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Call for Pre-PhD Internship Applications – StreMM Project
- Blantyre
- Contract (Full-Time)
- Closing Date: 21/04/2025
Job Description
Strengthening Mathematical and Economic Modeling for Malaria Control in Malawi (StreMM Project)
The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) is dedicated to advancing research and training led by both Malawian and international scientists. Our mission is to enhance health outcomes for people in Malawi and the surrounding region.
MLW has a distinctive translational research portfolio that connects outstanding laboratory science with robust hospital and community-based research, along with direct involvement in policy development. Our research strategy focuses on six key thematic areas:
- Infection Biology
- Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine
- Vaccines
- Population Health
- Social Science
Researchers are organized into 22 active groups. To learn more, visit: https://www.mlw.mw .Malawi has committed to eliminating malaria by 2030. However, this goal is threatened by two major challenges:
- The growing threat of antimalarial drug resistance, particularly to artemisinin, which is central to current treatment strategies.
- A changing and heterogeneous malaria epidemiology, influenced by climate change, intervention uptake, and parasite-vector dynamics.
Available Internship Positions
To address these issues, there is an urgent need for locally led, policy-relevant modeling that can support evidence-based decision-making. Although the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) recognizes the value of modeling, local capacity remains limited. The StreMM Project (Strengthening Mathematical and Economic Modeling for Malaria Control in Malawi) aims to close this gap by developing two interlinked work packages, each led by a Pre-PhD intern under the mentorship of MLW researchers and international collaborators, under the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group. The StreMM project is inviting applications from highly motivated early-career researchers to fill the following Pre-PhD internship roles:
Responsibilities
1. Pre-PhD Internship in Mathematical Modeling (Malaria focus)
This intern will lead work focusing on:
- Simulating malaria treatment strategies, including multiple first-line therapies
- Evaluating combinations of malaria control interventions under shifting epidemiological patterns
The Ideal Candidate Profile:
- MSc in Mathematics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Computational Science, or a related field
- Interest or experience in infectious disease modeling, especially malaria
- Familiarity with modeling platforms (e.g., R,) is an added advantage
- High interest in transitioning to a PhD
2. Pre-PhD Internship in Health Economics (Lead for WP2)
This intern will lead work focusing on:
- Economic evaluation of malaria control strategies (e.g., IRS, ITNs, chemoprevention, vaccination)
- Estimating the cost-effectiveness of intervention mixes
- Modeling the economic burden of malaria
Requirements
The Ideal Candidate Profile:
- MSc in Mathematics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Computational Science, or a related field
- Interest or experience in infectious disease modeling, especially malaria
- Familiarity with modeling platforms (e.g., R,) is an added advantage
- High interest in transitioning to a PhD
2. Pre-PhD Internship in Health Economics (Lead for WP2)
This intern will lead work focusing on:
- Economic evaluation of malaria control strategies (e.g., IRS, ITNs, chemoprevention, vaccination)
- Estimating the cost-effectiveness of intervention mixes
- Modeling the economic burden of malaria
The Ideal Candidate Profile:
- MSc in Health Economics, Public Health, Economics, or a related field
- Interest or experience in cost-effectiveness modeling and/or economic evaluations
- Knowledge of ICERs, DALYs, or decision-analytic frameworks is a plus
- High interest in transitioning to a PhD
What We Offer
- A 12-month funded internship including a stipend and research support (aligned with the MLW Pre-PhD Internship package)
- Mentorship from MLW and international experts
- Direct engagement with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP)
- Opportunities to contribute to policy-relevant research and build toward a competitive PhD application
- Support for publishing and attending short courses or trainings
- Support to apply for competitive PhD funding
Application Process
Submit the following documents to training@mlw.mw with the subject line:
“StreMM Pre-PhD Application – [Your Name]”
- Application letter detailing your suitability, motivation, and career ambitions
- Updated CV that includes academic achievements and research outputs
- Certified copies of academic certificates
For more information, please contact: training@mlw.mw
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
The deadline for application is 21st April 2025