Scholarship details
The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) are pleased to announce an exciting new opportunity, the Planetary Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at the MRC Unit in The Gambia. This fellowship is designed to foster innovative research and collaboration in the field of planetary health, which explores the intricate connections between human health and the health of our planet.
As a postdoctoral fellow, you will have the chance to work with leading experts in the field, conducting cutting-edge research and making meaningful contributions to the understanding of planetary health challenges. This fellowship offers a unique platform to address pressing global health issues, particularly in the context of The Gambia, while advancing your career and making a positive impact on the world.
Fellowship Awards
The Planetary Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at the MRC Unit in The Gambia offers a range of benefits and support to successful applicants. Here are the key highlights:
- Competitive Research Fellowship Stipend: The fellow will receive a generous research fellowship stipend of £25,000 per annum, providing financial support throughout the duration of the fellowship.
- Accommodation: The fellowship includes provision for the fellow’s accommodation, ensuring a comfortable and convenient living arrangement during their time in The Gambia.
- Annual Holiday Airfares: The fellowship covers the cost of annual holiday airfares, allowing the fellow to visit their home country or any preferred destination during their tenure.
- Contribution to Children’s School Fees: For fellows with children, the fellowship includes a contribution towards their school fees, ensuring access to quality education.
- Modest Research Budget: The fellowship provides a modest research budget, empowering fellows to carry out their research projects and pursue innovative avenues of study.
- Relocation and Visa Support: International applicants will receive relocation and visa support, easing the transition to living and working in The Gambia.
These comprehensive benefits and support mechanisms aim to create a conducive environment for the fellow’s research endeavors, enabling them to focus on their work and make significant contributions to the field of planetary health. The combination of financial support, accommodation provisions, travel assistance, and research funding ensures that the fellow can fully immerse themselves in their research and thrive professionally during their postdoctoral fellowship at the MRC Unit in The Gambia.
Fellowship Provider: The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
The MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM focuses on a range of critical research areas. Their innovative investigations encompass disease control, nutrition and planetary health, as well as vaccines and immunity. By actively exploring these domains, the Unit plays a pivotal role in saving lives and improving health outcomes worldwide. Moreover, the Unit has fostered strong research collaborations with numerous institutions in West Africa, further enhancing their research capabilities and promoting knowledge exchange within the region.
In 2018, a significant expansion of research capacity took place at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) with the formal integration of the MRC Units in The Gambia and Uganda. This expansion has propelled LSHTM’s ability to address current and emerging health issues in Africa and globally. With a team of over 1,200 dedicated staff, the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM has emerged as a renowned center of excellence for research and training. Over the past 75 years, the Unit has made remarkable contributions to the field by conducting world-class research that has had a profound impact on health policies in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
The collaborative approach of the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM has proven to be instrumental in tackling pressing health challenges. By engaging in interdisciplinary research and forging partnerships with local and international institutions, the Unit generates valuable insights that contribute to global health advancements. The combined expertise and resources of LSHTM, the MRC Units, and their research partners create a dynamic environment conducive to impactful research outcomes and sustainable improvements in health.
Eligibility
The Planetary Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at the MRC Unit in The Gambia follows a rigorous assessment process, with applications evaluated against specific criteria:
- Completed PhD Degree: Applicants must have completed their PhD degree within the last 3 years. However, individuals who are confident of completing their PhD by 1 September 2023 may also apply. Fellowships will only be awarded to individuals who have successfully completed their PhDs.
- Interest and Experience in Health-Environmental Change Research: Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest and relevant experience in conducting research on the links between health and environmental change.
- Scientific Quality and Impact of Research Project: The ability to conduct a research project of high scientific quality is crucial. The proposed project should also have the potential to make a clear impact on human health.
- Benefit to Disadvantaged Communities: The fellowship places emphasis on projects that have a clear route to benefit communities disproportionately affected by environmental change.
- Interdisciplinary Insights and Methodology: Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that have the potential to generate novel interdisciplinary insights or introduce innovative methodologies.
- Career Development Plan: Applicants should outline a clear plan for how the Fellowship will contribute to their career development.
- Long-Term Impact: The project’s potential to deliver a positive impact beyond the Fellowship’s duration is considered.
- The applicants must be a national from sub-Saharan Africa.
Summary
- Applicant’s Nationality: Sub-saharan Countries
- Degree Level: PhD
- Field: Health
- Number of Awards: NA
- Awards: Fully-funded
- Renewable: Yes
- Offered Annually: Yes
- Country: Gambia
Application Process
The application will consist of two stages:
Stage 1:
- Submit a CV (max 3 pages) with key outputs and publications.
- Provide a personal statement (max 1 page) stating career goals and reasons for applying.
- Include a 1-page outline of the proposed research project.
Stage 2:
- Shortlisted applicants must specify their preferred study location.
- Provide a list of two preferred faculty members to work with.
- Submit two letters of recommendation (preferably from academic supervisors).
- Update the outline proposal from Stage 1.
Application Deadline
The deadline to complete and submit the application is until June 15, 2023.
