General Summary

The Biomedical Engineer is a member of the Operations section under the Finance and Aadministration department. The Biomedical Engineer in the IDI medical laboratory shall be responsible for the planning, implementation and maintenance of medical equipment and systems critical to the functioning of the laboratory. He/she will collaborate with laboratory staff, medical professionals, researchers, and technical staff to ensure the effective integration of technology to enhance diagnostic and research capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities

Equipment Management

• Select, install, calibrate, and maintain medical equipment used in the laboratory with minimum supervision and in line with the manufacturer-approved standards.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs by conducting routine (and adhoc) inspections, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting equipment malefactions to minimize downtime.
• Analyze failures, and provide corrective and preventive action to respond to client and staff complaints.
• Perform independent research on the laboratory and medical equipment and develop innovative solutions.
• Monitor the performance of all Laboratory equipment and adjusts accordingly to obtain optimum performance.
• Demonstrates and trains staff on the correct operation procedures of equipment to the Laboratory/medical personnel.

Integration of Technology

• Collaborate with laboratory staff in understanding their needs and requirements, and design or recommend appropriate solutions
• Implement and integrate new technologies and upgrades to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of laboratory processes.

Collaboration

• Work closely with other Engineers, scientists, and healthcare professionals to ensure seamless integration of biomedical technology into laboratory workflows
• Collaborate with external vendors for equipment procurement, maintenance, and innovative solutions to enhance laboratory capabilities
• Assist in implementing energy conservation programs

Research and development

• Stay informed about advances in biomedical engineering and recommend innovative solutions to enhance laboratory capabilities
• Contribute to research projects aimed at improving existing technologies or developing new biomedical technology

Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain detailed records of equipment maintenance, calibration, and repairs
• Prepare reports on all equipment performance, issues, and resolutions for management and regulatory purposes
• Develop/update the SOPs for new and existing equipment

• In liaison with the Laboratory management, maintains an up-to-date inventory of all Laboratory and Medical equipment, and spare parts in detailed technical specifications
• Liaises with the Operations Manager for order of all requisite spare parts, materials, supplies, and tools to ensure repairs and maintenance are carried out efficiently and effectively.

Training and Support

• Provide training to laboratory personnel on the proper use, maintenance, and troubleshooting of biomedical Equipment
• Offer technical support to laboratory staff and address any issues related to biomedical technology

Regulatory compliance

• Ensure that all biomedical equipment adheres to relevant regulations and standards. Stay abreast of changes in regulations and update equipment accordingly.
• Participate in audits and inspections to demonstrate compliance with quality and safety standards.
• Performs all duties as a member of the Fire Alarm Response Team
• In conjunction with the OHSE team (Institutional and Laboratories), enforces safety standards.

Academic Qualification

• • Bachelor’s or Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering or other Engineering related field with a Diploma in Biomedical Engineering from a recognized institute
• • Strong knowledge of biomedical equipment, diagnostic technologies, and laboratory processes
• • Relevant professional certifications, registration with biomedical engineering-affiliated bodies e.g. Uganda National Association for Health and Medical Engineers

Specific Experience

• • 5 years’ hands-on experience in a biomedical engineering role, preferably in a medical laboratory setting,
• • Familiarity with regulatory requirements in medical laboratory industries
• • Experience in project management and implementing technological solutions

Person Specification

Skills

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to design, read, and understand electrical drawings
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Quality Awareness
• Critical-thinking skills: strong ability to compare and contrast the available options and choose the most viable one to solve problems and make decisions

Intern volunteers (6)

Call for applications: Internship for Females at African center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences

Empowering Uganda’s Women in Health Data Science: Identifying Barriers, Bridging Knowledge and Innovation for Tangible Impact: She Data Science (SHEDS)

Proposed start: June 15th, 2024

The She Data Science (SHEDS) project is pleased to invite suitable applications from females for six internships for the year 2024. SHEDS is a collaborative initiative between the African center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda and the Institute of Global Health Sciences (IGHS) at the University of California San Francisco (­­­­UCSF), USA.

About the SHEDS program

The increasing adoption of technologies like mobile phones, high throughput genomic sequencing, IoT and electronic health records is accelerating the buildup of an avalanche of data: clinical, genomic, epidemiological, climate-related and social/behavioral data. These growing volumes and complexity of data, render the rapidly expanding field of “Big Data” analysis and interpretation essential to improving health and economic outcomes.

Data Science (DS­­­), which encapsulates Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a pathway to the leveraging and enhancement of these data into meaningful and actionable information. However, the highly technical nature of DS as well its powerful potential, simultaneously pause the risk of ‘leaving behind’ sections of the population that have already been disadvantaged. In Uganda in particular, the high gender disparity within STEM fields means that women are more likely to be left behind, resulting in the unintended consequence of DS further widening the gender gap in STEM.

