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 the authority to supervise and fully appraise students registered with the university.

Prospective supervisors propose potential PhD projects and are mainly supported through respective supervisor funding and 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 to register for a 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allowed to submit their university registration application if they pass the examination; otherwise, the studentship is withdrawn.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determines if they will continue with the PhD training, be downgraded to an MPhil or even have their studentship withdrawn.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 certified proof of the same from your University.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Studentships are awarded competitively through shortlisting of online applications and subsequent interviews.

STARTING DATE

The PhD studentship will commence in October 2024.

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 first to create an account and update your profile – then apply for the preferred position.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 10, 2024.

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS will be accepted.

Characterisation of bnAb precursors and vaccine-induced antibody responses to germline-targeting immunogens to inform HIV vaccine design