Call for applications: Funded Research Year MSc Fellowship Opportunities at Makerere University
Empowering Uganda’s Women in Health Data Science: Identifying Barriers, Bridging Knowledge and Innovation for Tangible Impact: She Data Science (SHEDS)
Call open: May 13th, 2024
Call closes: June 20th, 2024
Proposed start: September 2nd, 2024
The She Data Science (SHEDS) project is pleased to invite suitable applications from females for two fully funded PhD fellowships for the year 2024. SHEDS is a collaborative initiative between the African center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda and the Institute of Global Health Sciences (IGHS) at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), USA.
About the SHEDS program
The increasing adoption of technologies like mobile phones, high throughput genomic sequencing, IoT and electronic health records is accelerating the buildup of an avalanche of data: clinical, genomic, epidemiological, climate-related and social/behavioral data. These growing volumes and complexity of data, render the rapidly expanding field of “Big Data” analysis and interpretation essential to improving health and economic outcomes.
Data Science (DS), which encapsulates Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a pathway to the leveraging and enhancement of these data into meaningful and actionable information. However, the highly technical nature of DS as well its powerful potential, simultaneously pause the risk of ‘leaving behind’ sections of the population that have already been disadvantaged. In Uganda in particular, the high gender disparity within STEM fields means that women are more likely to be left behind, resulting in the unintended consequence of DS further widening the gender gap in STEM.
This program is thus going to target the training and advancement of Ugandan women in data science and (or) bioinformatics. It achieves this goal through three critical areas: 1) Skilling women in data science / bioinformatics methods and techniques, 2) identify barriers to women in STEM, Data Science and bioinformatics 3) Providing a bridge to help trainees translate their data science skills into biomedical and public health practice.
Benefits of the program
Research concept
The research concept should be one that employs data science, mathematical and (or) bioinformatics to any of the following areas: a) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) including the design of antimicrobial drug combination therapies, identifying One Health AMR transmission pathways, and utilizing data science methodologies to guide antimicrobial stewardship initiatives; b) Human Genomics including the role of repeats in the human genome; c) cancer including cancer genomics and genomics data science; and d) Natural Language Processing (NLP) and (or) generative AI solutions for health problems.
Submission
Submit the following documents as a single pdf file
Application deadline: June 20th 2024
NB:
1. Fully develop a research concept that employs data science, mathematical and (or) bioinformatics to any of the following areas: a) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) including the design of antimicrobial drug combination therapies, identifying One Health AMR transmission pathways, and utilizing data science methodologies to guide antimicrobial stewardship initiatives; b) Human Genomics including the role of repeats in the human genome; c) cancer including cancer genomics and genomics data science; and d) Natural Language Processing (NLP) and (or) generative AI solutions for health problems.
2. Successfully defend your research proposal
3. Successfully obtain ethics approval from Institutional Review Board (IRB) and National approval from Uganda National Council for Science & Technology (UNCST)
4. Present your work at scientific workshops, conferences and research forum
5. Succesfully defend your Masters thesis
6. Write at least 1 peer reviewed scientific publications in high impact journals
7. Participate in ACE research groups relevant to your area of study.
Eligibility
The position entails,Responsibility for collection, validating, entry of data in the respective data bases and maintaining an updated secure filling records system for easy access as well as generating periodic reportsResponsible for collection, validating, entry of data in the respective data bases and maintaining an updated secure filling records system for easy access as well as generating periodic reports
The Theatre Assistant will assist in SMC processes as required, ensure infection prevention protocols, clean, disinfect and sterilize Theatre equipment.
The post holder will provide finance, administrative and secretarial support to the project office, staff, and to project consultants as appropriate. He/she will participate in drawing of periodic work plans/budgets-in relation to the set targets, account for all the project field funds and ensure proper utilization of project assets and equipment. Develop a database of contact information; maintain distribution lists for various kinds of project communication and schedule all project meetings; attend and take minutes as appropriate.
Provision quality comprehensive HIV counseling services to clients, their partners, family members and communities to respond to the HIV epidemic.
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The Infectious Diseases Institute is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Epidemiologist to lead the analysis and documentation of the comprehensive disease burden in Uganda and some selected African regions. The successful candidate will play a critical role in shaping scientific questions, refining analysis methods, and identifying relevant literature and data sources for the project. Working closely with a senior statistician, the Senior Epidemiologist will be responsible for conducting literature searches, scoping reviews, and synthesizing findings into high-level scientific reports. The primary objective of this role is to produce a robust evidence base that informs advocacy, health programming, and planning efforts across the African continent.
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The Infectious Diseases Institute is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Mathematical Modeler to lead the development and application of mathematical models for analyzing disease burden and projecting disease trends in Uganda and some selected African regions. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in defining scientific questions, refining analysis methods, and identifying literature and data sources for the project. Working closely with a senior statistician and epidemiologist, the Senior Mathematical Modeler will be responsible for conducting literature searches, scoping reviews, and synthesizing findings into high-level scientific reports. The primary objective of this role is to utilize mathematical modeling to inform health programming, planning, and policy decisions on the African continent.
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