INTRODUCTION
This unique learning programme is designed to equip recent graduates with both theoretical and practical knowledge in the philosophy and practice of research. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach, spanning basic biomedical sciences, social science research, and health systems research. The programme offers students an opportunity to gain a deep appreciation of the various components of research through attachments at a dynamic, internationally renowned research institute. Interns are based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) campuses in Kilifi and Nairobi and are registered with Pwani University (PU) in Kilifi. The diploma programme comprises several examinable taught modules, a research project, and self-directed learning through participation in scientific activities such as seminars and journal clubs. Each student is paired with a researcher for mentorship and supervision, selected based on a submitted plan for structured training in a specific research area. These three components run concurrently, enabling interns to complete the programme within 10 months and graduate shortly thereafter. All associated costs, including registration, tuition, and a monthly stipend, are covered by KWTRP through the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL) programme. Interns also receive contributions toward medical coverage.
RECRUITMENT
KWTRP has established a very rigorous recruitment process consisting of two phases. First, applications are invited from individuals who completed their undergraduate training within the past two years or will have graduated by the start of the program. 100-150 applicants are selected to attend a research careers day in Nairobi. Careers Day features talks and discussions about research and training activities - at KWTRP, PU, and any other collaborating university or institution — as well as research as a career. This is followed by a written exam, which serves as the basis for the second round of shortlisting. The top-scoring candidates are then invited for an oral interview at one of KWTRP’s campuses. Only successful candidates are contacted.
SCOPE OF SUPPORT
This is a 10-month studentship based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme. KWTRP and the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL) will provide the selected candidate with a monthly stipend, medical insurance, and financial support to cover tuition, academic-related fees, and research expenses.
AVAILABLE RESEARCH PROJECTS
Interested candidates can apply to undertake any of the following research projects during their PGD training at KWTRP.
RESEARCH PROJECT 1
Project Title: Assessing Acceptability of Locally Manufactured Vaccines
Project description
The recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the African continent could not rely solely on donations from wealthy countries for its vaccine needs, especially during times of crisis. Countries in the global North prioritized and secured excess vaccine doses for their own national consumption, failing to meet commitments to support countries in the global South. The African Union (AU) and the African Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) have called for a new public health order that would increase Africa's capacity to manufacture its own vaccines from 1% to 60% by 2040 (Africa CDC, 2022).
As part of responding to this call, initiatives are underway to explore the potential for African countries to manufacture vaccines (Wellcome, 2023). Alongside these, researchers are undertaking proof-of-concept studies to explore the potential for tech-transfer and factors that would make locally manufactured vaccines viable, efficient, and effective. One such initiative is the Chanjo-hub, an effort to catalyze locally manufactured vaccines in Kenya and Ghana. Researchers at Imperial College, London, and KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme lead the initiative. The technical processes of vaccine manufacturing will be conducted within a private pharmaceutical company in Kenya (Tasa Pharma) and in the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana.
At KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, we are conducting research to determine whether locally manufactured vaccines are acceptable to various stakeholders in Africa and whether the undertaking can be economically viable and therefore sustainable. We are also documenting the countries’ processes for ensuring that the vaccines made meet international standards.
Preferred training background
- Social sciences, public health, anthropology, environmental health, nursing, and other related disciplines
- Understanding of mixed methods approaches
- Able to clearly express themselves
- Strong writing skills
RESEARCH PROJECT 2
Project title: Advancing Joint Review Mechanisms for Multi-Country Research in Africa through the African Population Cohorts Consortium
Project description
The African Population Cohorts Consortium (APCC) is a transformative initiative uniting over 40 African cohorts across 16 countries. With its recent Launch in June 2025, APCC is poised to drive forward ethical, Africa-led population health research focused on three main research foci: health and well-being along the life course, the health impact of climate change, and progress towards universal health coverage. Its ambition is to support research at scale, leveraging rich, longitudinal data that reflects Africa’s diverse realities. The APCC’s vision, values, and research agenda can be found using this link https://apcc.africa/.
All research undertaken must be approved by a qualified Ethics and Scientific Review committee (Chaudhry et al., 2022). Each country must set mechanisms that ensure that the research that is undertaken is relevant, is scientifically rigorous and ethically acceptable https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241502948. The Research Ethics Review Committees (RECs) are nationally constituted bodies mandated by their respective governments (through Parliamentary Acts) to review and approve research conducted within the country, ensuring protection of every individual who participates in research (Hinga et al., 2022). However, the jurisprudence of the RECs are limited to their country (Belaynehe et al., 2024). Where research involves several countries, the review process can be long and tedious, as each national review committee must review and approve the research.
