2016 Wellcome Trust Master’s Fellowships in Public Health & Tropical Medicine for low- and middle-income country students, United Kingdom

• Preliminary application deadline: 12 November 2015 (5pm)
• Full application deadline: 3 February 2016 (5pm)
• Shortlisted candidate interviews: 22-24 June 2016

This scheme provides researchers from low- and middle-income countries – who are at an early stage in the establishment of their research careers – with opportunities for research experience and high-quality research training in public health and tropical medicine.

Research should be aimed at understanding and improving public health and tropical medicine of local, national and global relevance. Public health and tropical medicine cover a wide range of health problems, including communicable and non-communicable diseases. Topics include:

• demographic, social science and health economic studies
• epidemiological, field and community based studies
• health care systems and policy research
• measurement of infectious and chronic disease burden
• population studies
• clinical trials and case control studies
• studies of disease mechanisms in the natural host
• determinants of disease susceptibility and resistance
• immunity or resistance in natural hosts or vectors.

This can include laboratory-based molecular analysis of field or clinical samples, but projects focused solely on studies in vitro or using animal models will not normally be considered under this scheme.

Eligibility Requirements:

You must be a national of a low- and middle-income country and should be either:

• a graduate in a subject relevant to public health or tropical medicine (e.g. biomedical or social science, veterinary medicine, physics, chemistry or mathematics) with a PhD and no more than three years’ postdoctoral experience, or
• a medical graduate with a higher qualification equivalent to membership of the UK Royal Colleges of Physicians (i.e. qualified to enter higher specialist training) and some initial research experience.

Applicants may also apply if they do not have a PhD, but have a clinical, basic or Master’s degree and some initial research experience, with the expectation that they will register for a PhD.

Fellowship Worth:

This fellowship is normally for three years (non-renewable), but may be for up to four years for those who wish to undertake a relevant Master’s training or diploma course.

It provides support that includes:

• a basic salary for the fellow
• research expenses (e.g. consumables, equipment, collaborative travel, research assistance, technical support, fieldwork and data collection)
• course fees where appropriate and justified
• research management and support costs
• inflation and Flexible Funding Allowance
• support to attend scientific meetings
• provision for public engagement costs.

The salary should normally be based on the pay scales of the employing institution and must be justified by the head of the institution. The salary level should be appropriate for the holder of a competitive grant and allow you to focus full-time on research.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016 Wellcome Trust Master’s Fellowships in Public Health & Tropical Medicine for low- and middle-income