MAFUNO GRACE MPINGANJIRA
Epidemiologist
Midrand
Summary
Epidemiologist with demonstrated administrative, analytical, research, and collaborative skills – with an eagerness for exposure and career development. Results-driven and proactive with a diligent, responsive and resourceful nature. As evidenced by invaluable contribution to the Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust (ACT-TB STUDY), University of the Witwatersrand - School of Clinical Medicine, WITS Health Consortium - MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Unit (Agincourt), and Genesis Analytics.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Health Analyst
Genesis Analytics (PTY) Ltd
09.2023 - Current
- Generated Annex of all UNAIDS Technical Support Mechanism (TSM) assignments for semi-annual reports
- Quality control and assurance of external and internal databases
- Recorded meeting discussion points and distributed these to attendees through meeting minutes.
- Opportunity Scanning of websites for prospective projects
- Assisted in preparation of presentations specifically fieldworker training manual, and UNAIDS Senior Management Meeting slides therefore, contributing to well-informed decision making.
- Optimized data collection tools by customizing questionnaires, interview guides, and observation checklists based on project objectives.
- Improved data quality with rigorous validation processes and cross-checking methodologies.
- Contributed to informed decision-making by systematically analyzing results from various sources such as surveys, interviews, and observations.
- Ensured timely completion of projects through effective tracking, documentation, and coordination with team members.
- Conducted insightful analysis using statistical tools and software (STATA) to identify trends, patterns, and key insights within collected data.
- Trained fieldworkers on HIV knowledge, interview and data collection skills and correct use of survey tool.
- Contributed towards streamlined data collection processes by developing efficient survey methods and utilizing advanced statistical software tools (STATA and Survey CTO).
- Maintained data, reporting and quality assurance standards throughout investigations.
Research Assistant
Wits Health Consortium [MRC/WITS RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH TRANSITIONS RESEARCH UNIT (AGINCOURT)]
Johannesburg
03.2023 - 08.2023
- Contributed to research findings dissemination through manuscript writing, and review and editing of colleagues' manuscripts.
- Participated in weekly meetings to discuss project progress and address any roadblocks, ensuring timely completion of deliverables.
- Identified trends and patterns in complex datasets through exploratory data analysis.
- Conducted thorough data validation and cleanup, ensuring accuracy and reliability of datasets used for analysis.
Research Intern
University of the Witwatersrand (Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care)
04.2022 - 03.2023
- Coauthored publications in leading peer-reviewed journals, advancing knowledge within fields of mental health, multimorbidity, alcohol use research.
- Contributed to recommendations in public health outcomes through meticulous data analysis and interpretation.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to design and evaluate public health interventions.
- Contributed towards preliminary stages of comprehensive scoping and systematic reviews to inform development of targeted public health strategies through database searches, article screening, and data extraction.
- Participated actively in regular team meetings where findings were discussed, and strategies for improvement were brainstormed collectively.
Research Assistant Intern
Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust (ACT-TB Study)
07.2019 - 08.2019
- Welcomed potential participants, screened them, and enrolled them into study.
- Followed-up with study participants through phone calls.
- Reimbursed participants for transport costs.
- Screen potential participants to establish eligibility.
- Guided participants through consent process.
- Collected data such as baseline anthropometric and vitals data, and biological specimens.
- Conducted interviews by administering survey to participants on follow-up days.
- Promoted adherence to ethical standards and standard operating procedure (SOP) throughout data collection phase by following institutional guidelines rigorously.
- Enhanced research quality by meticulously collecting data.
- Developed strong relationships with research participants, establishing trust and rapport for improved study outcomes.
- Attended team meetings and documented discussion points through note-taking (minute writing).
Marketing Intern
FDH Bank PLC
12.2017 - 01.2018
- Attended meetings and wrote minutes (meeting notes)
- Stocked-up on stationery
- Liaised with heads of department (specifically Operations and Finance departments) on behalf of Marketing department for approval on proposed programs and budgets
- Assisted with planning and organizing of events such as cocktail parties, scholarship awards at various universities, competitions, and launch of fully refurbished high-density oncology unit.
- Organized media presence for abovementioned events.
- Critiqued advertisements produced for FDH bank, to ensure final quality product.