Recent developments aim to make the process of multi-country research review more effective and efficient by adapting what is termed as ‘joint reviews’ and “ethics equivalencies’ (for example https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/immunization/avaref/joint-review-meetings ) . However, these efforts are often met with much resistance. In addition, the mandates of such joint-review bodies are often not clear. The proposed research will utilise the African Population Cohort consortium platform to map the status of Ethics review committees in Africa, explore the drivers and barriers for joint reviews of multi-country research, and make recommendations of what ought to be in place for such joint reviews to be in place.
Preferred training background
- Social sciences, public health, anthropology, environmental health, nursing, and other related disciplines
RESEARCH PROJECT 3
Project Title: Examining mechanisms for inclusion of public voice into PHC priority setting in Low-and Middle-Income countries
Project description
Public participation is a foundational principle of Primary Health Care, that has been reiterated over many decades. Globally, public participation is acknowledged as fundamental in reaffirming individuals’ right to health. Many LMICs mandate mechanisms for facilitating participation throughout policy processes at national and sub-national levels. A recent review highlighted a gap in institutionalizing community voices; too often, public participation is ad-hoc and lacks laws and other institutional mechanisms to ensure that voices are formally used in policy making. Additionally, structural barriers, such as poverty, patriarchal norms, and power differences between the public, health care providers and policymakers can prevent the inclusion of public perspectives, especially from vulnerable groups. Current conventional public engagement methods face challenges, prompting a call for participation to meet deliberative standards. Deliberative processes are structured, inclusive, and respectful methods of discussion that meaningfully consider diverse perspectives, interests and power dynamics, with the aim of reaching well-informed collective decisions that prioritize equality and inclusion. However, in LMICs, such methods have seen limited use, with unclear evidence of effectiveness. Further, it is unclear to what extent these deliberative methods have enhanced transparency and legitimacy for PHC decision-making, or whether marginalized perspectives and effects on power relations and institutional arrangements have been considered. This project will seek to generate evidence about current methods used by health managers and policymakers in LMIC settings, the existing legal and policy framework and practices related to public participation during budgeting processes for PHC. The project will also explore what characteristics of deliberative methods are valued by different actors (policymakers, health managers, members of the public) within the health system
Preferred training background
- Health and/or social science background
- Experience in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions
- Ability to work independently
- Excellent communication skills and a good team player
RESEARCH PROJECT 4
Project Title: Evaluating Health Systems’ Level of Risk and Readiness to Extreme Weather Events in Kenya
Project description
Climate change, defined by the United Nations as “the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns,” is now widely recognised as the greatest global health threat of the 21st century. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Horn of Africa, which continues to experience extreme weather events — including prolonged heatwaves, devastating wildfires, intense storms, severe droughts, and widespread flooding — with increasing frequency and severity.
Climate-related hazards disproportionately affect the most vulnerable groups: women, children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions, as well as marginalised communities such as low-income households, smallholder farmers, Indigenous peoples, minority groups, and those living in informal settlements. These populations are often least equipped to cope with, respond to, and recover from climate shocks. For health systems in low- and middle-income countries, such as Kenya, the challenges are particularly acute. Many facilities already struggle with chronic understaffing, limited infrastructure, poor sanitation, inadequate medical supplies, outdated technologies, and constrained financial resources. Climate change and the resulting extreme weather events place an additional, significant burden on these fragile systems, threatening their ability to provide continuous, high-quality healthcare services precisely when they are needed most. Health facilities risk damage, unpredictable closure, supply chain disruptions, staff shortages, and spikes in demand for care, all of which can severely compromise their readiness for service delivery.
Given these mounting threats, robust strategies must be developed to build the resilience and adaptive capacity of Kenya’s health system. A crucial first step is to identify and understand the existing tools and frameworks necessary for assessing and characterising the risks posed by extreme weather events to health facilities and the wider health system. By systematically reviewing and evaluating these tools, we can identify gaps, adapt best practices, and ultimately strengthen Kenya’s health system preparedness, response, and recovery mechanisms to climate change.
