PhD Studentships

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Mucosal Pathogens (MPRU)

The NIHR recently established a Global Health Research Unit on Mucosal Pathogens (MPRU) at UCL, supporting research to combat pneumonia, meningitis & sepsis in lower and middle income countries (LMICs). The MPRU will award four PhD studentships to outstanding candidates from African LMICs in 2017/ 2018. Successful students will be based at world-leading centres in Africa with periods of training in the UK.

Mucosal pathogens cause pneumonia, meningitis & sepsis in young children. These diseases lead to over 2 million deaths & substantial disability annually, primarily in LMICs. Vaccines led to substantial reductions in childhood deaths but more effective control of mucosal pathogens is crucial to ensure that vaccines work long-term. The MPRU will improve disease intelligence; develop new measures of immunity; test novel interventions including vaccines; respond to outbreaks; and engage in a two-way dialogue with the public & policymakers. This will be achieved through partnerships with the Universities of Edinburgh, Liverpool, Oxford & Southampton, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and BUGs Bioscience in the UK with research centres in Kenya, Malawi, Mali, South Africa and The Gambia.

Successful NIHR MPRU students will have the opportunity to work with a range of UK and LMIC-based senior researchers to develop a project proposal and undertake their research in a structured and mentored environment. The projects will be aligned to the aims of the MPRU and tailored to the candidate’s interests and core research discipline.

Eligibility

Suitable applicants should possess any of the following qualifications:

1. Candidate from an African LMIC
2. A bachelor’s degree in clinical or veterinary medicine
3. A bachelor’s degree with at least a 2:1 (credit or equivalent) in basic or applied sciences, including biostatistics and mathematics

PLUS a master’s degree with at least a credit (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline.

Prior experience in health research is not necessary but will be of added advantage.

Students with interests in immunology, epidemiology, or mathematical modelling are especially encouraged to apply.

Scope of support

This is a three year PhD programme, based at a Research Centre in Kenya, Malawi, Mali, South Africa or The Gambia. The MPRU will assist selected candidates to apply and register for a PhD in suitable universities either in Africa or UK, identifying appropriate local and international academic mentors. Selected candidates will receive a stipend of £18,000 annually and financial support to cover tuition, academic-related fees, travel expenses and research expenses.

Method of application

Interested applicants are required to submit the following;

• One-page application letter
• Updated curriculum vitae with a contact email address and telephone number
• A copy of the highest degree and a certified copy of an academic transcript
• One-page personal statement stating the preferred area of research, reasons for selecting the area and future career ambitions
• A letter from an academic referee stating the potential of the candidate to succeed in a research career. The referee should submit the letter directly to the email address shown in the “Recipient” box on the form that appears when you click “Email Now” at the bottom of the page.
• To submit your materials, please scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Email Now” button to pull up the application form. Upload all materials as one PDF or Word document under “Your CV (2MB limit)”. If your attachment exceeds 2MB, please send it to the email address shown in the “Recipient” box on the form.

Students will commence by September 2018

Closing date for applications: 1 March 2018

Interview Date: TBA