Advert for Four (4) PhD Training Position

Background

Uganda is increasingly experiencing large effects of climate change which are contributing to internal climate migration. With more than 70% of its population engaging in crop agriculture or pastoralism, climate-related push and pull factors have encouraged rural-to-urban migration, especially among young people who are also seeking livelihood opportunities in urban centres. Makerere University in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and Tufts University with funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) is implementing the Cities-of-Youth project. The four-year project is aimed at exploring the extent of youth climate migration and their impacts in secondary cities in Uganda.

Position description

As part of capacity building, FOUR (4) doctoral (PhD) training positions are available on the Cities-of-Youth project for suitably qualified individuals with an interest in advancing their knowledge and research skills in the area of climate change migration in sub-Saharan Africa. More specifically, the PhD research should contribute to one or more of the following project themes:

• The extent and patterns of climate change-driven youth migration.
• The gendered impact of climate migration on youth migrants.
• The impact of climate migration on the health and well-being of youth migrants
• The impact of climate migration on the host community and the city’s health and social systems

The PhD candidate will have to be registered at Makerere University and will receive support for tuition fees, 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. TWO (2) PhDs will be tenable at the School of Public Health and the other two (2) at the School of Women and Gender Studies.

The role

The PhD candidate will be expected to conduct the following tasks among others:

1. Support the day-to-day implementation of the project.
2. Conduct literature reviews and support the development of study protocols.
3. Conduct qualitative and/or quantitative research including data collection and analysis in line with the project objectives as guided by supervisors.
4. Travel to remote areas to supervise field activities that will usually require spending nights in the field.
5. Participate in consultations and engagement with partners including the city authorities.
6. Map their training gaps and undertake courses to fill them including the postgraduate course on Feminist theory and gender-focused research for those at the School of Women and Gender Studies.
7. Write and publish scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
8. Present research papers at national and international scientific conferences
9. Support the development and facilitation of workshops and/or short courses on climate change, gender, and health.
10. Participate in the dissemination of project findings including those from their PhD work to local communities.
11. Co-draft grant applications for additional funding.

Eligibility

• PhD in Public Health (02 positions) - A master’s degree in public health or environmental health or disaster management or climate change or biostatistics or health services research, or any other closely related master’s degree.
• PhD in Gender Studies (02 positions) – A master’s degree in Gender Studies or a related field in the humanities and social sciences or climate change or geography or any other 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.

How to apply:

Suitably qualified persons should email their application which must include the following:

1. A 1-page type written application letter addressed to the Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health (for PhD in Public Health), OR the Dean, Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies (for PhD in Gender Studies.” Indicate which PhD you are applying for.
2. A 1-page motivation letter indicating why they would like to undertake the specified PhD.
3. Up-to-date curriculum vitae.
4. Copies of the relevant academic certificates and transcripts.
5. A copy of the national identification card.
6. 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.
7. 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 CITIESOFYOUTH Project.” The deadline for submission is 19th April 2024 at 23:59.

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews in the week of 29th April 2024. Canvassing for the position is prohibited and may lead to automatic disqualification.