PhD Training Position | CITY-MOVE project

Deadline: 23rd December 2023
 

Background
Physical activity is a key behaviour to reduce the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden. Almost 500 million people will develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes, or other NCDs attributable to physical inactivity between 2020 and 2030, costing US$ 27 billion annually, if governments don’t take urgent action to encourage more physical activity among their populations. Several evidence-based interventions for cities to promote physical activity exist yet they remain under-implemented, with a whole-of-system approach particularly lacking, and often failing to target the least active or vulnerable groups. Under the CITY-MOVE consortium, Makerere University is collaborating with the University of Antwerp in Belgium (Coordinator), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands; Community Health Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Essex, UK; Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Peru; Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas – Bogotá, Colombia; Walk21 Europe, Netherlands; and City of Antwerp, Belgium. CITY-MOVE will adapt and implement the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity in six cities across three continents: Europe (Antwerp, Ljubljana, and Rotterdam), Africa (Kampala) and Latin America (Bogota and Lima), to learn from cities in different phases and in diverse cultural and macro-economic contexts. CITY-MOVE results will lead to increased physical activity by target populations, contributing to reduced premature NCD mortality, and to adaptable solutions ready for take-up by implementers. The project is supported by the European Commission Horizon 2020 Programme and will run from January 2024 to December 2027.

Position description
As part of capacity building, a doctoral (PhD) training position is available on the CITY-MOVE project for a suitably qualified individual with interest in advancing their knowledge and research skills in the area of physical activity in sub-Saharan Africa. The PhD candidate will have to be registered at Makerere University and will receive support for research costs and a modest monthly stipend. The PhD fellowship support is for a maximum of four years only, with an annual review for acceptable performance and progress. 
 

The role
The PhD candidate will be expected to conduct the following tasks among others: 
i.    Support the development of study protocols.
ii.    Support the day-to-day implementation of the project.
iii.    Conduct qualitative and quantitative research including data collection and analysis in line with the project objectives as guided by supervisors. 
iv.    Participate in consultations and engagement with partners including the city authority.
v.    Present research papers at scientific conferences and write scientific manuscripts that will contribute to the attainment of PhD. 
vi.    Co-draft grant applications for additional funding.

Eligibility
•    A master’s degree in Public Health or Environmental Health or Health Services Research, or Social Sciences, or a closely related master’s degree.
•    A Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.6 at bachelor’s, and at least 4.0 at master’s degree training.
•    Ugandan citizenship.
•    Experience in conducting non-communicable diseases research will be an added advantage. 

How to apply: 
Suitably qualified persons should email their application which must include the following: 
i)    A 1-page type written application letter addressed to the Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health, with a subject line “Application for a PhD Position on the CITYMOVE Project.” 
ii)    Up-to-date curriculum vitae.
iii)    Copies of the relevant academic certificates and transcripts.
iv)    A copy of the national identification card. 
v)    The PhD concept (no more than 3 pages, font type Arial 11, single spacing) describing the possible PhD research idea in line with the project domains described above; including: i) Brief background, ii) research problem, ii) research hypotheses/ theoretical underpinning for the research, iii) specific aims, iv) research design, and, v) analysis plan. 
vi)    Two (2) letters of recommendation, with at least one from an academic supervisor at masters training, including their functioning email address and daytime phone number.

The above application documents must be submitted as ONE PDF file to the email: recruitment@musph.ac.ug, with the subject line “Application for PhD Position on the CITY-MOVE Project.” The deadline for submission is 23rd December 2023 at 23:59. 

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews in the first week of January 2024. Canvassing for the position is prohibited and may lead to automatic disqualification.