KEMRI-Wellcome Trust PhD Studentship for African Students 2024: (Deadline 26 January, 2023)

At KEMRI-Wellcome, we are keen to build health research capacity in Kenya, East Africa and Africa. We are aware that good PhD training is the foundation for a successful professional career. As such, our PhD scheme is aimed at providing students with an opportunity to carry out their training in a high quality scientific research environment. We have established robust supervisory platforms that entail supervisory teams constituting two or three senior researchers and a student advisory committee that monitors students’ progress and advises on academic, career and – if necessary, social issues that may affect students’ training progress. Our supervisory system is internationally renowned and we are now an Affiliated Research Centre (ARC) of the Open University in the United Kingdom with authority to fully supervise and appraise students registered with the university.

Potential PhD projects are proposed by prospective supervisors and are mainly supported through respective supervisor funding and/or other capacity building funds at KEMRI-Wellcome. Admission to the PhD scheme is through winning a partial or full studentship in a competitive interview process. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates regardless of ethnicity, religion, age, declared disability or socio-economic background. Interested female candidates and persons living with disability are encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates are appointed for a 3 months’ pre-registration position during which they are assessed for their readiness and ability for registration for PhD. At the end of this period, students are formally assessed and only allowed to submit their university registration application if they pass the examination otherwise the studentship is withdrawn. Registration is subject to meeting the full requirements of the target university. At the end of the first year of registration, students undergo an upgrading assessment. This assessment determines if they will continue with the PhD training, be downgraded to an MPhil or even have their studentship withdrawn.

Partial studentships are targeted at students who are already registered for PhD in local universities and provide support for the students to spend time at KEMRI-Wellcome carrying out their research project. Normally, partial studentships run for a shorter period than full studentships.

About KEMRI Wellcome Trust

PhD Studentship

Aim and Benefits of PhD Studentship

Successful candidates are appointed for a 3 months’ pre-registration position during which they are assessed for their readiness and ability for registration for PhD. At the end of this period, students are formally assessed and only allowed to submit their university registration application if they pass the examination otherwise the studentship is withdrawn. Registration is subject to meeting the full requirements of the target university. At the end of the first year of registration, students undergo an upgrading assessment. This assessment determines if they will continue with the PhD training, be downgraded to an MPhil or even have their studentship withdrawn.

Partial studentships are targeted at students who are already registered for PhD in local universities and provide support for the students to spend time at KEMRI-Wellcome carrying out their research project. Normally, partial studentships run for a shorter period than full studentships.

Requirements for PhD Studentship Qualification

Applicants must already have completed their Masters studies and not registered elsewhere for a PhD programme. Applicants must have scored a B+ and above in their KSCE and attained at least an upper 2nd class degree or its equivalent in the respective undergraduate degree programme.

For undergraduate degrees that are not classified, ensure your average score through the four/three years is above 60 (GPA above 3.3). Provide a certified proof of the same from your University.

Interview date, Process and Venue for PhD Studentship

Selection

Studentships are awarded competitively through shortlisting of online applications and subsequent interviews.

Application Deadline

26 January, 2023

How to Apply

You can apply for two positions in one application by applying for the position you’re mostly interested in (1st preference) and then specifying a 2nd preference when filling the application form. This is only applicable when there is more than one open position.

1. Click on the title of a position you’re interested in to see the full description of the post.

2. A link “Submit Application” will be available at the bottom of the page.

3. Click on the submit application link and complete the resulting form. You’ll be required to first create an account and update your profile – then apply for preferred position.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 26 January 2024

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS will be accepted.

Only shortlisted applicants will receive communication regarding their application

Projects

Strain-transcending antibody responses to vaccine candidate antigens

Mobility in expansion and dispersal of respiratory pathogens in Kenya

Nature & location of hardship areas in SSA and their implications on human resource management in first referral hospitals

Micronutrient deficiencies on severe infections in young children

Micronutrients on growth and developmental outcomes of young African children

Using viral metagenomic sequencing to monitor water quality in informal settlements in Kenya

For more details, visit OFFICIAL LINK & APPLY