FELLOWSHIP IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

Overview

 Programme Goal

This fellowship program seeks to develop junior scientists into highly competent researchers in biomedical, clinical and social sciences with capacity to conduct research, effectively disseminate findings, advise policy development and have the ability to attract funding.

Philosophy

The University of Nairobi (UoN) is guided by the need to connect to and inspire the Kenyan community ,to provide leadership, stewardship and give hope in developing faith within the Kenyan society. This philosophy serves as a basis for the people of Kenya to excel in whatever they choose to do with a moral responsibility.

 This fellowship enables the UoN to offer a transformation in the research field by creating new opportunities for junior faculty to gain requisite training to launch research careers that will ultimately spearhead locally relevant health research and improve health outcomes.

 Rationale

 In sub-Saharan Africa, the shortage of well-trained researchers undermines progress in human health. With only 56 researchers per million people (excluding South Africa), the region is not able to address research priorities and optimize health interventions in areas marked by high disease burden and shortages of health workers. There is need to tap the underutilized talent among faculty in African universities, who spend less time in research and author far fewer scientific publications than their counterparts in the industrialized countries. Even where relevant health interventions have been identified, implementation at the population level has been limited, creating an urgent need for research into how best to promote scale-up of new interventions and implement health programs.

The University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya’s largest training and research institution is uniquely placed to steer the sustainability of high-quality local research that focuses on efforts to build research capacity. Over the years, the university has made progress in building a pool of faculty researchers to mitigate this sustainability.Even with this milestone, there is an urgent need to improve and transform the research culture in the institution to impact health research at a national level. It is against this backdrop that this curriculum will fill the gap by offering well-structured modules that will respond to the national development goals for high skilled manpower, the vision 2030 social pillar, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the National Goals of Education.

 This curriculum will play a big role in developing a robust research training program that will foster the next generation of researcher scientists to address Kenya’s research priorities in biomedical and social science including ; MNCH, HIV and AIDS and mental health using a three-pronged approach that includes research skills training, mentored research and mentored grant applications.Junior faculty trainees will develop robust skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, implementation science and responsible conduct of research.

Programme Outcomes

The graduates will make a substantial contribution to knowledge through publication, development and management of grant.This course will provide the trainees with the opportunity to:

• Develop original, independent and critical thinking with the ability to develop theoretical concepts and have the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the research findings and those of others.
• Undertake high quality independent multidisciplinary research in clinical, biomedical and social sciences that support Kenya’s development goals.
• Disseminate research findings and champion implementation of new strategies.
• Network and attract funding for research from both local and international sources.
• Provide mentorship in research to junior faculty and scientists.
• Develop skills critical in advising policy development.
• Have the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the research findings and those of others.