PhD Scholarship — Impact of Food Supplementation on Health and Growth

The Child Health Development Center and Makerere University College of Health Sciences are seeking to appoint a full-time PhD Fellow to conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) among 300 young children with stunting, to assess the effect of a Soy Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement with high versus low levels of antinutrients on the growth and health of children. The study is part of a DANIDA-supported project entitled 'Climate-resilient soybean for improved growth and health of children in Uganda' (Healthy Soy).

About the role The PhD fellow will coordinate the RCT protocol development and its implementation, and develop and nest their own PhD protocol as part of the RCT study. The PhD student will be hosted at the Child Health and Development Center, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. This is a research-intensive doctoral opportunity that combines a large, well-designed clinical trial with independent PhD research on child nutrition, growth and development.

Responsibilities The PhD student will take part in literature review; designing, planning and conducting studies; analysing results; writing reports and contributing to technical and policy briefs, journal articles and thesis; project management; organizing research seminars and stakeholder workshops; and guiding junior researchers and teaching. The PhD student will have access to online libraries, scientific databases and software for data analysis throughout their work.

Mentorship and training In addition, the student will be mentored by national and international researchers to develop scientific research and project management skills, with a three-month stay in Denmark. By the end of the project, the selected candidate will have obtained significant competencies to explain the interactions between nutrition and health of children, growth and development. The student will also gain skills in assessment of body composition, development and conduct of clinical trials design, scholarly writing and presentations, data analysis, and interdisciplinary research.

How to apply Details of the application requirements, eligibility criteria, and the submission procedure are provided in the attached flyer. Review the flyer (CHDC MakCHS PhD Fellowship Advert WP3) for the complete instructions and submit your application as directed.

Research context Stunting affects a large number of young children in Uganda, with lasting consequences for growth, cognitive development and long-term health. Nutrition-sensitive interventions, including improved soybean and food supplementation, offer an opportunity to address the underlying causes of undernutrition. The 'Healthy Soy' project investigates how the level of antinutrients in soy-based supplements affects children's growth and health, producing evidence that can inform national nutrition programmes and policies. By nesting a doctoral study within this randomized controlled trial, the fellowship offers a rare opportunity to conduct rigorous clinical research with direct policy relevance while building strong skills in trial methodology, nutrition assessment, data analysis and interdisciplinary research. The mentorship from national and international researchers, combined with the three-month placement in Denmark, prepares the fellow for a career in child health and nutrition research. Candidates with a background in nutrition, paediatrics or related fields who are committed to child health research are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities in detail In addition to the core trial coordination duties, the PhD student is expected to produce publishable research outputs, including journal articles, technical and policy briefs, and a doctoral thesis. The student will organize research seminars and stakeholder workshops, participate in teaching and mentorship of junior researchers, and contribute to the overall management of the project. This broad exposure is designed to develop not only technical research skills but also the leadership, communication and project management abilities required for a successful academic career in global child health.