Preferred training background
- Health and/or social science background
- Experience in conducting any form of literature review
- Ability to work under high pressure and meet deadlines
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Computer literacy, with some skills in using any reference manager such as EndNote
RESEARCH PROJECT 5
Project Title: Characterising the predictors of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy to inform preventative strategies
Project description
Epilepsy is among the most serious neurological conditions worldwide and carries a significant burden measured in disability-adjusted life years. People with epilepsy are seven times more likely to die prematurely compared to the general population, with mortality rates reaching up to 45 per 1000 per year. Up to 76% of these deaths are linked to epilepsy-related factors, such as status epilepticus. The mortality rates are similarly elevated in low- and middle-income countries, where in some areas, 20 per 1,000 people live with epilepsy. In these resource-limited settings, causes of death are poorly documented, likely due to limited capacity and expertise. For example, a cause of death could not be determined in 15% of people with epilepsy who died in Kilifi, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) was suspected in 7%, although evidence suggests it may be associated with proportional mortality estimates of up to 19%.
According to the International League Against Epilepsy, SUDEP is considered when death occurs suddenly with or without a preceding seizure, and no other causes of death can be identified (including trauma, drowning, or toxicological causes). The mechanisms of SUDEP are not fully understood, but they are believed to be related to seizure-induced cardiorespiratory and brain stem dysfunction. However, some factors have consistently been associated with people who die of SUDEP, such as generalized tonic-clonic seizures, early onset of epilepsy, long duration of epilepsy, nonadherence to treatment, frequent seizures, nocturnal seizures, excessive alcohol use, high BMI, and living alone. Some of these factors have been characterized in people with epilepsy in Africa, but their role in SUDEP has not been systematically examined.
We aim to characterize the sociodemographic, clinical, and electroencephalographic causes of SUDEP in a rural area along the Kenyan coast. Causes of death data will be derived from verbal autopsies collected routinely in the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System and linked to individuals with epilepsy who visited an epilepsy clinic over an 8-year period. This analysis will use information gathered from a systematic review of the literature, along with sociodemographic, clinical, and autopsy cause-of-death data. The findings will inform targeted investigations performed before death (e.g., electrocardiography and sleep monitoring) and the development of predictive scores for SUDEP, all aimed at improving counseling and preventive strategies. The research may also open new opportunities for non-invasive (neuroimaging) or minimally invasive (needle biopsies) autopsies.
Preferred training background
- Clinical, nursing, and public health qualifications and other related training backgrounds, e.g., biostatistics.
RESEARCH PROJECT 6
Project Title: Maternal exposures, foetal growth, and birth outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
Project description
Adverse birth outcomes, such as stillbirth, low birth weight (LBW; <2500g), small for gestational age (SGA; birth weight below the 10th percentile), and preterm birth (less than 37 weeks), are significant health issues in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Moreover, stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height) during the first 1,000 days of life (conception to 2 years) contribute to childhood infections and mortality, as well as adulthood morbidity and reduced productivity. The causes, timing, and persistence of growth faltering in LMICs are not well understood, making it hard to determine when and how to intervene. In these countries, growth faltering begins very early during the prenatal and postnatal periods, with stunting at birth serving as a key predictor of a child’s linear growth path. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preterm birth are strongly linked to stunting at 24 months. Significant associations are also found between maternal anthropometry, birth size, and growth achieved by 24 months, highlighting the importance of prenatal exposures and intergenerational effects driven by shared environments across generations influencing child growth. However, in LMICs, the specific impact of maternal exposures on fetal growth, birth outcomes, and neurodevelopment has not been systematically studied. Maternal adaptation during pregnancy and lactation is critical for healthy fetal development and child growth.
Preferred training background
- Biology, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology
RESEARCH PROJECT 7
Project Title: Exploring healthcare workers’ perspectives on child-birth related vulnerabilities and strategies to support mothers after birth complications.
