A Call for applications for the EDCTP SOFAR Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship programme

Job description

A Call for applications for the EDCTP SOFAR Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship programme based at Zambart, Zambia

Applications for 2 Senior Postdoctoral fellowships are hereby invited from outstanding and ambitious individuals to join a vibrant and internationally renowned research institute, funded by the European Union and the EDCPT as part of the Southern Africa Research Capacity Network (SOFAR) Fellowship programme. PhD holders who have two (2) or more years of experience post-PhD are welcome to apply.

The successful applicant will be awarded a highly attractive salary for 2 years and will receive a generous bursary to attend overseas conferences, travel to network meetings and to attend training programmes of their choice. Additionally, each Postdoctoral Fellow will be awarded €50,000 in project costs to build their own research programme at Zambart, with the view to becoming a fully independent researcher. Successful fellows are invited to apply for a permanent position at Zambart at the conclusion of their SOFAR fellowship.

SOFAR postdoctoral fellows will benefit from a strong network of Southern African researchers also completing their own SOFAR fellowships at our partner institutions, the Biomedical Research and Training Institute in Zimbabwe and Instituto Nacional de Saúde in Mozambique. Our European partners at the Ludwig-Maximillian University of Munich (LMU) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) also support the development, training and networking of our fellows.

Postdoctoral fellows will be supported to grow their own research profile with the mentorship of an academic supervisor at Zambart and an additional supervisor from either LMU or LSHTM dependent on their research interest. The fellows will also be encouraged to spend some time at LMU and/or LSHTM for networking and training and also encouraged to enrol in courses at other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to develop specific skills and expertise. Successful fellows will be expected to secure future grants by applying for competitive Postdoctoral fellowships or research project grants and support ongoing research studies under Zambart Research Directorate.

Eligibility Criteria

1.    A PhD degree in clinical epidemiology preferably focused on TB/HIV.

2.    Experience in conducting TB/HIV related public health research.

3.    Track record of writing successful grants

4.    Demonstrable experience publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals

5.    Experience in quantitative research methods

6.    Experience conducting research on and with community groups

Application Process

Interested candidates must submit the following:

1.    Completed application form  found on the URL

2.    Full curriculum vitae (CV) (including a list of academic outputs to date).

3.    Letter of Motivation (maximum 1 page)

4.    Signed letters of recommendation from three academic references. (Maximum 1 page per letter)

5.    Full transcripts of academic record.

6.    Copy of degree certificates.

Closing Date for Applications: May 20, 2025.

Please send your applications together with the required documentation to: jobs@zambart.org.zm

Selection of Candidates

The application form is designed to assess the following 1) your career history to date, 2) your achievements in research to date, 3) your work experience in Zambia or countries in other Southern African countries, 4) how the opportunity will support your academic career development.

Applicants will be shortlisted by a multidisciplinary panel comprising senior research staff at Zambart, and a committee with membership drawn from HEIs and African Partner Research Institutions (APRIs) and other health professionals from research organizations in Zambia. All applicants who meet the application criteria will receive feedback, and those shortlisted will be invited for an interview by the same panel that conducted the shortlisting.

The fellowship will cover fees, travel, stipends and other research related costs for the 2-year duration of the fellowship.