The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is recruiting an Education and Technology Researcher for its Human Development Theme, based at its Nairobi headquarters. It suits PhD holders who evaluate digital learning tools and AI in education and have a record of publications and research grants. The post is filled at one of four levels, from postdoctoral to senior research scientist.
At a glance
- Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya, with occasional travel to project sites in sub-Saharan Africa
- Type: Internationally recruited position; level set by years since the PhD (postdoctoral 0–2, associate research scientist 3–5, research scientist 6–11, senior research scientist 12+)
- Deadline: Friday 30 October 2026, 11:59 PM (EAT). Applications are reviewed as they arrive, so apply early.
About the role
APHRC wants to build its evidence on how technology, including AI, is used in African basic education, and how it can be used responsibly and taken to scale. The researcher will lead or co-lead evaluations of digital tools for literacy, numeracy and teaching, and turn the findings into practical advice for ministries, educators and EdTech developers.
Key responsibilities
- Lead or co-lead rigorous evaluations of digital technologies in basic education
- Study learning platforms and mobile apps for literacy, numeracy, teacher effectiveness and equity
- Assess how effective, fair and ethical digital tools are in low-resource settings
- Develop frameworks for bringing technology into education, working with ministries, EdTech hubs and civil society
- Translate findings into recommendations for policymakers, educators and developers
- Write proposals, raise funds and keep partnerships with local and international stakeholders
- Publish, represent APHRC at forums and, at senior levels, lead teams and mentor junior staff
Qualifications and experience
- A PhD in a relevant field, such as education technology, machine learning in education or educational data science
- A record of leading research projects at a research institution
- Strong quantitative and/or qualitative skills, with software such as Stata, SPSS, R, Python, NVivo or ATLAS.ti
- Peer-reviewed publications and a track record of winning research grants
- Fluent English; French is an advantage
- Desirable: impact evaluation of technology, and familiarity with African education systems and tools such as EGRA/EGMA
How to apply
Apply through APHRC’s recruitment portal with a letter of application, a one- to two-page statement of your research interests, and a CV with three professional referees, all in English. The deadline is Friday 30 October 2026, 11:59 PM (EAT). APHRC reviews applications on a rolling basis until the post is filled. It says applicants never have to pay anyone at any stage of recruitment.
APHRC is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and offers reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on request.
Source: APHRC careers page. APHRC is a pan-African research institute headquartered in Nairobi that works on population, health, education and development.