Background

The College of Health Sciences of University of Ghana (UG) in partnership with Yale University, USA, has received funding from the NIH-Fogarty International Center to fund Masters, PhDs, and short courses inthe following areas at UG:
 

MSc/MPH at UG

• Epidemiology
• Biomedical Sciences
• Regular MPH

PhD at UG

• Infectious Diseases Epidemiology
• Biomedical Sciences

Research intensive 2-year postdoctoral program

• This is a hybrid program where the trainee will spend time at both UG and Yale
• Candidates must be graduating PhD students, post-doctoral fellows at UG, or junior faculty
• members (MD/MBChB/Fellowship or PhD) who have expressed an interest in research career
• Content of the program will be individualized

The overarching objective of the training program is to recruit trainees and equip them with theoretical and applied knowledge in research methods, skills in designing and conducting research studies, and career coaching to become successful independent investigators in HIV-associated comorbidities and coinfections in Ghana. UG faculty are ideal candidates for both short- and long-term training programs.

The formal program of each trainee will vary, depending on his/her prior training and current career plans. The predominant site for training, either at UG or Yale, will depend on the needs of the trainee; however, all trainees will be exposed to resources at both institutions. We will provide trainees with: (1) a strong foundation in both research design and analytic techniques appropriate for clinical, translational, and laboratory-based research; (2) the ability to conceptualize and analyze research problems critically and with increasing independence; (3) experience in scientific writing, presenting and publishing research findings; (4) instruction in management of laboratory and clinical projects; and (5) mentorship in research and career development. Trainees would be required to develop their own independent projects with their mentors, which will be reviewed by the Technical Advisory Group and meritorious proposals will befunded (up to $10,000) as a one-time in-country research project. Requirements for MSc, MPhi, MPH.

The successful candidate must have a minimum of:

• BSc, BA, or other equivalent Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
• Intense interest and proven experience in scientific exploration
• A strong ambition and motivation to accomplish HIV comorbidities and co-infection research
• Excellent academic records
   

Requirements for PhD

The successful candidate must have a minimum of:

• MSc, MPhil, MPH, or other equivalent master’s degree in a relevant field
• Having met the minimum pro requisite courses for PhD training
• Intense interest and proven experience in scientific exploration
• A strong ambition and motivation to accomplish HIV comorbidities and co-infection research
• Excellent academic records
• Candidates with MD/MBChB/Fellowship who meet the above requirements are strongly
• encouraged to apply

Requirements for Postdoctoral Training

• Final PhD candidate, post-doctoral fellow at UG, or junior faculty members (MD/MBChB/Fellows
• or PhD) who have expressed an interest in research career
• Dedication and desire to pursue clinical, translational, or laboratory-based research in HIV
• comorbidities and coinfection
• Commitment from UG to support career development of the candidate

Responsibilities and application process

Candidates for MSc/MPhil/MPH or PhD at UG will be offered one-year or four year scholarship, respectively, beginning January 2022. Evaluation of the progress of the respective programme activities
will be done according to regulations at the UG. For the 2021/22 cohort, applicants must have applied and successfully gained admission in to Masters and PhD programs in UG. Qualified candidates should submit the underlisted documents to sphpfrh@ug.edu.gh by July 9th, 2021 for Masters/PhD at UG and byJuly 30th, 2021 for Postdoctoral Program:

• Updated CV
• A letter of recommendation from mentor, advisor, or sponsor
• A 1-page preliminary research project proposal
• A 1-page personal statement about interest in HIV research, experiences, and career goals
• For degree programs, evidence of admission or process of admission at UG
   

Please note that all shortlisted candidates will be required to attend a selection interview (in person orvirtual). The date of the interview will be communicated after shortlisting.
Additional criteria that will be used to select the finalists include: (i) project feasibility; (ii) evidence of support from UG mentor; (iii) strong mentorship for the proposed project at UG; (iv) long-term careerenhancing research potential of the project (for postdocs); (v) gender and ethnic diversity; and (vi) diversity of socioeconomic background of the candidates.