General Summary

The Lab Runner will provide day-to-day support to the study team by ensuring the safe, timely, and accurate movement of laboratory samples, documents, supplies, and other study materials between designated study areas, laboratories, and other authorised locations.

The position will support smooth laboratory operations while maintaining sample integrity, confidentiality, safety and compliance with study and laboratory procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect laboratory samples from designated study areas as instructed by authorised study/laboratory staff.
• Transport samples promptly and safely to the designated laboratory or processing area.
• Ensure samples are handled according to applicable study SOPs and laboratory procedures.
• Maintain appropriate conditions for sample transportation as instructed by the study team.
• Verify sample identifiers and accompanying documentation before and after transportation.
• Report any damaged, leaking, incorrectly labelled, or missing samples immediately to the responsible staff.

• Maintain accurate records of samples received, collected, and transported as required.
• Complete sample movement/transfer logs and other relevant documentation.
• Ensure documentation accompanying samples is complete and properly handled.
• Report discrepancies in sample numbers, labels or documentation to the responsible staff member.
• Maintain confidentiality of participant and study information.

• Assist with receiving and organising study supplies and consumables.
• Monitor basic availability of frequently used supplies and alert the supervisor when replenishment is required.
• Support study teams during participant visits and other study activities where laboratory-related logistical support is required.
• Follow study SOPs, institutional policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Support other reasonable study-related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualifications

• • Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) or equivalent
• • A certificate or training in laboratory work, health sciences, biomedical sciences, nursing, public health or a related field is an added advantage

Person Specification

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) or equivalent.
• A certificate or training in laboratory work, health sciences, biomedical sciences, nursing, public health or a related field is an added advantage.
• Previous experience working in a laboratory, health facility or research setting is desirable.
• Experience handling or transporting biological samples is desirable.
• Basic understanding of laboratory safety and infection prevention practices.
• Ability to read and complete basic records and documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English and Acholi language.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Attention to detail, particularly when handling samples and documentation.
• Fluency in Acholi to be able to adequately communicate with participants
• Reliability and punctuality.
• Ability to follow instructions and SOPs accurately.
• Good organisational and record-keeping skills.
• Good communication and teamwork.
• Respect for confidentiality.
• Experience working in a busy research or laboratory environment.
• Commitment to safety and quality.

Back Apply

More Details

Job Code: LRG001
No of Position: 1
Station: Gulu
Classification: Full-time
Duration: 1 Years
Reports to: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Posted Date: 2026-10-02 12:26:31.000
Closing Date: 2026-10-15 17:00:00.000

LAB RUNNER/MESSENGER (1)

The Lab Runner will provide day-to-day support to the study team by ensuring the safe, timely, and accurate movement of laboratory samples, documents, supplies, and other study materials between designated study areas, laboratories, and other authorised locations.

The position will support smooth laboratory operations while maintaining sample integrity, confidentiality, safety and compliance with study and laboratory procedures.

Postdoctoral Fellow (1)

Job Description 2: Postdoctoral Fellow in Pathogen Genomics (One Health Focus)

• Position Title:  Postdoctoral Fellow – Pathogen Genomics
• Department: Global Health Security
• Project: Professor Sewankambo Global Health Security Training Program in Africa
• Reports To: Deputy Head of Department 
• Duration: One year, renewable
• Location: IDI-McKinnell MKC, Makerere University Campus
• Application Deadline:  Two weeks after the advert date

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in pathogen genomics to strengthen our global health security program, with a particular emphasis on One Health approaches. The role integrates genomics applications with practical contributions to business development, scientific documentation, and program implementation to combat infectious diseases at the human-animal-environment interface.

Research Fellow (3)

ACCEPT-Africa Targeted Research Awards for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness

Background

The African Consortium for Clinical Evidence, Pharmacology and Translational Research (ACCEPT-Africa) is a multidisciplinary, multi-country research consortium under the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative (EPSILON-1). Led by the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University, Uganda, ACCEPT-Africa brings together research institutions and investigators from Uganda, Tanzania (Kibong’oto Infectious Diseases Hospital), the Democratic Republic of Congo (Catholic University of Bukavu), South Africa (University of Cape Town), and Italy (University of Turin) to strengthen Africa's capacity to develop, evaluate, and deploy medical countermeasures for epidemic- and pandemic-prone diseases.

ACCEPT-Africa integrates expertise in early-phase clinical trials, clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), implementation science, infectious diseases, laboratory sciences, regulatory science, and epidemic preparedness.

The consortium is guided by three strategic objectives:

1. Advance the clinical development of medical countermeasures targeting priority pathogens;
2. Strengthen epidemic–pandemic research ecosystems; and
3. Build sustainable capacity for early-phase clinical trials targeting priority pathogens.

To advance these objectives, ACCEPT-Africa invites applications from individual researchers for Targeted Research Awards addressing priority scientific and operational gaps relevant to medical countermeasure development and epidemic clinical research.

Purpose of the Call

The ACCEPT-Africa Targeted Research Awards will provide catalytic funding for focused, high-impact and implementation-oriented research projects that can generate preliminary evidence, address critical knowledge or methodological gaps, strengthen existing research platforms, and contribute to the development and evaluation of medical countermeasures for priority pathogens.

A total of three awards will be available, with funding of up to US$15,000 per project for an implementation period of up to 12 months.

The call is specifically intended to support research that can leverage existing ACCEPT-Africa platforms, cohorts, protocols, laboratory capabilities, partnerships and research infrastructure to achieve clearly defined outputs within the award period.

Applicants must submit a proposal addressing one of the three priority research areas below.

Priority Research Areas

Priority Area 1: Pharmacokinetics of drugs used for diseases of outbreak potential

Priority Area 2: Biomarkers and diagnostics for drug development which could be viral, immunological or other markers that can be used to assess treatment response or severity of highly infectious diseases of outbreak potential

Priority Area 3: Social and Behavioral Research on Epidemic Clinical Trials

Funding Available

ACCEPT-Africa intends to make three competitive research awards, subject to satisfactory scientific review and availability of funds.

Maximum Award

Each successful project may receive funding of up to US$15,000.

Applicants are expected to submit realistic and well-justified budgets directly linked to the proposed research activities and outputs.

Eligible costs may include research personnel support, laboratory reagents and consumables, sample processing and analysis, data collection, participant-related research costs, field activities, data management and analysis, stakeholder/community engagement directly related to the research, and dissemination of findings.

Major capital equipment and costs not directly attributable to delivery of the proposed research should generally not constitute a substantial proportion of the requested budget.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit a concise application package containing:                  

1. CV and personal statement (use the NIH template)
2. 2 letters of recommendations (ACCEPT-Africa site PI and one proposed mentor)
3. Proposal (download the template.docx)
4. Budget (maximum US$15,000)

Key Timelines

Milestone	Date/Period
Call opens	September 2026
Application deadline	16th October 2026
Scientific and technical review	November 2026
Notification of successful applicants	Late November 2026
Anticipated project commencement	December 2026

Applications must be received by 16th October 2026. Late or substantially incomplete applications will not be considered.