PhD studentships

OVERVIEW

At KEMRI-Wellcome, we are keen to build health research capacity in Kenya, East Africa and Africa. We are aware that good PhD training is the foundation for a successful professional career. As such, our PhD scheme is aimed at providing students with an opportunity to carry out their training in a high quality scientific research environment. We have established robust supervisory platforms that entail supervisory teams constituting two or three senior researchers and a student advisory committee that monitors students' progress and advises on academic, career and - if necessary, social issues that may affect students' training progress. Our supervisory system is internationally renowned and we are now an Affiliated Research Centre (ARC) of the Open University in the United Kingdom with authority to fully supervise and appraise students registered with the university.

Potential PhD projects are proposed by prospective supervisors and are mainly supported through respective supervisor funding and/or other capacity building funds at KEMRI-Wellcome. Admission to the PhD scheme is through winning a partial or full studentship in a competitive interview process. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates regardless of ethnicity, religion, age, declared disability or socio-economic background. Interested female candidates and persons living with disability are encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates are appointed for a 3 months' pre-registration position during which they are assessed for their readiness and ability for registration for PhD. At the end of this period, students are formally assessed and only allowed to submit their university registration application if they pass the examination otherwise the studentship is withdrawn. Registration is subject to meeting the full requirements of the target university. At the end of the first year of registration, students undergo an upgrading assessment. This assessment determines if they will continue with the PhD training, be downgraded to an MPhil or even have their studentship withdrawn. 

Partial studentships are targeted at students who are already registered for PhD in local universities and provide support for the students to spend time at KEMRI-Wellcome carrying out their research project. Normally, partial studentships run for a shorter period than full studentships.

 

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must already have completed their Masters studies and not registered elsewhere for a PhD programme. 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.

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.

 

STARTING DATE

Studentships will start as soon as possible.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Click on the title of a position you're interested in to see the full description of the post.

2. A link "Submit Application" will be available at the bottom of the page.

3. 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: April 30, 2024

 

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS will be accepted.

Only shortlisted applicants will receive communication regarding their application

Projects

Identifying the strain-transcending antibody responses to vaccine candidate antigens after natural Plasmodium falciparum exposure



-