Post Doctoral Fellowship – Neuropsychology & Cognitive Assessment in Ageing

Department: Population Health

Division: Medical College

Location:  Nairobi, Kenya

Project Overview

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access.

The Department of Population Health (DPH) at AKU is implementing the Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK)—a large, multi-site, population-based cohort study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA). LOSHAK forms part of a global network of ageing studies and is designed to generate high-quality longitudinal evidence to inform policy and practice in Kenya and internationally.

Role Summary

The Longitudinal Study of Health and Ageing in Kenya (LOSHAK) is a flagship population-based cohort platform generating high-quality evidence on ageing, cognitive health, and functional transitions in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. LOSHAK integrates large-scale household surveys, neurocognitive assessments, biospecimen collection, and longitudinal follow-up, creating a unique infrastructure for advancing culturally grounded cognitive measurement in African populations.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow who has completed a PhD in Neuropsychology, Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Public Health, or a closely related field is ideal for an early-career scientist seeking advanced training and leadership in the development, deployment, validation, and analysis of neurocognitive tests for ageing populations in LMICs, while contributing substantively to a world-class longitudinal cohort platform.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will lead, and co-lead high-impact neuropsychological research embedded within LOSHAK, contributing to:

·       Development and cultural adaptation of neurocognitive test batteries.

·       Scalable field deployment of cognitive assessments at population level.

·       Psychometric validation of instruments for LMIC contexts.

·       Longitudinal modelling of cognitive trajectories and impairment.

·       High-quality scientific and policy-relevant outputs.

·       Mentorship of postgraduate trainees and field teams.

The role bridges rigorous neuropsychological science with population-based epidemiology, positioning the Fellow for a competitive academic or research career in cognitive ageing.

Key Responsibilities

Research leadership & design

Co-lead development of LOSHAK neurocognitive sub-studies; define constructs, batteries, and validation frameworks; support ethics and regulatory submissions.

Test development & adaptation

Lead adaptation, translation, and cultural validation of neurocognitive instruments; design scalable test batteries for ageing populations.

Field deployment & quality assurance

Train and certify assessors; embed cognitive testing within LOSHAK field workflows; implement QA and reliability systems.

Psychometric & longitudinal analysis

Conduct reliability, validity, and measurement-invariance analyses; model cognitive trajectories and impairment.

Scholarly & policy outputs

Lead and co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts; present findings to scientific and policy audiences.

Grant development & platform growth

Contribute to proposal development and donor engagement; support expansion of LOSHAK’s cognitive research portfolio

Mentorship & team engagement

Supervise PhD/MSc students; mentor assessors and research staff; engage multidisciplinary teams

Professional development

Build an independent research profile in neuropsychology and cognitive ageing

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Neuropsychology, Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Public Health, or related field.

• Demonstrated expertise in cognitive assessment and quantitative methods.

• Track record of peer-reviewed publications.

• Strong interest in ageing, cognition, or mental health.

• Ability to lead components of complex, multi-site research.

• Excellent academic writing and communication skills.

Relevant Experience

• Experience with psychometric methods (e.g., factor analysis, IRT, measurement invariance).

• Prior involvement in population-based or field research.

• Familiarity with LMIC research environments.

• Experience with cross-cultural adaptation of instruments.

• Exposure to grant writing and collaborative research networks.

Personal Characteristics & Behaviours

• Demonstrates high scientific integrity and attention to detail. 

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills. 

• Strong communication skills.

• Culturally sensitive and adaptable in diverse environments. 

• Committed to mentoring and continuous professional development.