Call for PhD Scholarship Applications

Project details: https://doi.org/10.3030/101145734

BRIDGE NETWORK is a consortium of 12 leading African and European institutions aiming to train the next generation of experts in integrated health informatics and data sciences applied to infectious diseases domain. Jointly funded by the European Union and the Global Health EDCTP3, the program is coordinated by Ghent University and aims to establish five Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Benin, and South Africa. These CoEs will serve as data hubs for cutting-edge research, world-class training in health data harmonization and analytics, and innovative solutions to tackle infectious diseases that continue to claim millions of lives across the African continent.

The BRIDGE NETWORK Training Program will provide:

·       Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships training to 14 experts who will lead innovative research in data sciences bridged to health informatics and applied to infectious diseases.

·       Postgraduate Certifications awarding at least 20 certifications per participating country through a mix of online learning and practical field mentorship, and world-class collaboration by partnering with renowned worldwide institutions.

(Major: Infectious Diseases)

1.      Must never have been enrolled in another PhD program at the date of their recruitment

2.      Should be a resident of Kenya at the time of Application.

3.      Should commit to stay and work in Kenya during the project period, however training rotations or internships are allowed in BRIDGE NETWORK Countries.

4.      Must have a master’s degree in data sciences, Information Technology, or Health Sciences.

5.      Must fulfill the requirements of admission in the PhD awarding university – University of Rwanda

6.      Be not older than 45 years.

–          First step:

o   Applicants must send applications to Agha Khan University Kenya – Center

for Child, Women and Reproductive Health (Contact: Prof Dr Marleen

Temmerman, MD, PhD -Director. E-mail: marleen.temmerman@aku.edu)

o   Documents to provide while applying for this first step:

·    Motivation letter to the BRIDGE NETWORK Coordinator, specifying

-The university chosen for PhD award -Please read the degree awarding university regulations and PhD admission requirements upfront (mandatory)

-The area of interest for your PhD research, ideally a high-level topic title (with 10 lines maximum concept idea) in the area of infectious disease where you leverage combined health informatics skills and data sciences techniques (asset).

·    Copies of academic degrees (from baccalaureate)

·    Certified copies of academic transcripts (from the baccalaureate). Please supply the official explanation of the grading system if used.

·    Three letters of recommendation (from at least Associate Professors) from the institutions attended by the applicant

·    Certified copy of the birth certificate

·    Curriculum vitae including when applicable, a list of scientific publications and justify any trajectory gap in CV if any.

Application Deadline for the First step: 27^th March 2026.

–          Second step:

o   BRIDGE NETWORK reserves the right of final pre-selection. Only the pre- selected candidate will be asked to register themselves to the chosen university (with supporting letter from BRIDGE NETWORK).

University Admission Application Deadline: 31^st March 2026.