PhD Training Position

Background

Annually, approximately 1.2 million adolescents die prematurely due to preventable or treatable causes, while many more suffer from poor health and disability. A high share of the global mortality and morbidity burden in adolescence occurs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Adolescence is also a critical stage of life when important physical, physiological, cognitive and social developments take place, and critical behaviors related to diet, exercise, alcohol and tobacco use, violence and sexual behavior are developed. These developments and exposures determine and shape behaviors well into adulthood and, with it, long-term health outcomes. Early identification of the health risk factors, and designing appropriate interventions to improve adolescent health, therefore, is paramount for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and creating healthy societies.

Under the ARISE-NUTRINT Project Consortium, Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) is collaborating with other institutions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Europe and the USA to address adolescent health challenges. NUTRINT in full is: “Reducing Nutrition-Related Non-Communicable Diseases in Adolescence and Youth: Interventions and Policies to Boost Nutrition Fluency and Diet Quality in Africa”. The overall objective of the project is to establish a global alliance to prevent and reduce nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents and youth in Africa, by boosting adolescents’ health behaviors and outcomes through nutrition literacy and fluency and by providing critical policy information and tools to scale and sustain interventions and policies to support adolescents in healthy food consumption and lives. Capacity building in this area is an important component of the project.

Position Description

As part of capacity building, a doctoral (PhD) training position is available on this project for a suitably qualified individual with interest in advancing their knowledge and research skills in the area of nutrition and physical activity, OR sexual and reproductive health among adolescents and young adults in SSA. The PhD candidate will have to be registered at Makerere University, to receive full tuition fee, and research costs support from the project. Additional support may be made available to the candidate from the project to undertake a few relevant short courses. The PhD fellowship support is for a maximum of four years only, with annual review for acceptable performance and progress.

Eligibility

1. A master’s degree in Public Health, OR Biostatistics, OR Health Services Research, or closely related master’s degree.
2. A Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.6 at bachelors, and at master’s degree training
3. Submission of a no longer than 4-page research concept (font type Arial 11, single spacing), describing the possible PhD research idea in one of the project domains described above; including: i) Brief background, ii) research problem, ii) research hypotheses/ theoretical under-pinning for the research, iii) specific aims,  iv) research design, and, v) analysis plan
4. Applicants must be Ugandan citizens, a copy of the national ID card is required

How to apply:

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

1. 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 ARISE-NUTRINT Project.”
2. Up-to-date curriculum vitae
3. Copies of the relevant academic certificates and transcripts
4. A copy of national identification card
5. The PhD concept as described above
6. Two letters of recommendation, with at least one from an academic supervisor at masters training, including their functioning email address and day-time phone number

The above application documents must be submitted AS ONE PDF FILE to the following email address: recruitment@musph.ac.ug, with email subject line “Application for PhD Position on the ARISE-NUTRINT Project.” Deadline for submission is by 5:00pm on 31st August 2023.

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