This program is thus going to target the training and advancement of Ugandan women in data science and (or) bioinformatics. It achieves this goal through three critical areas: 1) Skilling women in data science / bioinformatics methods and techniques, 2) identify barriers to women in STEM, Data Science and bioinformatics 3) Providing a bridge to help trainees translate their data science skills into biomedical and public health practice.

Benefits of the program

• Working of projects solving real life problems like Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Cancer, Genetic diseases
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

Internship fields

The interns will work on projects that employ data science, mathematical and (or) bioinformatics to any of the following areas: a) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) including the design of antimicrobial drug combination therapies, identifying One Health AMR transmission pathways, and utilizing data science methodologies to guide antimicrobial stewardship initiatives; b) Human Genomics including the role of repeats in the human genome; c) cancer including cancer genomics and genomics data science; and d) Natural Language Processing (NLP) and (or) generative AI solutions for health problems.

Submission

Submit the following documents as a single pdf file

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents or an official transcript or stamped testimonial if the prospective interns completed required courses but are awaiting graduation.
2. Two reference letters from academic referees on institution's official letterhead.
3. Statement of motivation stating clearly and precisely the specific internship for which they are applying, the skills and experience they expect to gain or develop during the period of Internship and the contributions they will make to ACE in line with its mission. (max 1500 words).
4. Your idea for the research project (single page).
5. An updated CV (max 4 pages).

NB:

• This is a full-time internship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.
• Although this opportunity is majorly targeted towards females, exceptionally qualified males are encouraged to apply.

Graduate Trainee (1)

The Business Development Graduate Trainee will support acquisition of new business, further development of existing business, and monitoring programmatic compliance across all the IDI main programs.  The Business Development Graduate Trainee will be working under the direct supervision of, and be evaluated by the IDI Manager (Strategic Information and Business Development).

LAB ASSISTANT (1)

To carry out basic laboratory tests for diagnosis of diseases with focus on Gene Xpert testing and other HIV/AIDS related tests.

Masters student fellow (2)

Call for applications: Funded Research Year MSc Fellowship Opportunities at Makerere University

Empowering Uganda’s Women in Health Data Science: Identifying Barriers, Bridging Knowledge and Innovation for Tangible Impact: She Data Science (SHEDS)

Call open:   May 13th, 2024  

Call closes: June 20th, 2024    

Proposed start: September 2nd, 2024

The She Data Science (SHEDS) project is pleased to invite suitable applications from females for two fully funded PhD fellowships for the year 2024. SHEDS is a collaborative initiative between the African center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda and the Institute of Global Health Sciences (IGHS) at the University of California San Francisco (­­­­UCSF), USA.

About the SHEDS program

The increasing adoption of technologies like mobile phones, high throughput genomic sequencing, IoT and electronic health records is accelerating the buildup of an avalanche of data: clinical, genomic, epidemiological, climate-related and social/behavioral data. These growing volumes and complexity of data, render the rapidly expanding field of “Big Data” analysis and interpretation essential to improving health and economic outcomes.

Data Science (DS­­­), which encapsulates Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a pathway to the leveraging and enhancement of these data into meaningful and actionable information. However, the highly technical nature of DS as well its powerful potential, simultaneously pause the risk of ‘leaving behind’ sections of the population that have already been disadvantaged. In Uganda in particular, the high gender disparity within STEM fields means that women are more likely to be left behind, resulting in the unintended consequence of DS further widening the gender gap in STEM.

This program is thus going to target the training and advancement of Ugandan women in data science and (or) bioinformatics. It achieves this goal through three critical areas: 1) Skilling women in data science / bioinformatics methods and techniques, 2) identify barriers to women in STEM, Data Science and bioinformatics 3) Providing a bridge to help trainees translate their data science skills into biomedical and public health practice.

Benefits of the program

• There are two fellowships that will provide a stipend to two MSc students during the research year.
• Research clearance fees for MSc student project.
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

Research concept

The research concept should be one that employs data science, mathematical and (or) bioinformatics to any of the following areas: a) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) including the design of antimicrobial drug combination therapies, identifying One Health AMR transmission pathways, and utilizing data science methodologies to guide antimicrobial stewardship initiatives; b) Human Genomics including the role of repeats in the human genome; c) cancer including cancer genomics and genomics data science; and d) Natural Language Processing (NLP) and (or) generative AI solutions for health problems.
 

Submission

Submit the following documents as a single pdf file

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents.
2. Two reference letters from academic referees
3. Statement of motivation (max 1000 words)
4. Your idea for the research project (single page)
5. An updated CV (max 4 pages)

Application deadline: June 20th 2024

NB:

• This is a full-time MSc scholarship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.
• Although this opportunity is majorly targeted towards females, exceptionally qualified males are encouraged to apply.

Masters student fellow (2)

Call for applications: Fully Funded 2-year MSc Fellowship Opportunities at Makerere University

Empowering Uganda’s Women in Health Data Science: Identifying Barriers, Bridging Knowledge and Innovation for Tangible Impact: She Data Science (SHEDS)

Call open:   May 13th, 2024   

Call closes: June 20th, 2024    

Proposed start: September 2nd, 2024

The She Data Science (SHEDS) project is pleased to invite suitable applications from females for two fully funded PhD fellowships for the year 2024. SHEDS is a collaborative initiative between the African center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda and the Institute of Global Health Sciences (IGHS) at the University of California San Francisco (­­­­UCSF), USA.