Project description
While maternal health outcomes have improved significally in recent decades, birth complications still significantly contribute to maternal and neonatal illness and death, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With advancements in care and treatments, many women survive these complications. However, they often face lasting vulnerabilities, such as physical injury, psychological distress, and financial hardship. These childbirth-related issues can greatly affect a woman’s well-being and her capacity to care for herself and her newborn. The shift from intrapartum care to effective, patient-centered post-birth care that supports both the woman and infant is essential. The recent WHO guideline for maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience provides eight areas to improve the transition from hospital to home, prevent and treat health issues, and promote the well-being of both mother and child, but more efforts are needed to turn these principles into practice. Frontline healthcare workers are uniquely positioned, and their insights are vital for identifying system gaps and developing practical, context-specific solutions. This internship aims to understand how frontline providers perceive these challenges and to gather their ideas on what support could improve postnatal recovery and resilience in resource-limited settings.While maternal health outcomes have improved significantly in recent decades, birth complications remain major contributors to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). With improvements in care and treatments, many women survive these complications. However, they often face enduring vulnerabilities, including physical trauma, psychological distress and economic hardship. These childbirth-related vulnerabilities can severely disrupt a woman’s well-being and her ability to care for herself and her newborn. The transition from intrapartum care to effective, patient-centred post-birth care that supports the woman and infant dyad is paramount. The recent WHO guideline for maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience provides eight domains to optimize the transition from facility to home, prevent and address morbidity, and promote wellbeing of both the woman and newborn, yet more is needed to operationalize those ideals into practice. Frontline healthcare workers are uniquely positioned, and their perspectives are essential for identifying system gaps and generating feasible, context-specific interventions. This internship aims to explore how frontline providers perceive these vulnerabilities and gather their input on the kinds of support they believe could enhance postnatal recovery and resilience in resource-constrained settings.
Preferred training background
Mandatory:
- BA in Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health)
- Experience conducting qualitative research including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observations.
Desired:
- Experience in conducting and analysing qualitative data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, or observation work using software such as NVIVO.
RESEARCH PROJECT 8
Project Title: Examining end-user preferences for attributes of AI-driven digital health innovations to enhance routine data collection and use for decision-making in African hospitals
Project description
Public referral hospitals in Kenya, often characterized by limited resources compared to private referral hospitals, are increasingly adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in routine clinical settings to improve processes and patient outcomes. However, despite the growing use of AI tools in routine clinical practice, there is limited evidence on the attributes of AI innovations that clinicians—such as doctors, nurses, and clinical officers—and health records information officers (HRIOs) working in public referral hospitals in SSA would find valuable, as well as the trade-offs they are willing to make. Additionally, clinicians face “competing” interests, as they aim to dedicate more time to individualized, specialized patient care in an environment where doctor-to-patient ratios are extremely high; they typically have at most 20 minutes per patient during a 12-hour shift. HRIOs encounter overwhelming demands on their time and effort when generating and reporting routine hospital indicators and other key reports (e.g., mortality audits, custom internal reports for hospital use, etc.) across all hospital departments. Being short-staffed, they often prioritize producing essential reports at the expense of others.
Preferred training background
Mandatory:
- BSc. In Health-related economics (Health Systems Management and Economics, BSc. Economics and Statistics, BSc. in Public Health -Health Economics major, BSc. in Health Science Management -Health Economics major)
- BA in Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health, Psychology, Social Policy)
- Experience conducting qualitative research, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, or observation work
Desired:
- Experience analysing qualitative data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, or observation work using software such as NVIVO.
- Experience running discrete choice experiments using Ngene software
RESEARCH PROJECT 9
Project Title: Understanding the barriers and enablers in the generation and use of routine clinical data for local decision-making in Kenyan Public Hospitals by frontline workers.
Project description
Public referral hospitals in Kenya and across Africa are increasingly adopting Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in routine clinical settings. However, despite the growing use of EHRs in everyday practice, there is limited evidence on the attributes of EHR innovations that clinicians (doctors, nurses, clinical officers) and health records information officers (i.e., HRIOs) working in public referral hospitals in SSA would value and the trade-offs they are willing to make. Moreover, clinicians have “competing” interests aimed at spending more time on individualized specialized patient care, especially in environments with extremely high doctor-to-patient ratios, where they have at most 20 minutes per patient during a 12-hour shift. HRIOs face overwhelming demands on their time and effort when generating and reporting routine hospital indicators and other key reports (e.g., mortality audits, custom internal reports for hospital use), across all departments while being short-staffed. This situation leads them to prioritize the production of essential reports at the expense of other tasks.
Preferred training background
Mandatory:
- BA in Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health, Psychology, Economics, Social Policy)
- Experience conducting qualitative research, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, or observation work
Desired:
- Experience analysing qualitative data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, or observation work using software such as NVIVO.
