PhD Training Opportunity at IHE Delft, Institute for Water Education

Background

IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in partnership with Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (iccdr,b), Bangladesh, and others received a PhD training grant from the Partnership Programme for Water and Development. The overall objective of the PhD training and research is to collaboratively develop a health risk impact framework to support Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) decision-making and provision in refugee settlements in Uganda and Bangladesh. A risk-based approach using tools such as SaniPath, Sanitation Safety Planning (SSP), and Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) will be used to quantify the health and environmental risks from different transmission pathways.

PhD Focus

You will study the risk related to faecal sludge treatment and management within refugee communities in Uganda (Imvepi) and Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar) through a Sanitation Safety Planning Approach (SSP) which is developed for the sanitation service chain. Additionally, you will study the risk to the aquatic environment of the discharges from the sludge treatment plants and pollution caused by the sanitation service chain. This knowledge will be used to tailor public and environmental health approaches and interventions for the sustainable, reliable and safe provision of WASH in a humanitarian camp setting.

We need applicants with:

1) A higher education degree equivalent to a European MSc Degree (minimum average mark B+ or GPA 3/4)

2) An academic background in Public Health, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Sanitation

3) An academic level of English language in both speaking and writing is essential

(see https://www.un-ihe.org/ education/English-language-requirements)

4) Strong academic research and scientific writing skills 5) Experience with both social and physical science methods, and participatory approaches

6) An understanding of sanitation issues in humanitarian contexts and risk assessment frameworks

7) Affinity to/experience of field-work, working in humanitarian contexts and with refugee communities

8) Affinity to/experience with working in other countries and cultures

9) Willingness and ability to undertake long periods of field- work in both Uganda and Bangladesh.

We offer:

1) A 4-year fully funded position at the Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Kampala, Uganda

2) Enrolment in the PhD Programme at IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, including library access and ICT services, in a sandwich construction with MakSPH

3) All PhD studies at IHE Delft are linked to partner universities in the Netherlands and the SENSE Research School

4) Field work in Bangladesh and Uganda

5) The opportunity to develop and graduate as a researcher, supported by a vibrant international community of researchers at the IHE Delft, MakSPH, and stakeholders linked to the RISK-WASH project

How to apply Applications should consist of the following:

1) A cover letter why you are the best candidate for this position and your motivation for applying (maximum 2 pages);

2) A resume, including full higher education, and highlighting the relevant skills and experience you have related to this post (maximum 3 pages);

3) A concept note on how you would design the research project related to the PhD Focus (maximum 1 page); and

4) Certified academic certificates and transcripts.

5) Female candidates and those from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

All application documents should be combined in a single PDF document and sent to:

IHE Delft

RISK-WASH_Project@un-ihe.org

and to Makerere University

Dr. Richard K. Mugambe | rmugambe@musph.ac.ug

Dr. John C. Ssempebwa | jssemps@musph.ac.ug

Application Deadline 2nd September 2024 24:00 EAT

Interview Date: Beginning of Sept. 2024

Starting Date: As Soon As Possible