Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Biostatistics — SUPPORT Project

About the programme Makerere University College of Health Sciences is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for qualified candidates to apply for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Biostatistics under the SUPPORT Project, a Global Health EDCTP3-funded initiative titled "Supporting the Next Generation of African Researchers on Preventing HIV Pediatric Mortality Through a Training Network."

The fellowship will be hosted at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, for a period of 24 months. It offers an opportunity to work within an international, multidisciplinary research network comprising leading institutions from Africa and Europe, with a shared focus on generating evidence to prevent HIV-related mortality among children. For an early-career biostatistician, this is a rare chance to work on high-stakes paediatric infectious disease data while building a strong international collaborative profile.

The successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research in biostatistics, epidemiology, causal inference, statistical modelling, and the analysis of clinical and public health data related to paediatric infectious diseases. This means working with real clinical and epidemiological datasets, developing and applying rigorous analytical methods, and producing evidence that can directly inform child health programmes and policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The fellowship also includes a three-month secondment in Madrid, Spain, which exposes the fellow to European research environments and networks. Beyond the research itself, the programme provides extensive training in research and transferable skills, helping the fellow develop competencies in communication, collaboration, project management and career development that are valuable in both academic and non-academic settings.

Eligibility requirements - A PhD in Biostatistics, Statistics, Data Science, Epidemiology, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. - Strong experience in statistical programming using R. - Experience analysing clinical, epidemiological, or public health data. - Excellent written and spoken English. - Citizenship or residency in a Sub-Saharan African country.

The eligibility criteria are designed to attract candidates who already have a strong quantitative foundation and are ready to apply it to child health research, while the requirement of Sub-Saharan African citizenship or residency ensures that the fellowship builds capacity where it is most needed.

Application package Applicants should submit: - A curriculum vitae (CV). - A cover letter outlining motivation to pursue a research career in paediatric infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. - A recommendation letter.

The cover letter should clearly articulate the candidate's motivation, research interests and career aspirations, since this is central to how applications are assessed.

How to apply Applications should be sent to globalhealth.pediatrics.group@gmail.com with the subject line "MTC4". Using the correct subject line ensures that applications are routed correctly and considered by the selection team.

What to expect The fellowship is an excellent next step for a biostatistician seeking to apply advanced quantitative methods to child health in Africa. In addition to the research work and the international secondment, the fellow can expect structured mentorship, exposure to a large multidisciplinary network, and support for career development that will be valuable whether they go on to academia, research institutes or public health organisations. The 24-month duration provides enough time to deliver meaningful research outputs while also developing the broader professional skills that the programme explicitly prioritises.

Deadline The application deadline is 22 July 2026. Eligible candidates and interested researchers are encouraged to apply and to share this opportunity widely within their networks.