EnRiCH Master's Degree Fellowships in Sickle Cell Disease and Related NCDs

About the programme Makerere University College of Health Sciences, in collaboration with Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences, invites applications for four (4) Master's Degree Fellowships under the Enhancing Research Capacity for Sickle Cell Disease and Related Non-Communicable Diseases (EnRiCH) project. The project is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through a five-year Training Research Grant (Award No. 1D43TW012466-01) aimed at strengthening national capacity for high-quality research and health systems development in sickle cell disease (SCD) and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the lifespan.

Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited blood disorders in the world and a significant public health concern in Uganda, where it imposes a heavy burden on affected individuals, families and the health system. Because many of the associated non-communicable complications share common risk factors and care pathways, there is a pressing need for locally generated evidence to inform prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and long-term care. This fellowship programme responds to that need by building a cadre of postgraduate researchers who can generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence while embedded within ongoing research activities.

The four fellowships are intended to support Master's students to complete high-quality thesis research within a well-resourced, mentored academic environment. Fellows will be connected to established research teams and, where possible, to ongoing prospective SCD studies, giving them access to real-world research infrastructure, cohorts and supervisory expertise that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. In this way the programme strengthens not only individual research skills but also the wider national research ecosystem in SCD and related NCDs.

Eligibility Applicants should: - Be enrolled in a Master's programme and have completed at least one (1) year of study with normal academic progress. - Be pursuing a Master's degree in one of the following disciplines: Social Sciences; Clinical Medicine (Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Surgery); or Public Health. - Have research interests aligned with sickle cell disease and related NCDs. Students able to embed their research within ongoing prospective SCD studies are especially encouraged to apply.

Research priority areas Applicants are encouraged to develop research concepts in areas including: - Biomedical research - Clinical research - Psychosocial research - Bioethics - Implementation science - Behavioural sciences - Qualitative and quantitative research methodology - Data analysis - Research management These priority areas reflect the full spectrum of research needed to improve SCD outcomes, from the biological and clinical foundations of the disease to the ethical, social and health-system questions that shape how care is delivered and accessed.

Benefits The fellowship provides structured support for Master's-level research, including mentorship from an established research team, access to ongoing SCD studies, and capacity building in research methodology, data analysis, bioethics and research management. It is an opportunity to contribute directly to national research and health systems development in SCD and related NCDs while advancing a postgraduate research career.

Application requirements Applications should be submitted as one PDF document containing: - A one-page cover letter. - A curriculum vitae. - Two recommendation letters from professional referees or mentors. - A two-page research concept or an approved full proposal addressing SCD and related NCDs. Applications should be addressed to the Principal Investigator (PI), EnRiCH Project, and emailed to enrichd43@gmail.com.

Deadline The application deadline is 13 July 2026. Eligible students and colleagues are encouraged to apply and to share the opportunity within their professional networks.