The Training Committee is pleased to advertise the opening of three exciting training opportunities for which we will accept applications between 1st March 2024 and 15 April 2024 – see below for details of each opportunity.
1) 12-month post-doctoral research associate (PDRA) bridging fellowships
We are looking to recruit 2 post-doctoral candidates who will work in MLW/KUHeS-relevant research areas and who are within 2 years after receiving their PhD degree award. Specifically, we are looking for candidates who show potential to develop into independent researchers over time and who, with senior support and mentorship, will be able to develop competitive international post-doctoral PDR fellowship applications within the period of these bridging fellowships. We aim to support talent with exciting research and mentorship opportunities at MLW/KUHeS, and where applicable with co-supervision from senior academics from other national or international institutes. The Wellcome Trust funds the MLW Training Fund (2023-2025) and aims to support Malawian-based candidates.
We will award one-year fellowships that will cover the salary of the candidate plus £10,000 in research funding for eligible research costs. Applications will be reviewed by an academic review. Successful candidates will need to show how the PDRA fellowships will help them develop their own research agenda and secure a longer-term early career researcher award that aligns with the MLW research agenda.
Application process
Applications must include the following:
- An application letter detailing your suitability for the fellowship, motivation, and career ambition as well as the research group you would like to work with and how the fellowship project and research group align with your career vision.
- A letter of support from a potential supervisor (based in the research group of your choice) with a proven research track record in the applicant’s chosen research thematic area.
- A detailed CV, including information on academic performance and achievements to date, including any awards and personal distinctions, research grants and/or fellowship funding received, and any relevant outputs, including publications and presentations.
- Photocopied certificates and transcripts
- A 2-page outline fellowship plan with a budget for up to £10,000 in research costs, outlining any other existing funding sources that may contribute to the fellowship.
Assessment process
Fellowship applications will be assessed on the following: academic performance and potential of the candidate, quality of the proposed research, supervisory team and training environment, alignment of the research to MLW-KUHeS research areas and proposed career track, and planned next career steps, application presentation, and interview performance. Applications will need to show how the fellowship will help the candidate to transition to independent research funding.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a panel of senior scientists for the final selection of successful candidates. Further guidance on the application requirements can be downloaded from the MLW website (careers & training section). Information on research groups/themes is found on the above website.
2) 12-month pre-Master & pre-PhD research internships
We are looking to award pre-MSC/MA and pre-PhD research interns at MLW, for up to 12 months. While the exact numbers funded depend on the quality of the application and the total budget requested, we expect to fund 4-to 5 internships.
Funding
We are offering the following:
- Pre-Master Internships for bachelor’s degree holders.
- Pre-PhD internships for master’s degree holders.
Successful candidates demonstrate their potential to develop into independent researchers over time and, with senior support and mentorship, to develop competitive international MSc and PhD training fellowship applications within the period of their internship.
Awarded budgets will range from £14,000- £17,000 for pre-Master interns and £18,000 – £23,000 for pre- PhD interns per person. These funds include a monthly taxable stipend plus eligible research costs, such as research consumables or relevant personal development activities, including short courses and travel. Non-allowable costs include tuition fees, pension, life insurance, supervisor allowance/honoraria, and indirect costs.
Please note that projects with ethics approval already in place or evidence of an expedited ethics approval process will be seen favourably.
Application process
Applications must include the following:
- An application letter detailing your suitability for the internship, motivation, and career This letter should also identify the research group you would like to work with and why.
- A letter of support from your proposed internship supervisor with a proven research track record in the applicant’s chosen research thematic The supervisor has to be part of either an MLW or KUHeS research group.
- A detailed CV, including information on academic performance and achievements to date, including any awards and personal distinctions, research grants and fellowship funding received, and any relevant outputs, including publications & and presentations.
- A 300-word research concept, outlining the objectives of the research project you plan to work on during the internship. No budget is needed at this stage.
- A 200-word internship plan, detailing, for example, what skills you plan to develop during the internship, what output(s) you hope to generate, and which MSc or PhD programmes and scholarships you plan to target.
- Photocopied certificates and
Assessment process
Internship applications will be assessed on the following: academic performance and potential of the candidate, quality of the proposed research, supervisory team and training environment, alignment of the research to MLW-KUHeS research areas and proposed career track and planned next training level, application presentation, and interview performance. Applications will need to show how the scholarship will help the candidate develop a competitive MSc or PhD degree training application.
Before being interviewed by a panel of senior scientists for the final selection of successful candidates, shortlisted candidates will be given 4 weeks to:
- Develop their internship proposal and submit a 2-page (1,000 words) research concept and internship plan, under the supervision of the proposed supervisors, including a budget.
- Obtain and submit a laboratory approval letter from the MLW / KUHeS laboratory manager, if the project will be lab-based. Please only request this from the laboratory manager once you are shortlisted.
Further information
A no-cost extension of up to three months maximum may be granted in exceptional circumstances by the Training and Development Committee on a case-by-case basis. The minimum application period for a no-cost extension is two months before the contract ends.
3) PhD tuition fees funding
We will provide PhD tuition funding to support upcoming candidates who have secured their PhD stipend and project funding but who are unable to fund their tuition fees through existing project funding.
Application process
Applications must include the following:
- An application letter detailing your suitability for the tuition fee funding, motivation, and career This letter should also identify the research group you are working under.
- A letter of support from your primary PhD supervisor. The supervisor has to be part of either an MLW or KUHeS research group.
- A detailed CV, including information on academic performance and achievements to date, including any awards and personal distinctions, research grants and fellowship funding received, and any relevant outputs, including publications & and presentations.
- PhD offer letter or proof of PhD registration (for the PhD degree programme that tuition funding is sought for).
- Proof of stipend and research cost support for the duration of the PhD Applications where project and/or stipend funding is not secure will not be entertained.
- Photocopied certificates and
Assessment process
PhD tuition fee funding applications will be assessed on the following: academic track record, research experience, the potential of the candidate, quality of the proposed PhD research, supervisory team and training environment, alignment of the research to MLW-KUHeS research areas, application presentation, interview performance and the likelihood of completing the PhD studies.
Important Information
An information session will be held at MLW in Nyika room on 14th March from 09:00 – 11:00 am and on 29th March from 12:00 – 13:00
Email training@ml.mw to indicate which session you will attend and to reserve your seat.
Applications must be sent to training@mlw.mw. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
All documents should be saved using file names starting with the following pattern:
“Surname_GivenNames_PrePhD/PreMasters/PhDTuition_Application.”
Information on research groups/themes can be found at https://www.mlw.mw and https://www.kuhes.ac.mw/. For any other questions and clarifications, please contact the MLW Training & Development team at training@mlw.mw