Mount Kenya University (MKU) is seeking an Ethics & Review Committee (ERC) Officer who will report directly to the Director, Research & Development. The ERC Officer serves as the Secretary and administrative lead for the Mount Kenya University Institutional Scientific and Ethics Review Committee (MKU-ISERC), managing ethical reviews of research proposals, tracking post-approval research compliance, ensuring NACOSTI regulatory alignment, and supporting capacity-building initiatives in research ethics.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Serve as Secretary to the MKU-ISERC: prepare agendas, take minutes, and follow up on resolutions and committee decisions.
Receive, register, log, and acknowledge receipt of all submitted research proposals and ethical review applications from MKU researchers, students, affiliates, and external parties.
Conduct completeness and compliance checks on submitted applications before tabling them to the full Committee, including verifying that all NACOSTI licensing requirements are met.
Issue, track, and file all ERC correspondence, acknowledgements, requests for additional information, approvals, conditional approvals, rejections, and appeal outcomes.
Monitor post-approval compliance: track progress reports, adverse event notifications, close-out reports, and spot checks on approved research projects.
Maintain and regularly update the institutional researcher database, including MKU staff, postgraduate students, affiliated researchers, and independent applicants, and submit quarterly and annual reports to NACOSTI.
Support research and ethics office capacity-building activities for ISERC members, reviewers, researchers, and staff on research ethics, integrity, and NACOSTI compliance requirements.
Prepare and submit periodic institutional reports to NACOSTI, including the mandatory annual report (Financial Year) by 31st July each year, progress reports, and compliance returns as required under accreditation terms (Accreditation No. NACOSTI/NSEC/AC/01513, valid 25 Feb 2025 – 24 Feb 2028).
Support the development, maintenance, and review of ERC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies, and ethical review frameworks in line with NACOSTI guidelines, national law, and international best practices.
Maintain confidentiality, traceability, and conflict-of-interest safeguards in all ERC operations and serve as the independent administrative interface between researchers and Committee members.
Undertake any other relevant duties as may be delegated by the ISERC Chairperson and Director of Research & Development.
Qualifications and Experience
Master's Degree in a relevant field (e.g., Bioethics, Public Health, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Law, or related discipline).
At least three (3) years of relevant experience in research administration, regulatory affairs, or a research-related field.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online by visiting the Mount Kenya University recruitment portal at recruitment.mku.ac.ke or via the Application Link.
