Students pursuing master’s programmes and attached to Uganda Virus Research Institute are invited to apply for a supplementary grant to enable them to successfully complete a high quality thesis and then to report the results of their research project in a peer-reviewed journal. ONLY research projects focusing on an aspect of infectious diseases/neglected tropical diseases (IDs/NTDs), maternal, neonatal and reproductive health (MN/RH) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will be considered (including, but not limited to, basic and clinical science, epidemiology or social science).
There will be one award of £2,000 to be used in the following way:
- £1500 will be available to the student to support the direct costs of the research study, which could include costs relating to field study, employment of research assistants, purchase of materials, equipment or reagents for the study, as well as for travel or accommodation.
- £500 will be paid to the student when the paper is accepted for peer-review in a journal for publication.
Selected fellows will be required to obtain relevant ethical approvals from recognized Institutional Ethical Committees before release of funds.
Eligibility criteria
Any Masters level student attached to Uganda Virus Research Institute who will be completing a research project in the academic year of 2017/18 as part of a health science Masters’ degree, and submitting the dissertation in 2017 or 2018. Applicants can be in any year of their Master’s course. Master students who already have funding for their research should not apply.
Students are eligible for this grant if they:
- Are registered at Masters level (MPH, MMed, MSc) in the year 2017/2018.
- Will complete their masters research in the academic year 2017/2018 and submit the research dissertation in the calendar year of 2018.
- Are in their final year (second or third year) with a CGPA of 3.5 and above
Application requirements
Applications must be made on line through the THRiVE web site (UVRI Masters Fellowships) and must include the following:
- A 300 word outline of the proposed research with the following 4 subheadings: Background, Objectives, Research Methods, and Potential scientific importance. This should follow the style of an abstract of a research proposal.
- A 200 word personal statement outlining how this thesis will contribute to your scientific career.
- A brief budget (up to the allowable limit) should be included, using the headings ‘stationery and photocopying, travel, accommodation, field assistant, consumables, and other’.
- A curriculum Vitae
All applicants will be informed in writing of the results of their application not more than 60 days after the closing date.
Review and selection of applications
Applications will be reviewed by an expert panel with recommendations submitted to the THRiVE-2 Steering Committee.
Applications must be submitted on-line through the consortium website: (UVRI Masters Fellowships) Closing date for the receipt of applications is 17th February 2017.
Further particulars can be obtained from the Secretariat of the THRiVE consortium at Makerere University (info@thrive.or.ug, +256 414 530021).
Timelines
- Submission of applications: On-line by 17th February 2017
- Successful applicants notified: 1st March 2017
Conditions of payment and completion of the grant;
Component 1 of the grant (research support costs) will be paid to all successful applicants upon presentation of ethical approval letters to the Secretariat.
Components 2 of the grant (financial incentive for the student) will only be paid if the paper is submitted to a journal within 12 months of completion of the research, and is accepted for peer review and publication in a peer reviewed journal.
Component 3 of the grant (financial support for paper publication) will only be paid when the peer-reviewed paper has been accepted for publication.