The project entitled” Strengthening Doctoral Education for Health in Tanzania” (DOCEHTA) is under joint implementation by the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and the University of Oslo, Norway (UiO). The project is funded by the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED). The project’s objective is to contribute to strengthened quality of doctoral education in the health sciences in Tanzania with a view to improve health-related research as well as the quality and capacity of education of human resources for health.
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As part of its work, the project is contributing to develop doctoral level courses, provide training of doctoral level supervisors, strengthen quality through inter university collaboration, and establish communities of learning among PhD candidates.
The project is also funding doctoral research projects, and now intends to recruit and support the training of two 3-year doctoral scholars to pursue studies in the following research areas:
- Studies focusing on education in health sciences (1 position)
- Studies focusing on the key population in the HIV epidemic (1 position)
Research areas
1. Research on doctoral education in health sciences
The project is interested in supporting research that examines various aspects of training of and/or learning among doctoral students in one or more fields such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, etc. Studies can apply either qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approaches.
Examples of possible research topics could be:
- The experiences of pursuing a PhD in the health sciences
- The experience of exchange stays abroad among doctoral students
- The role of supervision in doctoral education
- The role of curricula in doctoral education in the health sciences
The list above only contains examples, and applicants are very welcome to propose other research topics of relevance for PhD education in the health sciences.
A possibility is that the doctoral research is carried out as follow-on research to the DOCEHTA project itself.
Successful applicants may come from a range of different backgrounds (including the health sciences, educational sciences, social sciences, etc.). Irrespective of background, the selected candidate will have to engage with and relate to literature and scholarship of relevance for doctoral education in the health sciences.
2. Studies focusing on the key population in the HIV epidemic
The project is interested in supporting research on novel approaches to HIV prevention among key populations in the HIV epidemic, including the use of mobile health (mHealth) applications and issues related to biomedical HIV prevention with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Examples of possible research topics could be:
- Perceptions of and experiences with mHealth interventions
- Impact of mHealth interventions
- Adherence to PrEP
Retention in PrEP programmes
Successful PhD scholars will benefit from:
- Provision of strong, interdisciplinary, and longitudinal supervision and mentorship.
- Instruction in research methodology that is individualized to the learner and pertinent to the area of focus listed above.
- Opportunities to pursue courses at all the three collaborating institutions, and
- Guidance in career development to support short and long-term career goals and to promote a transition to academic independence.
The selected candidates will be enrolled at UDOM and are expected to adhere to the guidelines for successful completion of the degree program as set forth by the PhD programmes at UDOM.
Eligibility
Besides payment of university fees and receiving research funds, from the DOCEHTA project, successful applicants will receive a competitive stipend, laptop, and book allowance. Support for travel and lodging costs for conferences and coursework will also be provided.
- Hold a master’s degree from a recognized higher learning institution (as per the Tanzania Commission for Universities) with minimum GPA of 3.0 or B grade.
- Meet other criteria for acceptance into a PhD programme of UDOM
- Demonstrated fluency in both spoken and written English
- Prior research or practice experience in any of the above-listed project focus areas is preferred, but not required.
- Women applicants shall be given priority
- UDOM employees shall be an added advantage
Application Requirements
All interested individuals should submit the following informaon to and before the set deadline indicated below.
- Applicaon cover leer. This leer should include your name, posion, instuon, email, telephone number, and a short statement summarizing your intent to apply to the PhD program.
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cerfied copies of academic transcripts and cerficates (O-level, A-level, Bachelor, Master)
- Two leers of recommendaon. The leers should include telephone numbers, addresses and email addresses of the referees. At least one leer of support must be from a senior faculty member from your previous university educaon (former head of department, supervisor, or mentor) who can aest to your academic aptude outlining your career and research goals and how the training program will assist you achieve the goals.
- Research concept note (4 pages maximum). The concept note should describe a proposed topic of research you would like to explore during your doctoral work. This concept note is not binding but it should outline your research interests which should be aligned with themac areas as described above. Please structure the research concept note to include secons on background, aims/research quesons, proposed research methods, and resources and training which will be necessary to complete this research.
Application process and deadline
Applications containing the required documents must be submitted to dpgs@udom.ac.tz and copied to massugii@gmail.com by close of business on Friday 8th April 2022.
ISSUED BY
The Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic, Research and Consultancy
The University of Dodoma
P. O. Box 259
Dodoma, Tanzania
Email address: dvcarc@udom.ac.tz
