have a track record in work related to research ethics and research integrity in their areas of specialization.
• Have completed a recognised online training module dealing with research ethics in South Africa.

Keep up to date with national and international research ethics and regulatory guidance.
Duties & Responsibilities
EXPECTED PERFORMANCE AREAS FOR THE RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE:
The HSRC Research Ethics Committee was established with the primary purpose of:

• Reviewing and monitoring research proposals and practices in the HSRC from an ethical perspective and promoting respect for human rights in research.
• Ensuring that informed consent is obtained in the case of human participants.
• Ensuring that ethical values and research integrity are promoted, both within the HSRC and within the broader social sciences community in South Africa.