About AHRI and the Project The Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is at the forefront of innovative health research in Africa, advancing knowledge in infectious diseases, public health, and digital health interventions. AHRI’s work combines rigorous scientific research with policy translation, community engagement, and ethical governance to improve health outcomes locally and globally. This position is part of a large, multi-partner initiative focused on the safe, ethical, and effective use of generative AI (genAI) in mental health. The project seeks to map potential risks associated with AI-enabled mental health tools and to ensure that lived experience, clinical expertise, and ethical considerations are embedded throughout the research process. The initiative spans multiple sites internationally and combines applied research, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge translation to advance responsible innovation in mental health interventions. Role Overview Location: Durban, South AfricaTime Type: Full-timeApplication Deadline: 8 March 2026Job Requisition ID: JR100726Organization: Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) The Research Associate & Project Manager will play a dual role: overseeing the logistical and administrative aspects of the project while contributing substantively to cutting-edge research in digital mental health. This position involves scientific leadership, applied qualitative and mixed-methods research, ethics oversight, stakeholder engagement, and high-level coordination across global partners. The postholder will ensure integration of lived experience, clinical insight, and policy-relevant outputs throughout the project lifecycle. Key Responsibilities Project Management: Coordinate and manage research activities across multiple sites, ensuring alignment with objectives, milestones, deliverables, and timelines. Identify risks associated with multi-site coordination and stakeholder engagement, and implement mitigation strategies. Track project progress, produce detailed status reports, and address operational challenges to ensure smooth execution. Maintain project documentation, databases, and research records for consistency and quality control. Research Leadership: Lead the design and delivery of a comprehensive taxonomy of harms associated with genAI mental health interventions. Conduct high-quality qualitative and mixed-methods research, including protocol development, data collection, analysis, and synthesis. Ensure rigorous integration of lived experience and clinical expertise into research outputs. Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations for academic, policy, and professional audiences. Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Translation: Facilitate workshops, consultations, and advisory panels to gather input from diverse local and global stakeholders. Engage sensitively and meaningfully with lived experience experts and vulnerable populations. Support the development of policy-relevant guidance and recommendations informed by research findings. Ethics, Governance, and Compliance: Work with ethics committees, regulatory bodies, and institutional review boards to ensure compliance with ethical standards. Oversee adherence to governance frameworks, quality control, and responsible conduct of research. Ensure all project activities align with principles of inclusion, equity, and ethical innovation in mental health. Capacity Building and Dissemination: Assist in organizing workshops, trainings, and conferences to embed lived experience and clinical insights throughout the project. Promote cross-partner knowledge exchange and collaboration to strengthen global research outputs. Develop materials for dissemination, ensuring accessibility and impact among research, clinical, and policy audiences. Minimum Qualifications Relevant PhD degree in mental health, public health, social sciences, health systems, bioethics, or closely related field. Minimum of 3 years of relevant research experience. Knowledge of digital mental health and generative AI (genAI) applications is highly desirable. Expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research. Experience in multi-partner research projects, preferably with global or mental health focus. Track record of peer-reviewed publications and technical report authorship. Required Skills Advanced project management: timelines, deliverables, partner coordination, and issue resolution. Stakeholder engagement and facilitation, including high-level workshops. Strong verbal and written communication in English. Experience working with ethics committees, regulatory bodies, or governance frameworks. Ability to integrate lived experience and clinical expertise into research processes. Knowledge of participatory research, co-production, or advisory panels is desirable. Familiarity with AI, digital health technologies, or medical device research is an advantage. Why This Role Matters This position offers a unique opportunity to advance the responsible and ethical deployment of AI in mental health, combining research excellence with practical impact. The successful candidate will contribute to shaping global best practices, safeguarding vulnerable populations, and generating insights that influence policy, clinical practice, and future digital mental health innovation. By bridging research, ethics, and project management, this role is critical in ensuring that technological advances in mental health are safe, inclusive, and evidence-based. APPLY HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the fellowship. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.