General Summary

Call for applications: Internship for Females at African center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences

Empowering Uganda’s Women in Health Data Science: Identifying Barriers, Bridging Knowledge and Innovation for Tangible Impact: She Data Science (SHEDS)

Proposed start: June 15th, 2024

The She Data Science (SHEDS) project is pleased to invite suitable applications from females for six internships 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

• Working of projects solving real life problems like Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Cancer, Genetic diseases
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

Internship fields

The interns will work on projects that employ 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

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents or an official transcript or stamped testimonial if the prospective interns completed required courses but are awaiting graduation.
2. Two reference letters from academic referees on institution's official letterhead.
3. Statement of motivation stating clearly and precisely the specific internship for which they are applying, the skills and experience they expect to gain or develop during the period of Internship and the contributions they will make to ACE in line with its mission. (max 1500 words).
4. Your idea for the research project (single page).
5. An updated CV (max 4 pages).

NB:

• This is a full-time internship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.
• Although this opportunity is majorly targeted towards females, exceptionally qualified males are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

1. Cleaning and organizing data in preparation for analysis  
2. Data analysis through performing statistical tests, and generating visualizations to interpret the results.
3. Developing or implementing algorithms for data analysis, machine learning, or bioinformatics applications.
4. Conducting literature reviews to support ongoing projects or research initiatives including summarizing relevant research articles
5. Preparing presentations to communicate findings to your supervisor and team members
6. Attending internship meetings
7. Write final internship report.

Person Specification

Eligibility

1. Female.
2. Minimum qualifications:  Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative or health related field with at least an upper second class or be enrolled for a master’s degree in a quantitative field such as bioinformatics, data science, computer science, mathematics or a related field from a recognized university.
3. Demonstrated interest in health data science, mathematical modelling and (or) bioinformatics.

Epidemiologist - Disease Burden Analysis (1)

The Infectious Diseases Institute is seeking a highly skilled and experienced 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 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.

Mathematical Modeler - Disease Burden Analysis (1)

The Infectious Diseases Institute is seeking a highly skilled and experienced a 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 Mathematical Modeler will be responsible for developing mathematical models and making disease projections. The primary objective of this role is to utilize mathematical modeling to inform health programming, planning, and policy decisions on the African continent.

Senior Epidemiologist - Disease Burden Analysis (1)

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.

Senior Health Economist (1)

The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is seeking a highly qualified Senior Health Economist to lead and contribute to a groundbreaking project on Disease burden in Africa. This position is instrumental in synthesizing the burden of disease on the African continent, conducting economic evaluations, and generating high-level reports that will shape health programming and planning across the region. The successful candidate will lead the economic evaluations team and work closely with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including statisticians, epidemiologists, and data scientists, to develop scientific questions, refine analysis methods, and identify literature and data sources for the project.

Senior Mathematical Modeler - Disease Burden Analysis (1)

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.

Senior Statistician - Disease Burden Analysis (1)

The Infectious Diseases Institute is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Statistician to lead the analysis and synthesis of disease burden data in Uganda and in other African Countries. The successful candidate will be responsible for processing, cleaning, and analyzing secondary datasets collected from various sources, including disease programs, DHIS2, and National and international data repositories. The primary objective of this role is to contribute to the analysis of the current disease burden and generate evidence advocacy, health programming, and planning in Africa.

Masters student fellow (2)

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

• There are two fellowships that will provide a stipend to two MSc students during the research year.
• Research clearance fees for MSc student project.
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

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

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents.
2. Two reference letters from academic referees
3. Statement of motivation (max 1000 words)
4. Your idea for the research project (single page)
5. An updated CV (max 4 pages)

Application deadline: June 20th 2024

NB:

• This is a full-time MSc scholarship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.
• Although this opportunity is majorly targeted towards females, exceptionally qualified males are encouraged to apply.

Masters student fellow (2)

Call for applications: Fully Funded 2-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

• There are two fully funded MSc fellowships that will provide tuition and a stipend for a 2-year full-time MSc degree.
• Research clearance fees for MSc student project.
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

Submission

Submit the following documents as a single pdf file 

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents
2. Two reference letters from academic referees
3. Statement of motivation (max 1000 words)
4. An updated CV (max 4 pages)

Application deadline: June 20th 2024
 

NB:

• This is a full-time MSc scholarship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.
• Although this opportunity is majorly targeted towards females, exceptionally qualified males are encouraged to apply.

PhD Student fellow (2)

Call for applications: Fully Funded PhD Fellowship Opportunities for Females 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(ACE), Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), 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

• There are two fully funded PhD fellowships that will provide tuition and a stipend for a duration of upto 3 years.
• Spend upto 3 months at UCSF, USA in a data science related research lab with a paid economy class return ticket, accommodation and stipend for stay at UCSF.
• Institutional IRB fees for PhD project.
• UNCST fees for PhD project.
• Open Access Publication fees for up to 2 publications.
• World class health data science mentorship from some of the best mentors in the field.

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

1. Certified copies of relevant academic documents.
2. Two reference letters from academic referees.
3. Statement of motivation (max 1500 words).
4. Your idea for the research project (single page).
5. An updated CV (max 4 pages).

Application deadline: June 20th 2024

NB:

• This is a full-time PhD fellowship. It is expected that the intending applicant is not involved in any other form of study or employment.
• Only successful candidates will be notified.