Meet the Capture Your Research Contest Winner - Asher Feroze

During each Rising Scholars facilitated open course, participants submit their photos for our Capture Your Research Contest. After the 'Engaged Research for Community and Policy Impact' 2024 course, the Top 10 entries were shortlisted, with the Rising Scholars community then voting for winner.

We are pleased to announce Asher Feroze, from Pakistan, as the winner! Below is his winning entry:

 

 

We spoke with Asher to learn about his research, career, the story behind his winning entry, and more! Scroll down to read his full interview. 

 

Could you tell us where you are based and what your field of work is?

First of all, I’m truly grateful to the INASP team for organizing the contest and giving me the opportunity to participate and ultimately win.

My full name is Muhammad Asher Bin Feroze, professionally I’m known as Asher Feroze. I was born in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan.

I have two degrees: an MSc in statistics from the Department of Statistics, University of Karachi (UoK), and a MAS in applied economics from Applied Economics and Research Center, UoK. I also have various certificate courses related to advanced statistical analysis, data management, survival analysis, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), GIS, and managerial skills.

By profession, I am a statistician, and data management and data analytics are my core areas of expertise. In addition to data analytics and data management skills, I have work expertise in equity analysis, M&E, development of logical framework analysis (LFAs), concept notes, project planning and implementations, designing the questionnaires, survey management, data validity, quality assurance, sample size calculation, sampling strategy and study design.

 

Please can you tell us about your career path so far?

You know, statistics is the systematic approach of information management. Statistics is an essential tool used in research, it’s a need of research.

I began my professional journey from Aga Khan University (AKU) in the Dept of Community Health Sciences as a Research Associate.

After spending two wonderful years and learning a lot from this job, I then switched to the Pediatric department within the same institute as a data analyst, where I worked as the principal analyst of Dr Bhutta's research team. In the year 2012, I accepted the position of statistician in the Dept. of Emergency Medicine - AKU where I was mainly responsible for the development of methodologies for the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) ongoing research projects, providing statistical and technical guidance to the research medical officers, residents, instructors, and research staff.

Primarily my career is divided into two eras; roles as a data scientist, and then being involved in programme designing, project management, and M&E.

In 2016 I left the AKU family and joined AMAN Foundation as a monitoring, learning, and evaluation (MLE) manager. I also worked with PPHI Sindh, Poverty Eradication Initiative, and Pakistan Medical Research Organization, where I have been engaged in different capacity levels. I have been associated with the Health Research Advisory Board as a Senior Manager-Research.

 

Could you tell us about the story behind the photo you submitted?

This is related to a project when I was working at PPHI Sindh, a non-profit organization that manages 1300+ primary healthcare facilities. The organization’s main focus is improving primary health care including maternal and child health services, family planning, general outpatient department, nutrition, immunization, ambulance and laboratory investigations, in the rural areas of Sindh.

In August 2018 PPHI, Sindh established a research wing, whose primary purpose is to produce high quality evidence-based data that can enable PPHI to endorse research work nationally and internationally.

I was the first hire of the research wing at PPHI and played a key role in designing it’s scope of work, vision, aims, objectives, strategic activities and target settings.

The research wing's first initiative was to conduct an “Impact Assessment Survey” to assess the impact of current maternal, neonatal and child health, and other services by PPHI at the primary health care level in districts Dadu & Jacobabad.

The main purpose was to identify service delivery gaps at the primary healthcare level.

The photos depict various stages of survey management activities carried out by the project’s field team, from the initial training days to the implementation of data collection in the field. The data collection staff participated in a comprehensive five-day training designed to equip them with the essential skills and knowledge needed for high-quality data collection.

As the team lead for this project, I served as the primary facilitator of the training, alongside two colleagues. In one of the photos, data collectors are shown being trained to use a mobile-based application for efficient and accurate data recording. The survey questionnaire was reviewed section by section and question by question to ensure that every data collector understood the intent behind each item and how to ask it correctly. Through group activities and mock interviews, each data collector practiced both asking and answering the questions until they, along with their supervisors, were confident in their performance. Practical demonstrations were conducted on using digital data collection tools, such as syncing data to the central server, GPS tagging, and troubleshooting technical issues in the field. Special attention was also given to managing respondent fatigue, building rapport, and navigating culturally sensitive topics with care and neutrality.

The fourth day of training was dedicated specifically to field supervisors. The focus for this session included guidance on conducting random checks at survey sites, detailed field procedures, managing documentation, maintaining log sheets, handling participant refusals, spot and desk checking, and strategies for stakeholder and key community leaders engagement. Supervisors were also trained on area reconnaissance, household demarcation, and the development of survey area maps. A sample map created by the field supervisors to guide the data collection process is illustrated in one of the photos.

On the actual data collection day, the team gathered at the survey site to receive final instructions before beginning the door-to-door data collection. I was present in the field to observe and oversee the activities, ensuring that the methods discussed during training were being followed. Field supervisors and I were responsible for reviewing all completed questionnaires for completeness and accuracy. Additionally, we conducted a random check of 10% of the completed forms. Any errors or inconsistencies found were returned to the data collectors, who then revisited the specific households to make the necessary corrections.

 

How do you hope your research will impact your community?

This study employed a quasi-experimental design to assess the impact of the intervention in three different ways. One is to compare the Basic Health Units (BHUs) of PPHI and Non-PPHI areas, second is to compare BHUs where a nutrition study is ongoing through PPHI to other organization and third is to compare BHU to BHU+ under the administration of PPHI management.

