1. Healthcare

 Call for Applications for PhD Fellowship
INTRODUCTION
The Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in collaboration with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
(KCMUCo) is inviting applications for three PhD fellowship in a Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Prevention in
Tanzania (CONCEPT) project. The project is a collaborative effort involving ORCI, KCMUCo and the University
of Southern Denmark (SDU). The project is funded by Danida through CONCEPT Project. Two of the selected
candidates will be enrolled at KCMUCo and one at Department of Clinical Oncology, MUHAS based at ORCI, and
part of their training during their PhD course will be conducted in Denmark.
The PhD Project: Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Prevention in Tanzania (CONCEPT)
In Tanzania, cervical cancer is the commonest type of cancer in women, and that with the highest mortality rate.
Annually, approximately 7300 new cases are diagnosed and about 4200 women die from cervical cancer. Thus
cervical cancer is a public health problem that has enormous social and economic population impact as it often
affects women at reproductive age.
The natural history of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Sub-Saharan Africa is not yet fully understood. As persistent
HPV infection is a necessary factor in development of cervical cancer – a major health problem in Sub- Saharan
Africa – information about how HIV together with other risk factors interacts with HPV acquisition and HPV
persistence/clearance is warranted. Additionally, concern prevails about the quality of cervical cancer preventive
strategies in Sub- Saharan Africa. Against this background the project aims to provide a better understanding of the
natural history of HPV with a view to HIV status, to measure the impact of a novel and simple screening method
based on Care HPV testing and to assess how continuity of care among women who are tested HPV positive can be
improved. The study will be linked up with the existing cervical cancer screening program at Ocean Road Cancer
Institute (ORCI) and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC); and will include 4000 women who are
attending screening services or HIV care and treatment clinics.
PhD Supervision
Senior faculty and researchers from ORCI, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) and SDU
will be involved in the supervision of PhD students. The selected PhD students will be offered four-year scholarship,
spending three month each year on course work in Denmark. Evaluation of the progress of PhD activities will be
done according to regulations of ORCI and KCMC.
Requirements
A successful candidate must have:
• MMED degree, MSc, or MPH with a minimum pass of
• Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and proven experience in scientific exploration in the areas related
to women health and cervical cancer.
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A strong ambition to accomplish the research goals and to pursue a scientific career path
Willingness to work in a team
Strong command of English in speaking and writing
Willingness to conduct extensive field research in Tanzania and ability to spend 3 months each year in
Denmark.
Full time availability during the PhD period.
Priority will be given to candidates with documented interest in previous experience with quantitative health
research or epidemiology field research.
The Application Must include:
• An application letter with detailed address (including email and mobile number); and an information about
in which university the candidate would like to be enrolled (KCMUCo or MUHAS-ORCI)
• A 2page information about your research background relevant to the announcement
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• Certified copies of certificates and academic transcripts
• Recent CV indicating position and employer including list of peer-reviewed publications and
national/international scientific presentations
• Two letters of recommendation from a reputable referees with their telephone numbers and e-mail
addresses
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 31st January 2015
All applications must be submitted to:
Dr Julius Mwaiselage
CONCEPT project Principal Investigator
Director of Cancer Prevention Services
Ocean Road Cancer Institute
P.O. Box 3592
Dar es Salaam
Email: [email protected]
And copied to;
Dr Rachel Manongi CONCEPT project Co-Investigator Head, Department of Community Medicine Kilimanjaro
Christian Medical University CollegeP.O. Box 2240
Moshi
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Please note that the short listed candidates will be required to attend a selection interview. The interviews will take
place on 11th February 2015