MUST-IUC Partnership- Sub-Project Four: Improved sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, children and adolescents

Mbarara University of Science & Technology > University as Facilitator Community Based Sustainable Solutions to Demographic Challenges in South Western Uganda (UCOBS) > MUST-IUC Partnership- Call for PhD and MSc/MA Scholarship Applications 2022/2023 > MUST-IUC Partnership- Sub-Project Four: Improved sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, children and adolescents

The sub-project focuses on improving sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, children and adolescents. Specific of the sub-project objectives are; (i) to mainstream gender in reproductive health care promotion for MARPs to reduce GBV; (ii) to optimise sexual reproductive health care services and rights for adolescents and; (iii) to strengthen quality improvement initiatives to optimise care and prevent maternal, new born and child related complications.

PhD Project Theme: Near Miss Maternal Mortality (1 candidate)

PhD Focus and activities

The PhD focuses on severe maternal complications and near miss maternal mortality and aims to contribute to quality improvement in access to and utilization of basic and emergency Obstetric Care. The sub-project will use clinical and community-based (mixed-methods) research.

The PhD applicant’s Profile

  1. Aged between 20-40 years
  2. Hold at least a Masters Degree in Medicine.
  3. Have experience in basic and emergency obstetric care
  4. Highly motivated to undertake academic research in an international context and commit to quality research outputs;
  5. Hard-working and able to manage a project independently, taking initiatives and meeting deadlines and finish the PhD training within the stipulated time;
  6. Able to develop a detailed concept note (pre-proposal) and demonstrate his/her ability to finish it and produce a fully researchable and competitive proposal;
  7. Demonstrate creativity, uncovering hidden issues that will benefit the project, science and local livelihood in general;
  8. Frank and willing to respect agreements; believe in project confidentiality and proper data handling and processing;
  9. Demonstrate willingness to contribute to the administrative management of the project;
  10. Demonstrate academic leadership and willingness to supervise Masters students;
  11. Demonstrate good interpersonal skills to interact with other project partners and stakeholders;
  12. Willing to develop the research at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and continue to contribute to the teaching and research mission of MUST beyond the project’s lifetime

PhD Project Theme: Family Planning (1 candidate)

PhD Focus and activities

The sub-project focuses on family planning of adolescents and aims to contribute to improving adolescents’ access and utilization of family planning. The sub-project will use clinical and community-based (mixed-methods) research. The PhD project will be conducted under the guidance and supervision of professors from MUST and Flemish Partner Institutions.

The PhD applicant’s Profile

  1. Aged between 20-45 years
  2. Hold at least a Masters Degree of Nursing Sciences.
  3. Have experience in the field of family planning
  4. Highly motivated to undertake academic research in an international context and commit to quality research outputs;
  5. Hard-working and able to manage a project independently, taking initiatives and meeting deadlines and finish the PhD training within the stipulated time;
  6. Able to develop a detailed concept note (pre-proposal) and demonstrate his/her ability to finish it and produce a fully researchable and competitive proposal;
  7. Demonstrate creativity, uncovering hidden issues that will benefit the project, science and local livelihood in general;
  8. Frank and willing to respect agreements; believe in project confidentiality and proper data handling and processing;
  9. Demonstrate willingness to contribute to the administrative management of the project;
  10. Demonstrate academic leadership and willingness to supervise Masters students;
  11. Demonstrate good interpersonal skills to interact with other project partners and stakeholders;
  12. Willing to develop the research at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and continue to contribute to the teaching and research mission of MUST beyond the project’s lifetime

PhD Sub-Project Theme: Mainstreaming Gender in the Implementation of Community Based Sustainable Solutions to Demographic Challenges in South Western Uganda (1 candidate)

PhD Focus and activities

This sub-project theme focuses on gender inequality and inequity and aims to contribute to mainstreaming gender in the overall UCoBS project by focusing on 3 fixes: fixing the numbers, fixing the institution and fixing the produced knowledge. The sub-project will involve gender analyses and use participatory mixed-methods research methodologies.

The PhD applicant’s Profile

We welcome applicants who are:

  1. Aged between 20-40 years
  2. Hold at least a Masters Degree in Gender Studies, Development studies, Anthropology, Sociology or any other related field of study.
  3. Have experience in the field of gender studies
  4. Highly motivated to undertake academic research in an international context and commit to quality research outputs;
  5. Hard-working and able to manage a project independently, taking initiatives and meeting deadlines and finish the PhD training within the stipulated time;
  6. Able to develop a detailed concept note (pre-proposal) and demonstrate his/her ability to finish it and produce a fully researchable and competitive proposal;
  7. Demonstrate creativity, uncovering hidden issues that will benefit the project, science and local livelihood in general;
  8. Frank and willing to respect agreements; believe in project confidentiality and proper data handling and processing;
  9. Demonstrate willingness to contribute to the administrative management of the project;
  10. Demonstrate academic leadership and willingness to supervise Masters students;
  11. Demonstrate good interpersonal skills to interact with other project partners and stakeholders;
  12. Willing to develop the research at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and continue to contribute to the teaching and research mission of MUST beyond the project’s lifetime

Application Procedure

The application should include:

  1. A concept note of no more than 5 pages. The Concept note must include a title for the proposed study, brief background highlighting key literature, research problem, main research question(s)/objectives, methodology and list of key references.
  2. A CV (2 pages)
  3. Certified copies of academic degrees’ documents and transcript of records.
  4. A statement of motivation – why you think you are the best candidate for the PhD position (1 page).
  5. A letter of recommendation from the current employer/immediate supervisor (1 page) – if applicable.
  6. A letter from an academic referee supporting your application (1 page).
  7. A digital copy of your master thesis

Submission Procedure

The applications should be addressed and submitted to Dr. Joseph Ngonzi, Email(jngonzi@must.ac.ug) Tel (+256 703 81 83 36) and Annah Amwikirize (aamwikirize@must.ac.ug). Hard copies should be submitted at MUST-IUC UCoBS Programme Support Unit offices at MUST Town Campus. For more information, contact Ms Annah Amwikirize,(aamwikirize@must.ac.ug; Tel +256775888001

Interviews

The selection process will involve two stages – a pre-selection phase between 15th- 30th August 2022. Pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an interview between 1st and 15th September, 2022. The successful candidate should be ready to start on his/her /PhD/MSc/MA studies by October 2022.  All applications should be submitted by 15th August, 2022, 5:00 pm