The Makerere University-Behavioral and Social Science Research (Mak-BSSR) in HIV Training Program, in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), invites applications for Post-doctoral and PhD-level training opportunities in Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (BSSR) with a focus on HIV. This is a five-year research training program focused on the HIV cascade, funded by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Research priority areas for the training opportunities are; 1) Intersectional stigma, 2) Alcohol/substance use; 3) Mental health (psychosocial health), 4) Limited social support, social isolation and loneliness and impact on HIV outcomes, and 5) Ageism and HIV
Who Should Apply
The program is designed to benefit trainees across disciplinary backgrounds. For those with behavioral and social science training, it offers an opportunity to advance and specialize their research careers in health. For trainees with biomedical or public health backgrounds, it provides foundational training in behavioral and social science theories, frameworks, and methodologies to facilitate effective interdisciplinary collaboration in HIV research.
What You Will Learn
Through this program, trainees will develop core competencies in behavioral and social science research and learn how to apply these approaches rigorously to HIV-related research and practice. The curriculum emphasizes how behavioral and social sciences interface with epidemiology, public health, and medicine to address complex HIV challenges and broader public health problems.
1. Postdoctoral training Eligibility (2 years)
Nationality and Enrollment
- Must be a Ugandan national
- Must have been awarded or defended their PhD thesis in a relevant field within the last five (5) years prior to the application.
Institutional Affiliation
- Must be either a junior faculty at Makerere University or an alumnus from the previous cycle of the BSSR training program or a recent PhD graduate from Makerere University or collaborating institutions or currently working in a relevant program at the Ministry of Health.
Research Experience and Commitment
- Demonstrate a strong interest in BSSR and potential to develop into independent scientists.
- Have prior experience in conducting Behavioral and Social Science research or program-related activities.
- Submit strictly a 2-page concept with clear objectives addressing an integrative and supportive BSSR problem in HIV in the above-listed research priority areas. (Applicants with approved concepts or proposals will have added advantage).
- Provide a 2-page career development plan highlighting short-term and long-term goals.
Fellowship Benefits
- Research support including fieldwork costs
- Mentorship from local and international leading scientists
- Training in scientific writing, grantsmanship and responsible conduct of research
- Funding support to present research at local and international conferences
- A monthly stipend
2. PhD Eligibility (4 years)
Nationality and Enrollment
- Must be a Ugandan ready to enroll and pursue a 4-year, full-time PhD Program in Health Sciences or a behavioral and social sciences related discipline at Makerere University.
Hold a masters’ degree in a health or behavioral and social sciences-related discipline.
Institutional Affiliation
Must be junior faculty members at either Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) or Mak-College of Humanities and Social Sciences (Mak CHUSS) or Busitema University.
Please note that applicants employed primarily by HIV programs or projects, rather than as faculty of the eligible institutions listed above, are NOT eligible.
Research Experience and Commitment
- Demonstrate interest in BSSR and potential to grow into an independent researcher.
- Submit strictly a 2-page concept with clear objectives addressing an integrative and supportive BSSR problem in HIV in the above-listed research priority areas. (Applicants with approved concepts or proposals will have added advantage).
- Show commitment to developing and maintaining a productive career to BSSR in HIV.
- Potential to handle rigorous academic requirements of the PhD program.
- Provide a 2-page career development plan highlighting short-term and long-term goals.
Benefits
- Tuition fees
- Research support including fieldwork costs
- A monthly stipend
- Funding support to present research at local and international conferences
- Mentorship from local and international leading scientists
- Training in scientific writing, grantsmanship and responsible conduct of research
Application Process
Interested applicants must address their applications to: The Training Coordinator, Mak-BSSR Project and submit the following documents as a single PDF file (maximum 6 MB) to makbssr@gmail.com
Required Documents:
- Cover letter (maximum 1 page) expressing interest in the program
- Copies of academic certificates and transcripts
- Curriculum vitae (maximum 5 pages)
- Career development plan (maximum 2 pages)
- Concept note (maximum 2 pages) focusing on BSSR in HIV aligned with any of the listed research priority areas
Important Notes:
- PhD Cohort in-takes at Makerere University are in January and August each year.
- Recommendation letters are NOT required at this stage.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted