AFRO-NETS> Post-doctoral fellowships in social, economic and behavioural aspects of tropical diseases

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

Post-doctoral fellowships in social, economic and behavioural aspects of tropical diseases
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Source: tdr-scientists@who.int


TDR is inviting applications for the award of post-doctoral fellow-
ships in social, economic and behavioural (SEB) aspects of tropical 
infectious diseases.

The post-doctoral fellowship programme intends to contribute to the 
main objectives of TDR's SEB programme; i.e. to foster and institu-
tionalize capacity in disease-endemic countries to conduct and commu-
nicate social, economic, political, health systems, and behavioural 
research relevant to understanding contextual factors affecting the 
persistence and control of tropical diseases.

Eligibility

The programme is intended for junior scientists (less than 35 years 
of age) from developing disease-endemic countries (DECs) with a re-
cent PhD. The PhD will usually have been on social, economic, politi-
cal, health systems, and behavioural aspects of health. Applicants 
must be nationals of DECs, reside in, and be employees of research or 
teaching institutions of these countries. Their PhD must have been 
awarded within the past five years.

Fellowship details

Research conducted during the fellowship must be on issues relevant 
to TDR's priority diseases, i.e. African trypanosomiasis, Chagas dis-
ease, dengue fever, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, leprosy, ma-
laria, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis or tuberculosis. It must fur-
ther address one or more of the priority themes of the Steering Com-
mittee for Social, Economic and Behavioural Research (SEB):

* determinants of inequality of access to prevention, therapy and in-
  formation

* implications of changing economic, social, political and civil 
  structures (including health reforms) for disease persistence, emer-
  gence, resurgence and factors affecting them such as drug and insec-
  ticide resistance

* social and economic impact of infectious disease on populations

* effects of globalization and widening social inequalities on trans-
  mission dynamics of disease, and on health policy and health systems 
  and services

* implications of linkages between global, national and local level 
  policies for their ability to respond to key health issues related to 
  TDR diseases.

For more specific information, please refer to the workplan of the 
Steering Committee for Strategic Social, Economic and Behavioural Re-
search (SEB).

The postdoctoral fellowship programme should include up to a total 
maximum of 10 months of training and time spent at a university (uni-
versities may be in developing or developed countries). The rest of 
the time must be spent in the DEC of residence. Candidates may also 
include time in their own or another developing country conducting 
relevant field research.

Funds will be provided for a 2-3 year period, renewable every year 
following satisfactory progress. The overall budget should not exceed 
US$25 000 per year. Applicants should clarify how they will use funds 
over the three year period. The individual stipend (per month allow-
ance) may not exceed the rates provided under WHO/UN regulations. The 
overall budget can include:

* a stipend for the fellow in his or her own country and at another 
  institution

* travel costs

* resources for the key institution, which will administer the grant 
  and support the candidate

* equipment and/or a educational (book) allowance

* conference support.

If the candidate proposes to conduct field research, limited expenses 
can also be included. However, funding for a major research project 
would need to be secured from an alternative source and candidates 
should not design a fellowship dependent on such funds.

The SEB Steering Committee is open to how the programme might be 
structured. It may include, but need not be limited to:

* developing and conducting a research project either following on 
  from doctoral research, or a new research area relevant to TDR/SEB, a 
  different disease but with similar research questions as in the PhD, 
  or similar issues to those addressed in the PhD but in a new field 
  setting or settings

* building and strengthening the research capacity of junior research 
  groups in areas of SEB research, engaging, for example, under-
  graduate or graduate students in critical basic social, economic, po-
  litical, health systems, and behavioural research

* developing publications arising out of the PhD (during a certain 
  period of the fellowship)

* participating in conferences and related scientific meetings if 
  presenting a paper

* acquiring additional technical and/or analytic skills, and/or

* gaining familiarity with a new body of theory and thematic research 
  (for example a graduate who had conducted doctoral research on adher-
  ence to treatment may now wish to read on globalization, pharmaceuti-
  cal production and marketing in order to develop a broader-based 
  study on these issues).

How to apply

Applicants should communicate directly with their potential supervi-
sor before submitting an application. In the application, they should 
explain the relevance of the supervisor's interests and expertise to 
the proposed fellowship programme. The application should clarify the 
role of the supervisor and any costs associated with supervision.

Applicants must submit:

1. a full curriculum vitae
2. a clear statement of career goals and aspirations, especially with 
   respect to where fellows propose to work on completion of their fel-
   lowship
3. an outline of the proposed work, including goals, objectives and 
   expected outcomes of the fellowship, with a tentative timeline.
4. a summary curriculum vitae of the supervisor
5. names and coordinates of two academic referees
6. a complete list of scientific references
7. a detailed budget
8. proof of DEC institutional affiliation and employment, including 
   information on the institution(s) and countries where the work will 
   be conducted.
9. certification of the doctorate qualification
10.a statement of support from, and description of, the supervisor

No application forms are required to apply. Items 1-7 of the above 
list must be submitted by e-mail to <sommerfeldj@who.int>. In addi-
tion, all items (1-10) need to be submitted by regular mail to:

Dr Johannes Sommerfeld
Manager
Steering Committee on Strategic Social
Economic and Behavioural Research
UNDP/World Bank/WHO
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases 
(TDR) - WHO
20 Avenue Appia,
1211, Geneva 27
Switzerland

Street address:
Centre Casai
Avenue Louis-Casai 51-53
1216 Geneva
Switzerland

Tel: +41-22-791-3954
Fax: +41-22-791-4854
mailto:sommerfeldj@who.int

Applications must be received by Friday 20 June 2003.
Late applications and incomplete applications will not be accepted.

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