About the SHEDS program

The increasing adoption of technologies like mobile phones, high throughput genomic sequencing, IoT and electronic health records is accelerating the buildup of an avalanche of data: clinical, genomic, epidemiological, climate-related and social/behavioral data. These growing volumes and complexity of data, render the rapidly expanding field of “Big Data” analysis and interpretation essential to improving health and economic outcomes.

Data Science (DS­­­), which encapsulates Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a pathway to the leveraging and enhancement of these data into meaningful and actionable information. However, the highly technical nature of DS as well its powerful potential, simultaneously pause the risk of ‘leaving behind’ sections of the population that have already been disadvantaged. In Uganda in particular, the high gender disparity within STEM fields means that women are more likely to be left behind, resulting in the unintended consequence of DS further widening the gender gap in STEM.

This program is thus going to target the training and advancement of Ugandan women in data science and (or) bioinformatics. It achieves this goal through three critical areas: 1) Skilling women in data science / bioinformatics methods and techniques, 2) identify barriers to women in STEM, Data Science and bioinformatics 3) Providing a bridge to help trainees translate their data science skills into biomedical and public health practice.

Benefits of the program

• There are two fully funded MSc fellowships that will provide tuition and a stipend for a 2-year full-time MSc degree.
• Research clearance fees for MSc student project.
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

Submission

Submit the following documents as a single pdf file 

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents
2. Two reference letters from academic referees
3. Statement of motivation (max 1000 words)
4. An updated CV (max 4 pages)

Application deadline: June 20th 2024
 

NB:

• This is a full-time MSc scholarship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.
• Although this opportunity is majorly targeted towards females, exceptionally qualified males are encouraged to apply.

PhD Student fellow (2)

Call for applications: Fully Funded PhD Fellowship Opportunities for Females at Makerere University

Empowering Uganda’s Women in Health Data Science: Identifying Barriers, Bridging Knowledge and Innovation for Tangible Impact: She Data Science (SHEDS)

Call open:   May 13th, 2024   

Call closes: June 20th, 2024    

Proposed start: September 2nd, 2024

The She Data Science (SHEDS) project is pleased to invite suitable applications from females for two fully funded PhD fellowships for the year 2024. SHEDS is a collaborative initiative between the African center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences(ACE), Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda and the Institute of Global Health Sciences (IGHS) at the University of California San Francisco (­­­­UCSF), USA.

About the SHEDS program

The increasing adoption of technologies like mobile phones, high throughput genomic sequencing, IoT and electronic health records is accelerating the buildup of an avalanche of data: clinical, genomic, epidemiological, climate-related and social/behavioral data. These growing volumes and complexity of data, render the rapidly expanding field of “Big Data” analysis and interpretation essential to improving health and economic outcomes.

Data Science (DS­­­), which encapsulates Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a pathway to the leveraging and enhancement of these data into meaningful and actionable information. However, the highly technical nature of DS as well its powerful potential, simultaneously pause the risk of ‘leaving behind’ sections of the population that have already been disadvantaged. In Uganda in particular, the high gender disparity within STEM fields means that women are more likely to be left behind, resulting in the unintended consequence of DS further widening the gender gap in STEM.

This program is thus going to target the training and advancement of Ugandan women in data science and (or) bioinformatics. It achieves this goal through three critical areas: 1) Skilling women in data science / bioinformatics methods and techniques, 2) identify barriers to women in STEM, Data Science and bioinformatics 3) Providing a bridge to help trainees translate their data science skills into biomedical and public health practice.

Benefits of the program

• There are two fully funded PhD fellowships that will provide tuition and a stipend for a duration of upto 3 years.
• Spend upto 3 months at UCSF, USA in a data science related research lab with a paid economy class return ticket, accommodation and stipend for stay at UCSF.
• Institutional IRB fees for PhD project.
• UNCST fees for PhD project.
• Open Access Publication fees for up to 2 publications.
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

Research concept

The research concept should be one that employs data science, mathematical and (or) bioinformatics to any of the following areas: a) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) including the design of antimicrobial drug combination therapies, identifying One Health AMR transmission pathways, and utilizing data science methodologies to guide antimicrobial stewardship initiatives; b) Human Genomics including the role of repeats in the human genome; c) cancer including cancer genomics and genomics data science; and d) Natural Language Processing (NLP) and (or) generative AI solutions for health problems.
 

Submission

Submit the following documents as a single pdf file

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents.
2. Two reference letters from academic referees.
3. Statement of motivation (max 1500 words).
4. Your idea for the research project (single page).
5. An updated CV (max 4 pages).

Application deadline: June 20th 2024

NB:

• This is a full-time PhD fellowship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.