The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.
As part of our Data Science Without Borders (DSWB) initiative—a multi-country collaboration focused on leveraging advanced data science tools to enhance health data use and systems strengthening—we are offering a MSc Fellowship to support internal staff whose research aligns with the project’s goals. This initiative is implemented in partnership with organizations including Africa CDC, CODATA, LSHTM, AHRI (Ethiopia), IRESSEF (Senegal), and DGH (Cameroon), across three pathfinder countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Senegal.
About the Fellowship:
We invite applications from APHRC staff for a 24-month MSc Fellowship, starting June 2025, aimed at supporting interdisciplinary research in data science, AI/ML, and public health as aligned with the DSWB project agenda.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute an MSc thesis project aligned with DSWB Objectives.
- Engage in data harmonization and analysis of real-world datasets.
- Participate in DSWB workshops, hackathons, and technical exchanges.
- Create metadata and documentation supporting FAIR data sharing.
- Present their research progress and findings at institutional or DSWB meetings.
- Contribute to blogs, briefs, or collaborative technical reports.
- Data documentation and metadata management to enhance data findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR).
- Contribute to the development of interoperable data systems and federated platforms for data sharing across institutions and countries.
- Support the design, deployment, and evaluation of ML/AI models for real-world public health use cases.
- Engage with local stakeholders, institutions, and communities to understand context specific challenges and co-create sustainable solutions.
Eligibility and Qualifications:
Applicants must:
- Be afull-time APHRC staff memberwith at least 18 months of service at the Center.
- Be currently enrolled (or eligible for enrolment) in an MSc program in Data Science, Computer Science, Health Informatics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or a related field.
- Have demonstrated proficiency in R, Python, and/or SQL, and a willingness to build their skills in AI/ML and health data analytics.
- Demonstrate interest or experience in handling health datasets such as EHRs, surveys, or longitudinal data.
Fellowship Expectations:
- A detailed MSc research protocol.
- A mid-term progress report.
- Participation in at least one capacity-building activity.
- A final MSc thesis submitted to APHRC.
- Contribution to a collaborative DSWB output (e.g., technical brief, blog, dataset curation).
Desirable Competencies:
- Commitment to working in sub-Saharan Africa post-fellowship.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Fluency in English.
- Citizenship of any African country.
Fellowship Support:
Selected fellow will receive:
- Access to relevant datasets, computing resources, and software.
- Travel and accommodation support for project-related meetings and workshops.
- A stipend (subject to funding and APHRC policies).
- Mentorship from technical experts and connection to a pan-African research community.
Application Process:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application in English through email to [email protected] by May 16th, 2025, indicating the title ‘MSc Fellowship Opportunity’ as the subject of the email, and include:
- A cover letter;
- CV with contact details of three referees; and
- A Motivation Statement showcasing your interest in the fellowship as well as how it aligns with your career goals, and outlining how you envision contributing to DSWB’s objectives in the context of this fellowship (500 words- font size 12pt, margin 1-inch, single line spacing).
This opportunity is only open to internal applicants; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Cover letters should be addressed to:
The People and Culture Business Partner
African Population and Health Research Center, Inc
APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru
P.O Box 10787-GPO, Nairobi
Website: www.aphrc.org
Special Notice
APHRC is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.