RESEARCH PROJECT 10
Project Title: Comparison of NG-tube feeding vs IV fluid for patients with severe pneumonia using causal inference methods
Project description
Understanding causal relationships is a central goal in many fields, including epidemiology, economics, social sciences, and health research. Traditionally, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been considered the gold standard for establishing causality, as randomization helps eliminate confounding and biases. However, RCTs are not always feasible due to ethical, logistical, or financial constraints. In such cases, researchers turn to observational data, which are collected without random assignment of treatment or exposure. While abundant and often readily available, observational data present significant challenges for causal inference due to potential confounding, selection bias, and measurement error.
Causal inference methods provide a statistical framework to estimate causal effects from observational data, aiming to emulate the conditions of a randomized experiment as closely as possible. These methods rely on assumptions and techniques that help control for confounding and isolate the effect of an exposure or intervention on an outcome.
Key approaches include propensity score methods, inverse probability weighting (IPW), regression adjustment, and matching techniques, which seek to balance covariates between treatment and control groups. More advanced frameworks, such as instrumental variables (IV), difference-in-differences (DiD), and regression discontinuity designs (RDD), are used when assumptions of exchangeability cannot be met through covariate adjustment alone.
Preferred training background
- BSc Mathematics, Statistics, Epidemiology, or related
- Proficiency in statistical analysis software (R/Stata/Python, etc)
RESEARCH PROJECT 11
Project Title: Investigating the epidemiology of the influenza C virus in coastal Kenya
Project description
Three types of influenza viruses exist: A, B, and C. Although all can cause disease in humans, most clinical illness is attributed to infections with type A (IAV) and type B (IBV) viruses. These two types have been extensively studied, particularly regarding disease burden, clinical presentation, seasonal epidemiology, and transmission patterns. However, in our routine surveillance in Kilifi, we have detected a substantial presence of influenza C virus (ICV) across our three ongoing surveillance platforms: inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Research on ICV is rare, and there is limited information available on its molecular epidemiology, transmission patterns, seasonality, and clinical presentation. This proposed internship project will investigate the incidence, clinical presentation, and molecular epidemiology of ICV in Kilifi, using samples and data collected from our three surveillance platforms. Depending on the background of the successful candidate, the project could focus on either epidemiological analysis (data science) or genomic analysis (molecular biology/bioinformatics).
Preferred training background
- Data science, Applied statistics, Bioinformatics & Epidemiology
RESEARCH PROJECT 12
Project Title: Assessing the Impact of Kenya’s Health Insurance Transition on Mortality: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis using Kilifi HDSS Data
Project description
The transition in October 2024 from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) marked a major structural shift in Kenya’s health financing landscape. This transition, however, has been marred by implementation challenges, with anecdotal reports of disrupted service delivery, especially affecting vulnerable groups such as patients with chronic conditions and those needing emergency care. Concerns have also been raised about a potential rise in mortality resulting from these interruptions.
This study aims to quantify the impact of the transition on mortality using data from the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). By applying interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to mortality data spanning from 2002 to 2025, the study will assess whether observed mortality in Q3 of 2024 exceeds expected levels based on long-term trends. Mortality will be analyzed across demographic groups, including the general population, neonates, infants, children under five, maternal deaths, and trauma-related deaths. Further classification will be done using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to understand cause-specific mortality patterns.
The insights generated will contribute to understanding the impact of abrupt policy transitions on the health system, inform future health financing reforms, and highlight strategies to mitigate negative consequences for vulnerable populations.
Preferred training background
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Economics, or a related field
- Basic proficiency in statistical software (Stata, R, or SPSS)
- Familiarity with quantitative research methods
- Strong interest in health systems, policy analysis, and UHC
- Good analytical and writing skills
RESEARCH PROJECT 13
Project Title: Identifying Causes of Severe and Fatal Pneumonia Using High-Dimensional TaqMan Array Card and Multiplex qPCR Data in the COAST Trials, Kenya and Uganda (2017-2022)
Project description
Pneumonia remains a leading cause of in-hospital child mortality worldwide, with the greatest impact in low-resource settings. The infectious causes of pneumonia are varied and include viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Determining the aetiology in individual cases is challenging due to overlapping symptom presentations, ethical concerns around sampling severely ill children, and limitations in available diagnostic platforms. The Children's Oxygen Administration Strategies Trial (COAST) conducted studies in Kenya and Uganda, recruiting children aged 28 days to 12 years who were admitted with respiratory distress. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (NPOP) swabs were collected from these children. These samples were screened using a multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) panel for 15 viral pathogens. Additionally, a subset of samples was analyzed with the TaqMan Array Card qPCR platform, which tests for more than 25 respiratory pathogens, including bacteria. The project requires robust statistical models to determine the significance of viral detections in these samples concerning observed disease outcomes. This analysis is complicated by the frequent detection of multiple pathogens and varying pathogen loads, as inferred from Ct values, which complicates the determination of their roles in disease outcomes. The student will analyze this data to provide insights into the potential leading causes of severe pneumonia and assess the added value of the TaqMan Array Card data in inferring pneumonia causality.
