Aurum Institute Scholarships

Call for Applications for Pre‐ and Post-Doctoral Sc holarships in 2012
Southern African Fogarty Global Infectious Diseases Training Programme for MDR ‐TB

The University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Public Health Research Institute ‐ Southern African Global Infectious Diseases Training Programme for MDR‐TB is funded by the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, USA. The Programme is co‐directed by Prof Gilla Kaplan at PHRI‐UMDNJ and Prof Gavin Churchyard at The Aurum Institute.

The UMDNJ‐GID has been launched at a critical point with respect to the emerging epidemic of drug resistant tuberculosis in South Africa and elsewhere around the globe. Focused on expanding public health and TB epidemiology, basic science and diagnostics research capabilities in South Africa, the Programme aims to train health scientists and investigators currently involved in TB research and control in South Africa.

This Programme offers a unique, prestigious and challenging training opportunity to promising TB researchers and TB laboratory professionals at multiple stages in their careers. Only citizens of the Southern African Development Community are eligible for these scholarships.

Category 1: Traineeship in TB Research at PHRI in the USA (6 months)

This category of scholarship is tenable for 6 months. It is intended for post‐Doctoral fellows who want to initiate studies that require acquisition of a specific laboratory technique under the mentorship of an established TB researcher at the Public Health Research Institute‐UMDNJ, New Jersey.

Applicants must: • Have a professional medical, microbiology degree or PhD, MD or other relevant doctoral degree • Have demonstrable research experience in TB with a least one peer‐reviewed publication • Be committed to return to Southern Africa for a period at least equal to the training period in the USA.

Category 2: TB Basic Science Special Skills Training at PHRI in the USA (3 months)

This category of scholarship is tenable for 3 months. It is intended for Master’s or pre‐Doctoral students, post‐Doctoral fellows, or laboratory professionals who want to acquire a specific laboratory technique or basic science skill in TB that will assist in their ongoing work. Projects will be carried out under the mentorship of an established TB researcher at the Public Health Research Institute‐UMDNJ, New Jersey.

Applicants must have: • Or be registered for a Master’s or Doctoral degree, • Identified the laboratory skill/technique that needs to be acquired • At least 1 poster or conference presentation • A home institution mentor/supervisor support letter • Commitment to return to home institutions to implement skill/technique acquired.

Category 3: Traineeship at another institution in the USA (3‐6 months)

This category of scholarship includes both of the categories above and is tenable for 3‐6 months. It is intended for Master’s level, Doctoral and post‐Doctoral students who seek to acquire specific laboratory training under the mentorship of an established TB researcher at any US institution. The applicant is responsible for identifying the US institution at which he/she would like to train and for confirming all arrangements for training between their home and host institutions.

Applicants must have: • Or be registered for a Master’s or Doctoral degree, • Identified the laboratory skill/technique that needs to be acquired • Identified the laboratory in the USA at which he/she would like to train • At least 1 poster or conference presentation • A home institution mentor/supervisor support letter • Commitment to return to home institutions to implement skill/technique acquired.

Applications must be submitted on the prescribed application form with letters of support from the proposed mentor and host US institution at which training is sought, and from the local supervisor and home institution at which the applicant is currently based.

This scholarship covers return airfare in economy class from Southern Africa to the USA, US Visa application costs, travel insurance and a monthly stipend for the duration of the scholarship to cover living expenses whilst in the USA.

Applications for all 3 categories must be submitted electronically on the prescribed application form, together with supporting documents.

Further information and the prescribed application form is available on The Aurum Institute’s website at www.auruminstitute.org

Application closing date: 31 December 2011