The results showed that the interventions provided a big impact of the services related to antenatal and postnatal care, and institutional-based deliveries as well as reducing the neonatal, postnatal, and infant mortality rates in rural areas of Sindh. These interventions reduce the burden on health systems by preventing complications and disabilities. It promotes gender equity by empowering women through enhanced access to knowledge and healthcare, while equipping families with the necessary resources to achieve long-term health and well-being.

 

 

Could you tell us about any other projects you have worked on?

There are lists of projects (around 30+) I have worked on throughout my career. My latest project is Experience in Establishing National Disease Registries in Pakistan: A HealthRAB’s Experience through a Mixed-method Approach. The purpose of conducting this study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the obstacles, risks, and accomplishments involved in setting up disease registries. it is necessary to conduct a thorough analysis that incorporates feedback from individuals who have been involved in the development and implementation of such registries.

This feedback not only represents the significant time and effort invested in these initiatives but also serves as a valuable learning tool that can provide insight into effective solutions and strategies for mitigating challenges.

Some of the way forward points of this study would be:
(i) Identification of Challenges
(ii) Mitigation Strategies
(iii) Impact Assessment
(iv) Knowledge Dissemination:

Through a mixed-methods approach, participants will be interviewed focusing on their experiences via establishing different disease registries in Pakistan setting. An in-depth interview (IDI) will be conducted with the Chairman Registry Committee, Registries Heads, Senior leadership of HealthRAB, HealthRAB coordinator for Registries, FGDs from the Software Developer, Data Manager, and a quantitative survey conducted by disease registry PIs. Only those disease registries will be selected that have completed their 3 years at least.

The data will be collected through a well-designed semi-structured face-to-face interview, where data will be captured through in-depth interview (IDI) and focus group discussion (FGD) methods and a quantitative survey will also be performed encompassing different questions related to key specific areas.

The data will be transcribed and then will be analysed using NVivo software. The coding will be developed under different thematic patterns using MS Excel. The outcome of this analysis will be overall thematic data summaries according to defined themes, for the difference between types of registries and recommendations and suggestions from the stakeholders and experts.

 

Have you encountered any challenges in your career? How did you overcome them and what did you learn?

As mentioned earlier, I’ve slightly shifted my career path from focusing solely on data management, manipulation, and analysis to taking on roles in program assessment and project management.

 I’ve often observed gaps in project implementation that lead to data inconsistencies or noisy data. So, I thought why not take the driving seat?

If I understand the gaps that cause these issues, and I’m able to influence and control the process, maybe I can help prevent them from happening in the first place.

The real challenge was that:

Having spent most of my career in front of a computer screen involved in managing data and statistical analysis etc., I had gradually compromised my communication skills. And the “cherry on top” is that to be very honest - I’m naturally an introvert 😊

That was a big challenge for when I moved into management, where being vocal often carries more weight rather than being a great thinker or having good analytical skills.

The lesson learned from the challenge is that no matter how good a manager you are, or how good a planner or thinker you are “What is seen is what sells”.  I usually write down the key points I want to convey and review them two or three times before communicating.

So, my advice for new bees is to work on your communication and soft skills from the very beginning.

 

 

When did you first learn about Rising Scholars (formerly AuthorAID) and what Rising Scholars activities have you participated in? How have they helped you in your career?

I first heard about AuthorAID [now Rising Scholars] in 2023 and I found it very valuable resource. Last year first time I participated in the online course Engaged Research for Community and Policy Impact (2024).  

It was a completely new topic for me, and I learned a lot from this source. One of the things I appreciated most was its practical, hands-on approach. It included several engaging exercises that helped reinforce the concepts and kept participants actively involved throughout. This course helps me with the mindset, tools, and strategies to go beyond academic boundaries, turning research into action, policy influence, and community benefit.

It works well specially when it intersects with community development, public policy, social impact, or applied research.

 

Do you use any AI to support you in your research? If so, how? What has your experience been?

Yes, I have been for the last couple of years. I have found it very useful to support time-efficient working, but it requires a person to be honest, ethical, and thoughtful to evaluate the outcome.

I usually use it for literature review and summarizing articles, as well as for seeking advice or weighing different options, especially when I’m unsure or feeling a bit stuck. You could say I use it for brainstorming and framing ideas, while still building on my own original thoughts.

I also use it to improve the clarity of wording, grammar, and sentence structure in my writing. Additionally, it is useful for generating code for various analytical and programming software.

However, it's important to note that doing so still requires subject expertise to ensure you're heading in the right direction.

 

What do you enjoy doing outside of your work?

I am a family-oriented person: I love watching cartoons with my kids and going on outings with my family. I enjoy reading articles to stay informed about national and international politics and current affairs.

I also enjoy staying physically active through light exercise, and occasionally by playing cricket and football to maintain my fitness.

 

If you could give early career researchers like yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?.

Although I feel I may not be in a position to give advice, there's one thing I've experienced and would like to share:

Always be honest in your research work, regardless of the outcome.

Don’t focus solely on the results; if your research process is robust and well-structured, the outcome will naturally align with your research objectives.

 

It was great to speak with Asher, and we thank him for his time throughout the interview process. We wish Asher all the best in his future endeavours!

Thank you to the Rising Scholars community for voting in this edition of our Capture Your Research Contest. We look forward to sharing the next ones with you!

Keep an eye on this page for upcoming courses, or participate in one of our self-study courses - https://risingscholars.net/en/e-learning/

 

Asher has provided the below links if you would like to connect or see more of his research:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/asher-feroze-5276a034/

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_fZ3uskAAAAJ&hl=en

https://independent.academia.edu/FerozeAsher