General Summary
Job Description 1: Postdoctoral Fellow in Epidemic Intelligence (Professor Sewankambo Global Health Security Training Program in Africa)
- Position Title: Postdoctoral Fellow – Epidemic Intelligence
- Department: Global Health Security
- Project: Professor Sewankambo Global Health Security Training Program in Africa
- Reports To: Program Area Lead, Epidemic Intelligence, Surveillance & Com. Health
- Duration: One year, renewable
- Location: IDI-McKinnell Knowledge Centre, Makerere University Main Campus
- Application Deadline: Three weeks after the Advert date
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated and recently graduated Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in epidemics intelligence to join our global health security program. The successful candidate will apply advanced scientific approaches to address critical challenges in emerging infectious disease outbreaks, neglected tropical diseases, vaccinology, and/or virology. This role combines cutting-edge science, innovation with practical contributions to program delivery, business development, and scientific documentation in the global health domain.
Key Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
- Business Development: Contribute to the development of high-quality business and funding proposals, including concept notes, grant applications, and partnership pitches targeting donors, governments, and international organizations.
- Scientific Documentation: Support the preparation of scientific manuscripts, technical reports, policy briefs, protocols, and other documentation for internal and external stakeholders. The postdoc shall also support the presentation of findings at conferences, workshops, and partners.
- Program Delivery: Actively participate in the implementation of ongoing and new Global Health Security initiatives, including data analysis, modeling, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building activities.
- Science & Innovation: Conduct independent and collaborative research using computational simulations, or data-driven methods focused on AMR, outbreak dynamics, virological and vaccinology systems.
- Collaborations: Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (including clinicians, epidemiologists, and policymakers) to translate computational insights into actionable public health strategies.
Academic Qualifications
- PhD in Outbreaks Modelling, Epidemics Science, Pandemics Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, Nanotechnology, Applied Mathematics, Computational Statistics, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, or a closely related quantitative discipline, completed within the last 2 years (or soon to be completed).
- Candidates who have submitted or will submit PhD thesis within six months are elligible
Person Specification
Qualifications and Requirements
- Education: PhD in Outbreaks Modelling, Epidemics Science, Pandemics Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics, Nanotechnology, Applied Mathematics, Computational Statistics, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, or a closely related quantitative discipline, completed within the last 2 years (or soon to be completed). Candidates who have submitted and are awaiting thesis defense are eligible.
- Technical Expertise: Strong background in predictive sciences, analytics, disease transmission and patterns, early warning forecasts and health informatics. Experience applying these to antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease outbreaks or pandemics, virology or vaccinology is highly desirable.
- Experience: Demonstrated research productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications or conference presentations). Fresh PhD graduates or near-graduates are encouraged to apply.
- Skills: Proficiency in relevant programming languages (Python, R, etc.), machine learning frameworks, and data analysis tools. Excellent scientific writing and communication skills. Ability to work in multidisciplinary, international teams.
- Personal Attributes: Self-motivated, detail-oriented, with a passion for global health impact and strong organizational skills.