Education
Master of Science - Epidemiology
University of Bristol
United Kingdom 05.2020 - 05.2021
BSc(Hons) Environmental Health -
University of Pretoria
South Africa 01.2019 - 05.2019
BSc Biological Sciences - Human, Animal, Plant, Environmental Biology
University of Witwatersrand
South Africa 02.2016 - 05.2018
Skills
Achievements Conferences Webinars
- 10/01/22, Taylor & Francis Reviewer Training Network Webinar, Virtual, acquaintance with the peer-review process
- 06/01/22, JIAS Webinar, Virtual - Zoom, development of scientific manuscript writing and publishing skills
- 05/01/22, 2nd Annual West Rand Health District Research Conference, Sterkfontein Hospital, current research in the West Rand District and inspiration for possible future research topics
- 07/01/21, MSc Epidemiology Symposium, University of Bristol, True, Bladder cancer risk in relation to arsenic exposure through drinking water: in a central European population, Mafuno G. Mpinganjira, Dr. Giovanni Leonardi, Dr. Richard Martin, and Dr. Tony Fletcher
- 06/01/21, 8th UK & Ireland Occupational and Environmental Exposure Science Meeting, Virtual, occupational and environmental exposure (particularly arsenic), and how these affect health
- 03/01/21, MEDALL 2021 (International Virtual Medical Conference 2021), Virtual, True, True, A systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of chlorhexidine and iodine surgical handwashing at preventing surgical site infections, Alex D. Orchard and Mafuno G. Mpinganjira, https://app.medall.org/posters/675877be-a8e7-47a2-851e-3718f8b30e10
Additional Certificates Courses
- 2022, University of the Witwatersrand, Qualitative Research Methodology, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Advanced Statistics using STATA and STATISTICA, Introduction to Meta-Analysis, Sample Size Calculation
- 2019, The University of North Carolina of Chapel Hill, Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health
- 2019, The Global Health Network, ICH Good Clinical Practice E6 (R2), Introduction to Clinical Research
- 2020, University of Bristol (United Kingdom), Think Big Postgraduate Scholarship (£2,500 for 1 year)
- 2020, National Research Foundation (South Africa), Master's Scholarship (R90,000 per annum for 2 years)
- 2019, National Research Foundation (South Africa), Honour's Block Grant Innovation Scholarship (R60,000 for 1 year)
Publications
- Prevalence and correlates of alcohol use and risky drinking among undergraduate students in Johannesburg, South Africa: a cross-sectional study, 08/01/23, BMC Psychiatry, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-023-05043-w
- Measurement of and training for NCD guideline implementation in LMICs: a scoping review protocol, 06/01/23, BMJ Open, https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e073550.abstract
- Association of alcohol use and multimorbidity among adults aged 40 years and above in rural South Africa, 05/01/23, Scientific Reports, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35018-6
- Probable depression and its correlates among undergraduate students in Johannesburg, South Africa, 02/01/23, Frontiers in Psychiatry, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1018197/full
References
- Robert Kyeyagalire, Colleague at Genesis Analytics (Pty) Ltd (September 2023 - Present), Genesis Analytics (Pty) Ltd, Sandton, South Africa, +27119947000, +256781469606, robertk@genesis-analytics.com
- Dr. Joel M. Francis, Line manager for research intern post at the Wits Health Consortium (April 2022 - March 2023), University the Witwatersrand - Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa, +27713724407, Chodziwadziwa.Kabudula@wits.ac.za
- Dr. Chodziwadziwa W. Kabudula, Line manager for research assistant post at the Wits Health Consortium (March 2023 - August 2023), Wits Health Consortium [MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt)], Mpumalanga, South Africa, +27713724407, Chodziwadziwa.Kabudula@wits.ac.za
Timeline
Health Analyst
Genesis Analytics (PTY) Ltd
09.2023 - Current
Research Assistant
Wits Health Consortium [MRC/WITS RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH TRANSITIONS RESEARCH UNIT (AGINCOURT)]
03.2023 - 08.2023
Research Intern
University of the Witwatersrand (Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care)
04.2022 - 03.2023
Master of Science - Epidemiology
University of Bristol
05.2020 - 05.2021
Research Assistant Intern
Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust (ACT-TB Study)
07.2019 - 08.2019
BSc(Hons) Environmental Health -
University of Pretoria
01.2019 - 05.2019
Marketing Intern
FDH Bank PLC
12.2017 - 01.2018
BSc Biological Sciences - Human, Animal, Plant, Environmental Biology
University of Witwatersrand
02.2016 - 05.2018
Similar Profiles
Davy RutajogaDavy Rutajoga
Associate at Genesis AnalyticsAssociate at Genesis Analytics
Dorcas NyasaniDorcas Nyasani
Gender Specialist Consultant at Genesis AnalyticsGender Specialist Consultant at Genesis Analytics
Jaden HamiltonJaden Hamilton
Account Executive at LTDAccount Executive at LTD