East Africa PhD Fellowships

East Africa PhD Fellowships: Fast Track PHD Fellowships – Makerere University / UVRI Infection and Immunity Research Training Programme (MUII).

Applications are invited for Fast-track PhD fellowships within the MUII fellowship programme, to start in September 2013.

The programme is a collaboration between Makerere University and the Uganda Virus Research Institute, together with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of Cambridge, and is funded by the Wellcome Trust

This scheme is aimed at supporting the most promising young Ugandan and East African scientists who wish to undertake a rigorous research training.

Successful applicants will develop their potential to become research scientists within a structured and mentored training environment.

The focus of the programme is on research training relevant to East Africa, and research projects will be carried out in Uganda.

Research areas within the broad field of Infection and Immunity will be considered (including basic or clinical science, and epidemiology).

Fellowships allow for sandwich attachments in overseas institutions, including (but not restricted to) the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and University of Cambridge, UK.

The Fast Track PhD fellowships will exploit Makerere University’s provision for excellent Masters students to convert their Masters degree project into a PhD project.

The Masters project thus becomes the first year of the PhD project, and funding will be provided for a further two years.

PhD degrees will be undertaken at Makerere University.

Applicants will be expected to show that they have conducted an excellent Masters project, that it is potentially publishable, and that it can be expanded to form a PhD project.

They will also be expected to identify an appropriate international collaboration for a sandwich attachment outside Uganda, which may be for up to eight months.

If necessary, advice on this can be obtained from the MUII executive.

Applicants must demonstrate how their research projects foster collaboration between Makerere University and UVRI; and they must show a commitment to pursuing an academic, research career in East Africa.

Support includes a stipend for two years, Makerere University fees, research expenses, and travel costs.

PhD Fellowships

The programme will offer two Fast-track PhD fellowships. Fellowships will run for two years.

Fellowships will include a stipend and research costs of up to £20,000; Makerere University PhD fees and travel costs for overseas attachments for up to eight months, and conferences. PhD fellows will be required to work fulltime on their PhD fellowship, as it must be completed within two years.

Post-doctoral Fellowships

The programme will offer two post-doctoral fellowships that will run for two years each.

Fellowships will run for two years. Fellowships will include a salary starting at 6,460,000 Ush per month (gross basic pay); research costs of up to £20,000; travel and subsistence costs for up to eight months overseas.

Fellows will be expected to spend at least 80% of their time on their fellowship work.

East Africa PhD Fellowships Selection Process

Candidates will be short-listed based on their application form, project concept, and recommendation letters.

Interviews will be held in mid-August 2013, at which short listed candidates will be expected to give a 10 minute presentation about their research proposal.

Closing date for the receipt of applications is 31st July

For more information and application materials, see: East Africa PhD Fellowships