Preferred training background
- Biostatistics
- Applied mathematics
- Statistics
- Epidemiology
RESEARCH PROJECT 14
Project Title: Genomic epidemiology of endemic human betacoronaviruses OC43 and HKU1 pre and during COVID-19 pandemic in coastal Kenya.
Project description
Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with the majority of the burden occurring in low-resource settings. Endemic human coronaviruses, including alphacoronaviruses (229E and NL63) and betacoronaviruses (OC43, HKU1, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1 and 2), are among the top causes of ARI and remain a top threat to public health with both epidemic and pandemic potential. Two OC43 genotypes, G and H, have been reported in Kilifi between 2015 and 2016 from Spike gene sequence data. To date, only two Kenyan OC43 whole genomes have been sequenced, and no HKU1 genomes reported. Recent genomic surveillance studies have reported growing diversity with OC43 and HKU1. Part of the diversity is hypothesized to be accelerated by the measurable cross-reactivity between endemic CoVs, OC43 and HKU1, and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies due to the shared nucleotide and amino acid similarity in their spike and N proteins. Currently, there is a paucity of data, especially in low-resource settings, including Kenya, on the seasonal and evolutionary patterns and spread of OC43 and HKU1 genotypes.
The proposed project will help optimise newly developed WGS primers for amplification of OC43 and HKU1. Further, it will help describe the changing evolutionary dynamics of endemic coronaviruses OC43 and HKU1 pre, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic using longitudinal surveillance platforms within the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Kilifi, Kenya. The findings will be fundamental in filling the knowledge gap around the genomic epidemiology of OC43 and HKU1 in LMICs, improvement of diagnostic assays and contribute genomic data needed in development of pan-coronavirus vaccines.
Preferred training background
- BSc in Microbiology/Biochemistry/Biotechnology or any other Life science degree with a strong interest in Bioinformatics
RESEARCH PROJECT 15
Project Title: Adaptations of Plasmodium falciparum parasites to survival in Dantu blood group variant red blood cells
Project description
Several human genetic traits have been shown to have strongly malaria-protective effects, such as sickle cell trait (HbAS) and the rare Dantu blood group variant (Kariuki & Williams, 2020; MalariaGEN, 2014, 2019). The Dantu blood group variant provides upto 74% protection against malaria, a protective effect that is similar in magnitude to the sickle cell trait effect, the strongest malaria protective genetic variant known to date (Band et al., 2015; Kariuki et al., 2020; Leffler et al., 2017; Ndila et al., 2018).
While Dantu carriers are protected from severe malaria, they are not immune to Plasmodium falciparum infection, raising the possibility that specific parasite genotypes are circulating in the coast of Kenya that are better able to invade Dantu RBCs. A recent study illustrates the evolutionary adaptation of parasite populations in response to the sickle cell trait malaria-protective effect, where parasites carrying specific genetic variants that enabled them to overcome the sickle cell protective effect were identified (Band et al., 2022). Similarly, the aim of this project is to characterise parasites that have invaded Dantu variant RBCs, in order to elucidate the mechanisms that enable their invasion and survival within Dantu cells.
We will characterise these parasites using preference invasion and growth assays to validate their ability to invade and grow in Dantu variant cells as well as in non-Dantu cells. We will also analyse sequence data from parasites isolated from across Dantu genotypes to investigate whether there are any specific parasite genotypes that are associated with successful parasite invasion and survival in Dantu RBCs.
