The Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Programme (MLW) is a world-class health research institution committed to improving health through research, capacity building, and strong partnerships.

The Social Science and Health Systems (SSHS) theme at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MW) conducts multi-disciplinary social science and health systems research to enhance community and health system resilience in Malawi and beyond.

The Malawi–Liverpool–Wellcome Programme (MLW) is seeking to a post-doctoral research associate (PDRA) for the THRIVE project: “Transforming Health, community Resilience, and Inclusion in Vulnerable Environments affected by extreme weather events in Malawi – Shaping local policy and action to improve nutrition, mental health and well-being among smallholder farming and fishing communities in Mangochi and Zomba”. This position shall be based within the Social Science and Health Systems (SSHS) department and reporting to the Principal Investigator (PI).

THRIVE is delivered by a consortium of research institutions including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MLW), the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), the University of Liverpool, and the United Nations University.

THRIVE aims to strengthen community resilience: empowered communities that can adapt and mitigate the nutrition and mental health impacts of extreme weather events (EWEs). To achieve this, our research focuses on three outcomes.

Enhanced understanding of the links between EWEs, nutrition and mental health, associated causal pathways in the wider food, health and economic systems, and existing resilience strategies among communities who have recently been exposed to EWEs.

New evidence generated on previous (and projected) climate change impacts on undernutrition and mental health.

Evidence of the feasibility, costs and effects of co-created community-driven resilience strategies to improve nutrition and mental health outcomes in the context of EWEs.

THRIVE research will provide evidence for the National Health Adaptation Plan and district health adaptation plans – ensuring these plans include evidence-based resilience strategies aimed at improving nutrition and mental health, informed by community voices. THRIVE is an affiliated project of the Institute for Resilient Health Systems (IRHS) of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. IRHS is committed to advancing health systems resilience worldwide. The Institute is bringing together a growing cross-disciplinary network of researchers who, through partnerships with a special focus on underserved communities, contribute to health systems’ abilities to prepare, adapt, and transform in the face of shocks and stressors and reduce avoidable and unfair differences in health worldwide.

Responsibilities or duties

The PDRA will take lead in coordinating a citizen-ethnographic study to generate contextual evidence on how extreme weather events (EWEs) affect nutrition, mental health and well‑being. The post holder will contribute to conceptualisation of the subsequent community-based participatory action research to support co‑creation, implementation, and evaluation of community-based resilience strategies to improve nutrition and mental health in Malawi. Further, the post holder will be part of the group’s efforts to expand the health systems resilience research portfolio in Malawi and beyond.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

PhD (or near completion) in sociology, public health or a related social science with qualitative research training.

Experience needed

• Three or Experience in designing qualitative research, applying for ethical approval, conducting robust literature reviews, carrying out qualitative data collection field work, and analysis of data sets. Experience with citizen ethnography is an asset.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in community health, mental health, nutrition, health policy/systems, economic evaluation, anthropology, epidemiology, and climate modelling.
• Track record of academic publications in reputable peer reviewed journals.

Any other provided details 

• Professional level of English and Chichewa, Yao is an asset.
• Knowledge and behaviours that support equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
• Knowledge and behaviours that support safeguarding as applicable to the role.
• Capable of generating critical insights from research and engaging with social science theories.
• Good organisational abilities.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work with a range of people from different backgrounds and disciplines, including at the community level.
• Adaptable to changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Prior experience in grant writing is an asset.

• Design, coordinate, and deliver work package 1 (citizen-ethnographic study in Mangochi and Zomba).
• Obtain and maintain ethical approvals and investigator site file in Malawi; uphold safeguarding and ethical standards.
• Train and mentor local research assistants and citizen ethnographers; co‑develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials.
• Coordinate fieldwork in Mangochi and Zomba with smallholder farmers, fishers, community leaders, frontline workers, and district actors; ensure inclusive engagement and feedback loops.
• Manage transcription/translation workflows and data quality assurance across field sites.
• Co-lead thematic analysis, grounded in complexity theory and systems thinking.
• Contribute to programme reports and cross‑work‑package evidence summaries.
• Assist in planning and facilitating community-based participatory action research workshops to develop adaptation strategies and practical tools (work package 3).
• Contribute to the translation of research findings into policy briefs and engagement materials; participate in policy dialogues with key partners.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Community Engagement and Communication Strategy.
• Prepare peer‑reviewed manuscripts for publication in reputable scientific journals and contribute to dissemination workshops in Mangochi, Zomba and nationally.
• Implement a robust qualitative Data Management Plan (secure storage, anonymisation, controlled access) and prepare curated datasets and metadata for responsible sharing.
• Support grant writing activities within IRHS.

• Professional level of English and Chichewa, Yao is an asset.
• Knowledge and behaviours that support equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
• Knowledge and behaviours that support safeguarding as applicable to the role.
• Capable of generating critical insights from research and engaging with social science theories.
• Good organisational abilities.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to work with a range of people from different backgrounds and disciplines, including at the community level.
• Adaptable to changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Prior experience in grant writing is an asset.

• PhD (or near completion) in sociology, public health or a related social science with qualitative research training.
• Three or Experience in designing qualitative research, applying for ethical approval, conducting robust literature reviews, carrying out qualitative data collection field work, and analysis of data sets. Experience with citizen ethnography is an asset.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in community health, mental health, nutrition, health policy/systems, economic evaluation, anthropology, epidemiology, and climate modelling.
• Track record of academic publications in reputable peer reviewed journals.