UNDP/WORLD BANK/WHO: Research Training Grants in 2000

Call for Applications for Award of Research Training Grants in 2000

TDR invites applications for the award of research training grants (RTGs) from persons who are nationals of the developing disease endemic countries (DECs), working in the developing countries, and whose re- search interests are related to one or more of the TDR target diseases - malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and on- chocerciasis, African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease, and leprosy. RTGs are awarded, on a competitive basis, for studies leading to a postgraduate degree, or for acquiring specialised skills. Studies must be on one or more of the TDR target diseases in any of the laboratory, clinical or applied field research disciplines. The training may take place in the home country, in another developing country, or in devel- oped countries. TDR reserves the right to select the institution, re- search programme or TDR-funded Research & Development (R&D) project where it is felt the most suitable training can be obtained.

TDR's training priorities are closely linked to TDR's R&D objectives. Applicants are recommended to request information on TDR's R&D priori- ties (related to their application) identified in the Steering Commit- tee and Task Force workplans. Please see the attached sheet for the list of TDR workplans. The relevant workplan may be obtained from "TDR Communications" at the address given below, by e-mail at <tdrnews@who.ch>, or via the internet at <http://www.who.ch/tdr/>

Applications are judged by a Committee comprised of an external group of reviewers on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposal, the impact of the proposed training in relation to TDR and national priorities, and the potential contribution of the proposed training on local capacity building and on disease control activities.

Priorities for training:

TDR' s first priority are applicants from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and countries with lesser developed research capacities (LDRC). A target of 35% - 40% has been set for the selection of candidates from these countries. To achieve gender balance, applications are especially encouraged from women. Currently, over 35% of successful applications are from women, and TDR would like to increase this percentage. In gen- eral, applications from researchers requesting support for training in their own country or region are given priority; over the past decade, the percentage of applicants funded for local or regional training has increased from 25% to 75%. Applicants requesting local/regional train- ing may also include a short attachment abroad ( 6 months) to ac- quire skills related to their thesis research not available within their own country. Applications are welcomed from individuals working and involved in Ministries of Health with responsibility for planning, executing and/or evaluating disease control programmes related to TDR target diseases. Finally, preference is given to applicants under the age of 35 years as our experience has shown that younger scientists follow a more productive research career path after their training.

What an application should include:

Researchers who wish to apply for an RTG should send the following in- formation, type-written, to the address given below (no application forms are required).

1. Full name in capital letters with the family name underlined.

2. Date of birth and nationality (please include photocopy of informa- tion page of passport).

3. One recent passport sized photograph.

4. Name, address, telephone number, cable address, telex address / num- ber, fax number and e-mail address of institution where the applicant is employed.

5. Educational qualifications, including place of study, date and - if possible - grade obtained (transcripts and photocopies of qualifica- tions are not required but may be requested at a later date).

6. A description (in not more than 12 lines) of the applicant's current post and of the post held immediately preceding the current post.

7. A description (not exceeding 10 lines) of the applicant's current research interests.

8. A list of the applicant's publications (with references), and other abstracts or presentations.

9. A letter of recommendation from two senior scientists/professors that includes their address, telephone numbers, cable addresses, telex addresses/numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses. (Please include these with the application).

10. If the applicant is or has recently been involved with a TDR-funded project, provide the title of the project and the name of the principal investigator.

11. Type of training requested e.g., for studies leading to PhD or MSc within the country or abroad, or for short-term specialised train- ing; and discipline and disease of study e.g., malaria epidemiology, socioeconomic research on leishmaniasis, etc.

12. An outline (3-4 pages) of the proposed research to be carried out during the training, including rationale, objectives and methodol- ogy, citing a minimum of 5 recent references.

13. The name(s) and address(es) of institution(s), in order of prefer- ence, where the applicant would like to study, with copies of correspondence enclosed if contact has already been made with these institutions.

14. Applicants already registered for a doctoral degree in their own countries and who would like to seek support for their thesis research should provide evidence of registration and an itemised budget not exceeding US$10,000 total, endorsed by their supervisor.

15. An endorsement from the Director of the applicant's home institu- tion testifying to the ability of the applicant to undertake suc- cessfully the proposed studies and certifying that the applicant, if awarded TDR support for research training away from the home insti- tute, will be granted a leave of absence and, on completing the training, will be assured of a post for at least three years. The Director should also indicate how the proposed training will strengthen the research capabilities of the institution and/or how it will assist in the planning and evaluation of a particular dis- ease control programme.

Applicants from countries requiring national endorsement should submit their applications through proper government channels. A copy of all applications should be sent to the WHO Representative's Office in their home country for information purposes. All applications must be re- ceived by 15 October 1999 at the following address:

Mr Steven Wayling
Manager - Research Training Grants
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases
World Health Organization
CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Tel: 41-22-791-3909
Fax: 41-22-791-4854
mailto:waylings@who.int

--