Funding Opportunity for AMARI-II DPhil / PhD Fellowships/Post-Doctoral Fellowship

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE AFRICAN MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH INITIATIVE II (AMARI-II)

DPHIL / PHD FELLOWSHIPS/POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

DUE DATE: JULY 31ST, 2023

BACKGROUND

The African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) is a mental health research capacity building programme. AMARI-II builds on the initial AMARI-I which ran from 2015 - 2022. AMARI-II is being implemented with funding support of the second phase of the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training, and Science in Africa (DELTAS Africa), an initiative of the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) with funding support of Wellcome and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). AMARI-II is a consortium of six African universities whose overall goal is to build excellence in leadership, training, and science amongst African scholars in mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) research in Africa. AMARI-II aims to shift the centre of gravity in Global Mental Health (GMH) by ensuring that African scientists become leaders in GMH research, training and implementation. Key focus will be on strengthening AMARI-II’s collective ability to introduce interventions that reduce the treatment gap for mental health disorders in Africa. The AMARI-II project at the University of Ghana School of Public Health (UGSPH) invites applications for one PhD and one Post- doctoral fellowships for the 2022/23 intake.

PURPOSE

This funding opportunity is to build scientific excellence in MNS research through collaboration with universities in Africa and the UK. In addition to research training, fellows will be trained in research leadership, management, and mentorship. There will be a strong focus on developing community-based intervention strategies with the aim of addressing the treatment gap that exists in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ELIGIBILITY

Fellowships are open to candidates who wish to undertake doctoral and postdoctoral studies in MNS and related areas.

1. Doctoral Fellowship applicants must:

- Have completed a Masters degree in a relevant mental health related discipline such as Global Mental Health, Medicine, Psychiatry, Psychology or an equivalent qualification recognised by the University of Ghana.

· Have high academic merit and intellectual capacity to study successfully at the doctoral level.

- Show strong personal motivation to complete the programme within the stipulated fellowship time.

2.      Post-Doctoral Fellowship must:

- Have completed a PhD. Program within 4 years in a relevant mental health related discipline such as Global Mental Health, Medicine, Psychiatry, Psychology or an equivalent qualification recognised by the University of Ghana.

· Show strong personal motivation for research in MNS

FELLOWSHIP PACKAGE

AMARI-II’s scholarship package for a PhD Fellow will cover the following:

· Tuition fees

· Reasonable support for research project and supervision

· Monthly stipend

· Travel costs for agreed conferences and training workshops

RESEARCH AREAS TO BE FUNDED RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

1. What is the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of culturally-appropriate interventions for mental disorders in African countries?

2. What is the validity and reliability of instruments for assessing mental health needs and outcomes in African countries?

3. What are the social determinants of mental health in African countries?

4. What are the effects of COVID-19 on mental health in Africa?

5. What support do early career mental health researchers from Africa need to build sustained, independent research careers?

Cross Cutting Themes:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

- Candidates are expected to complete their studies within the stipulated time of their programme.

- Doctoral candidates are expected to register for their studies with University of Ghana

- As a condition of the award, AMARI-II stipulates that the candidate attends specific workshops or summer schools in relevant research methods.

- Involvement in an existing research programme/project will be an added advantage.

Please note that AMARI-II may require additional information, over and above information supplied in the application, in order to reach a decision about the suitability of any candidate for the award of the fellowship.