An International network of DSS sites involved in demographic and health research in developing countries      

                                                   

 

INDEPTH - DSS UNIVERSITIES: SHORT TERM FELLOWSHIPS

 

 

 

 

Announcement and Call for Applications

Short-term Fellowships Programme

 

Matching analytic opportunities among DSS sites with university population science training programmes in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa

DSS sites generate high quality, longitudinal, population-based, health and demographic data, and thus constitute a reliable  alternative data source to supplement  existing data which are either incomplete or nonexistent in the developing world. The sites comprise multidisciplinary teams including epidemiologists, biostatisticians, demographers, social scientists who collect, clean, maintain, and analyse empirical information that can impact health policy and practice. On the other hand, many of the population programmes in the universities in the countries where the DSS sites are located offer courses both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level that are of direct relevance to DSS sites researchers and the universities themselves. 

 

Students and faculty at universities  collect primary data for their theses and research work, some within the DSS sites. Among the constraints facing some of the Universities are inadequate resources for data collection, inability to provide adequate field experience for students , lack of networking among the training institutions, and low completion rates within the stipulated time for graduate work.  Similarly, students at some universities would likely benefit from an opportunity to take courses on subjects such as longitudinal data analysis from experts who will be bringing real-life experiences from the field.  University faculty will also gain access to the rich and growing body of data in the field site.

 

An effective collaboration between DSS sites and university population programmes will yield several benefits to both groups. These include:

 

  1. Existence of broad and in-depth research experience housed at both the DSS sites and the Universities that could boost research training and research in the various countries;

  2. Opportunities for training and capacity building of staff at both the DSS sites and the universities;

  3. Increase in scientific production capacity in terms of publications and dissemination of research data, as well as collaborative authorship and joint grant applications;

  4. Availability of DSS data will present new opportunities for analytical training in longitudinal methods while the DSS data will be better utilised;

  5. DSS sites offer opportunities for practical training and research for graduate students in population programmes;

  6. Opportunities for professional development of DSS researchers, while at the same time, allow experienced researchers in the DSS sites to contribute to the scientific training of scholars at the universities.

 

With funding from the Hewlett Foundation, the INDEPTH Network has launched a short-term fellowships programme which will link analytic opportunities among the DSS sites with population science training programmes at selected universities in Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya.

 

 

The programme will involve:

  • Short-term training workshops that could be jointly organised by the DSS sites and the universities for  the analysis of specific data;

  • Short-term attachment of DSS researchers to University based faculty members who will  guide the analysis of specific data;

  • Short-term residency opportunities for students/faculty attachment to specific sites to help provide analytic skills for analysis of specific data; and

  • Short-term attachments for experienced researchers from the DSS sites with specialised skills in data analysis and scientific writing  at universities to impart such skills both to students and junior scholars. 

 

The INDEPTH Network will:

  • Assist participating institutions and DSS sites identify and establish country-specific areas of collaboration; and

  • Co-ordinate all collaborative activities within the envisaged partnership.   

 

The new INDEPTH programme aims to:

1.      Promote networking among senior staff, researchers and students in in-country partner institutions;

2.      Enable the teaching programme of the training institutions to produce more skilled graduates;

3.      Explore the huge longitudinal data in the associated DSS; and

4.      Contribute to the realisation of the potential of DSS sites.

 

Application process

 

First Step

 

DSS sites and the university population programmes in the same countries are expected to initiate contacts between/among them to:

 

  • Identify their areas of need;

  • Define the  facilities and skills both institutions can offer; and

  • Determine whether a scholar should go to a DSS site or a researcher at a DSS site should go to the population programme.

 

Second Step

 

The Secretariat will require:

 

i.                     From Scholars from University Population Programmes

a)      A full CV of the researcher with research area and objectives;

b)      A description of the population programme;

c)      Specific objectives and expected outcomes after a short-term attachment at a DSS site; and

d)      Preferred site and length of time.

 

ii.                   From Researchers at DSS sites

a)      A full CV of the researcher with research area and objectives;

b)      A description of the DSS sites;

c)      Specific objectives and expected outcomes after a short-term attachment at a DSS site; and

d)      Preferred site and length of time.

 

iii.                  From DSS Sites

a)      A description of the DSS sites and its research activities;

b)      A description of the problem for which assistance is sought;

c)      Time frame for which a scholar can be hosted;

d)      Available physical and human resource to support scholars; and

e)      The required analysis skills and the available data.

 

Please note that the overarching condition for the new INDEPTH grants is that they will be based on defined research questions to be addressed by the university scholars and DSS sites. The process for getting the answers and the answers themselves should contribute to achieving one or more of the objectives of the new programme.

 

Applications can be received throughout the year.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Dr. Ayaga Bawah

Senior Research Associate

INDEPTH Network

Accra, Ghana

Email : bawah.ayaga@indepth-network.org

Tel.: +233 21 519394