Preferred training background
- Molecular biology, Biochemistry, some Computational background
RESEARCH PROJECT 16
Project Title: Shaping Health Packages and Researching Priorities (SHARP) in Kenya
Project description
Governments should set and communicate health sector priorities by defining guaranteed or 'essential' health benefit packages (HBPs) that they can fund against a background of severely constrained health resources. Evaluating the impact of HBPs is complex. As HBPs are sector-wide policy instruments, it is rarely feasible to subject them to experimental research. Instead, past evaluative and review research has focused on using qualitative methods to explore whether a set of procedural conditions (transparency and publicity, use of evidence , stakeholder participation and incorporation of community values , stakeholder empowerment , appeals and revisions mechanism, and enforcement), and consequentialist outcomes (efficiency, equity, stakeholder understanding , stakeholder acceptance and satisfaction; and impact on health policy and practice and implementation decisions have been achieved (Barasa et al, 2015). There has been little rigorous evaluation reflecting more broadly on whether HBPs successfully impact priorities and achieve their stated aims (i.e., improved resource allocation according to the needs and values of the population), given policy and economic constraints.
The overall aim of this research is to improve the design and guide the implementation of HBPs throughout the African continent. Specifically, the work package related to this PgD internship aims to assess the extent to which HBPs fulfil the procedural aims and consequentialist outcomes associated with Evidence-Informed Priority Setting (EIPS). The project will use qualitative data collection techniques, including document reviews, key informant, and in-depth interviews, and consensus-building workshops. The project will engage a wide range of stakeholders, including: HBP assessment team, HBP appraisal committee, national level policy makers, health providers, academia, civil society organizations, patients, and community representatives. The goal is for the research to be integrated within HBP design and implementation in Kenya, in a policy-relevant time frame, including the self-reflective evaluation amongst those involved in EIPS.
Preferred training background
- Bachelor's degree in any health-related field, e.g., nursing, medicine, pharmacy, Clinical Medicine and Community Health, public health, Health Systems Management
- Experience in qualitative research will be an added advantage.
RESEARCH PROJECT 17
Project Title: Evaluating the Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Risk-Reduction Behaviors among Older Adults Living with HIV in Kilifi County, Kenya
Project description
The intersection of aging and HIV presents a growing public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, where the population of older adults living with HIV (OALWH) is expanding due to increased longevity from sustained access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) (Negin et al., 2021). In Kenya, over 12% of people living with HIV are aged 50 years and above, with this age group having an estimated HIV prevalence of 5.6% (Ministry of Health, 2023), yet HIV prevention and care programs have largely focused on younger populations. Older adults often face unique challenges, including delayed diagnosis, comorbidities, persistent stigma, and gaps in tailored counseling support (Maeri et al., 2019; Emlet et al., 2020).
Despite ART availability, suboptimal adherence and continued engagement in risky sexual behaviors, including non-disclosure of HIV status, inconsistent condom use, and multiple partnerships, persist among OALWH, contributing to poor viral suppression and ongoing transmission (Akinsete et al., 2020). Structural and psychosocial barriers such as stigma, low health literacy, and perceived hopelessness further hinder behavioral change and sustained engagement in HIV care.
Motivational Interviewing (MI), a client-centered and evidence-based counseling technique, has been shown to effectively enhance ART adherence and promote safer health behaviors in diverse HIV-affected populations by strengthening intrinsic motivation and resolving ambivalence (Dunbar et al., 2022). However, evidence on its effectiveness among OALWH in rural Kenyan settings remains limited. Kilifi County, with its high HIV burden and aging population, offers a timely and relevant context to investigate this gap.
This study aims to evaluate the impact of MI on ART adherence and risk-reduction behaviors among OALWH in Kilifi. Findings will contribute to the development of age-responsive HIV interventions and offer insights into scalable strategies to enhance long-term HIV care outcomes in older adults.
