KEMRI PhD Project 1 Jobs in Kenya

KEMRI PhD Project 1 Jobs in Kenya

Overview

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a member of the Digital Innovations and Diagnostics in Africa (DI-DIDA) Consortium (https://didida-health.eu). The consortium consists of leading partners from four sub-Saharan African countries (Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda), the European Union (France, Italy, The Netherlands), and the United Kingdom.

The consortium is funded by the European Union and United Kingdom Research and Innovation Council to conduct research aiming to develop user-friendly and low-cost diagnostic tools integrated on mobile phone platforms to improve healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa. The project combines health research, socio-economic studies and digital innovation.

To reach its objectives, the consortium will implement a combination of complementary
actions: joint research projects on infectious diseases comorbidities, human-livestock interactions, infectious diseases diagnostic technologies, digital health solutions and
socioeconomic factors of innovation adoption by African health systems.

DIDIDA also plans to work on digital health infrastructure and train a new generation of African experts to meet the health needs of the continent.

An exciting opportunity for two PhD students is available starting July/August 2023 at KEMRI (Kenya) in the following two research areas. Successful applicants will be registered
at the University of Glasgow (Glasgow, UK) and carry out their research at KEMRI/Centre for
Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya, with opportunities for scientific visits to partners
groups, including significant time at the University of Glasgow.

Location: Centre for Global Health Research, KEMRI, Kisumu

This PhD research project will concentrate on multiplex diagnostic technologies that can
identify DNA of important pathogens in wastewater as well as in domestic animals in Kisumu County, western Kenya. A sampling framework will be developed (spatial & temporal), that takes into account water movements, rainfall patterns, disease seasonality and other factors.

The Objectives of this Studentship:

Write a review paper on wastewater epidemiology in Africa (with an emphasis on
Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Tanzania and La Réunion).

Collect data in semi-real time of pathogens in wastewater in Kisumu County with an emphasis on typhoid and other bacterial pathogens of public health importance such as Klebsiella spp, Vibrio cholera, Shigella spp, Staphylococcus

spp, Schistosoma and Brucella, using established gold standard molecular assays.

Collect data in semi-real time of pathogens in domestic animals in Kisumu County.

Assess domestic animal and water data in context of simultaneous pathogen identification in humans through the Department of Health (DoH)/PharmAccess DIDIDA network of health facilities.

Integrate data into digital time/geo-dashboards to inform pertinent policy makers at DoH, Department of Agriculture (DoA) and water authorities to enable monitoring for potential disease outbreaks.

Field evaluation of (a) specific RDT(s) as developed by University of Glasgow with emphasis on wastewater and zoonotic diseases (such as Q-fever, brucellosis, leptospirosis, anthrax, rift valley fever, rabies, Ebola, avian influenza).

Contribute to the development of a surveillance system to monitor antimicrobial resistance in wastewater.

Computational analysis of the obtained sequence data throughout the project (comparative genomics, genome epidemiology).

Eligibility

• A master’s degree in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medical
Laboratory Sciences, Bioinformatics or a related field.

• Minimum two (2) years’ experience working in a research laboratory.

• Excellent working knowledge of molecular diagnostic tests used in patient management of
important childhood diseases and/or surveillance.

• Good communication, data analysis and scientific writing skills

• Good understanding of digital linkage of diagnostic tests and connected diagnostics.

• Willingness to commit 100% time and effort to the PhD.

• Willingness to stay in Kisumu and field sites for the duration of the PhD.

• Working knowledge of Kiswahili will be an added advantage.

• Previous work experience and publications in the PhD research topic will be an added advantage.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; KEMRI PhD Project 1 Jobs in Kenya

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