KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) is offering sponsored opportunities for talented masters students to undertake their research projects at the Programmes’ facilities in Nairobi or Kilifi, Kenya. The placement will provide opportunities for recipients to carry out their projects within a high-quality research environment and, under the supervision and mentorship of internationally renowned KWTRP-scientists. Interested applicants must be registered at a local university in Kenya and will be offered (if successful) a stipend for up to 12 months.
AVAILABLE RESEARCH PROJECTS
Interested applicants can apply to undertake either of these research projects.
Background & aim of RESEARCH PROJECT 1
Large medical datasets available in electronic medical records (EMRs) could be used to inform day-to-day hospital operations using tools such as dashboards. However, such datasets often contain free text, which requires manual recording before the data can be used to create dashboards. Artificial Intelligence/Machine learning has been applied in Natural language Processing (NLP) for tasks ranging from sentiment analysis, language translation, and named entity classification.
This project will explore using artificial intelligence techniques for natural language processing (NLP) to classify free text medical diagnoses and treatments into ICD11 classes and a comprehensive list of approved drugs, respectively.
- Question(s) to be addressed by the student.
- Can artificial intelligence be used to classify free-text medical diagnoses and treatments?
- Comparison of various NLP models: LSTM, Transformers, etc.
Background & aim of RESEARCH PROJECT 2
Multi-pronged approaches to combating infectious disease in Kenya required multiple levels of surveillance, including genomic sequencing, syndromic surveillance, Sero-surveillance, and control measures such as vaccination and mathematical modeling to inform optimal control strategies. These initiatives generated overwhelming data that challenges researchers and public health officials in effectively managing, analyzing, and promptly interpreting results for immediate response. In addition, these datasets are often fragmented across multiple domains, databases, and providers. Therefore, data integration and transformation are essential to produce useful summarised and compact information required for decision-making. Decision support tools such as dashboards and health summary bulletins can address barriers to data-driven decision-making through improved direct access to data by linking multiple primary data sources and data synthesis to meet a specific domain application. Therefore, co-designing decision-support tools with the intended users is of immense importance if decision-support tools are to succeed in improving the uptake of data-driven decision-making.
- Question(s) to be addressed by the student.
- Co-designing dashboard features with intended users,
- Testing dashboard prototypes with users
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must already be registered for particular Masters programme and have completed all taught modules - including passing all exams. Applicants must have scored a B+ and above in their KSCE and attained at least an upper 2nd class degree or its equivalent in the respective undergraduate degree programme.
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Applicants who have already started another masters research project and done more than a quarter of the proposed research work will not be considered.
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For undergraduate degrees that are not classified, ensure your average score through the four/three years is above 60 (GPA above 3.3). Provide a certified proof of the same from your University.
SELECTION
Studentships are awarded competitively through shortlisting of online applications and subsequent interviews. Before starting respective research projects, successful applicants are expected to submit evidence of strong support from their registering university and current university supervisors (main supervisor). This should be in a form of a certified written letter. In addition to their university supervisors, successful applicants are allocated KWTRP-based supervisors according to their preferred projects – and as indicated in their application forms.
STARTING DATE
Studentships will start as soon as possible.
APPLICATION PROCESS
You can apply for two positions in one application by applying for the position you're mostly interested in (1st preference) and then specify a 2nd preference when completing your application. Note that this is only applicable when there is more than one studentship position advertised.
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Click on the title of a position you're interested in to see the full description of the post.
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A link submit application will be available at the bottom of the page.
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Click on the submit application link and complete the resulting form. You’ll be required to first create an account and update your profile – then apply for preferred position.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday 12 April 2024
ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS will be accepted.