Preferred training background
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field
- Prior experience or strong interest in working with older adult populations or people living with HIV
- Familiarity with behavioral science theories (e.g., Health Belief Model, Transtheoretical Model)
- Basic knowledge of research methodologies, especially RCTs and mixed-methods
- Proficiency or willingness to learn KoboCollect, STATA, and/or R
- Excellent communication and counseling skills
- Cultural sensitivity and respect for confidentiality
- Strong motivation to work independently and collaboratively in community health settings
RESEARCH PROJECT 18
Project Title: Developing a Fit-for-Purpose Laboratory Quality System for PUBReC’s Diverse Research Environment
Project description
The Pwani University Biosciences Research Centre (PUBReC) is a regional hub for molecular biosciences, supporting multidisciplinary research, postgraduate training, and collaborative innovation. The laboratory serves a diverse user base engaged in research spanning molecular ecology, microbiome analysis, pathogen detection, and diagnostics. This diversity of applications brings with it a variety of workflows, expectations, and technical standards, making standardization both essential and complex. While PUBReC already follows established operational procedures and safety protocols, the evolving scale and scope of research activities demand a more structured and fit-for-purpose laboratory quality system. The aim is not to impose a one-size-fits-all international standard, but to design or adapt quality systems that are appropriate for the lab's context, balancing rigour with flexibility. This internship project invites a motivated graduate to contribute to this development process. It will require intentionality, creativity, systems thinking, and the ability to navigate both structure and ambiguity. The intern will work closely with the PUBReC team to co-create documentation, develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), and explore models for continuous quality improvement in an active research environment.
Preferred training background
- A bachelor’s degree in applied biology, medical laboratory science, biotechnology, or a related life science field
- Demonstrated interest in laboratory quality management, project design, or research integrity
- Strong communication and documentation skills
- Desired attributes: creative problem-solving, systems thinking, attention to detail, and initiative in independent learning
RESEARCH PROJECT 19
Project Title: Characteristics and effectiveness of structural interventions for addressing moral distress among frontline research and health care staff: A scoping review
Project description
Frontline research and healthcare workers, such as nurses and fieldworkers, play crucial roles in ethical research practices, providing healthcare services, and sustaining health systems. Their daily interactions with patients, research participants, and community members can create significant practical and ethical challenges, including moral distress. Moral distress is emotional turmoil, like feelings of guilt, anxiety, or helplessness, caused by facing ethical dilemmas. It can negatively affect the well-being of frontline staff, team dynamics, the quality of care and research, and patient outcomes. Staff working with vulnerable patients and participants in resource-limited health systems might experience moral distress more profoundly than those higher up in the health system or working in better-resourced settings.
This distress can also be worsened by stressors and shocks to health systems, including crisis events like pandemics and funding cuts. Although there is increasing literature on the ethical challenges faced by frontline staff, there is limited research specifically on moral distress and how health and research systems can be organized to reduce and manage it for frontline workers. This scoping review will look at the effectiveness of structural interventions and strategies, such as helplines and counseling, in addressing moral distress among frontline staff. The review will be linked to an international collaborative research project focusing on systemic factors that create practical and ethical challenges for frontline workers, including organizational responsibilities and support systems to address these issues.
Preferred training background
- Social sciences and related disciplines
RESEARCH PROJECT 20
Project Title: How do adverse weather events influence soil-transmitted helminth infections and control? A systematic review.
Project description
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a critical driver of infectious disease dynamics. However, its impacts on soil-transmitted helminths (STHs)—Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms—remain understudied. Preliminary evidence suggests that climate extremes exacerbate STH risks: flooding spreads eggs via contaminated water, while drought concentrates pathogens due to poor sanitation.
This project aims to systematically review and synthesize existing evidence on how climate variables (e.g., temperature, rainfall) influence STH transmission, especially following adverse weather events such as rainfall extremes, flooding, and drought. The student will conduct a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and grey literature, using terms such as "soil-transmitted helminths", "climate change", and "transmission dynamics". Studies will be screened for relevance, with data extracted on climate-STH linkages, geographic trends, and at-risk populations. A thematic analysis will identify mechanisms (e.g., flood-mediated egg dispersal, drought-induced water scarcity) and gaps in current knowledge, especially in endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Findings from this review will guide researchers, policymakers, and health practitioners in designing interventions, such as early warning systems for climate-integrated deworming schedules, to mitigate climate-aggravated STH burdens in endemic regions.
Preferred training background
- Public health/ Epidemiology/ Anthropology
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
You can apply for two positions in one application by applying for the research project you're mostly interested in (1st preference) and then specify a 2nd preference when completing your application. Note that this is only applicable when several research projects are advertised.
- A link to apply will be available at the bottom of the page.
- Click on the submit application link and complete the resulting form. You’ll need to create an account and update your profile before applying for the preferred position.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 20, 2025.
ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS will be accepted.
NOTE: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
In case of any challenges when submitting your application, please contact: ideal_info@kemri-wellcome.org