PhD STUDENTSHIP IN IMMUNOLOGY

ADVERT FOR A PhD STUDENTSHIP IN IMMUNOLOGY
The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Programme (MLW) is an internationally recognised centre for
research and research training led by Malawian & International Scientists, improving the health of people in
Malawi and elsewhere in the Region (http://www.mlw.mw). MLW has a unique translational research
portfolio that links an excellent laboratory research base to strong hospital and community-based research
teams. The MLW research strategy focuses on the multidisciplinary strengths of fourteen skill-specific
Research Groups (HIV & TB, Malaria, Bacteria Pathogens and Pathogenesis, Mucosal and Viral
Immunology, Salmonella & Enteric Fever, Behaviour & Health, Drug Resistance Infections and AMR,
Lung Health and Sepsis, Paediatrics and Obstetrics, Child Health, Entomology and Veterinary Medicine,
and Virology) working in synergy to reduce deaths in hospital and disease transmission in the community.
All the Research Groups have strong national and international collaborative links.
MLW is now inviting applications from suitable candidates for a PhD Studentship to investigate “the
immune imprinting effect of the neonatal RV3-BB live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine”. The successful
candidate will join the Virology and Viral Immunology Research Groups and be part of the team
currently conducting the neonatal rotavirus vaccine immunogenicity trial of in Malawi. They will be
registered under the joint University of Liverpool and University of Malawi (College of Medicine) PhD
programme.
1. The Candidate: The ideal candidate should be a Malawian who has a Master’s degree in Natural
Sciences. Candidate with a Master’s degree in Immunology will have an added advantage.
2. Time span of the study: 1 st February 2019 to 31 st Jan 2022.
3. Additional skills: Those with previous laboratory work experience, particularly in immunology,
microbiology and tissue culture will have an advantage.
4. The scope of work: In addition to conducting lab work pertaining to his/her own PhD studies, the
successful candidate will be expected to help with blood, stool and saliva sample processing,
serum separation and storage and sample analysis as well as primary data analysis of the RV3-BB
Neonatal Rotavirus vaccine clinical trial currently underway in Blantyre, Malawi. He/she will also be
expected to contribute to teaching/tutoring students at the College of Medicine, University of
Malawi. The candidate will undertake most of the research work in Malawi and will have
opportunities to spend time in collaborating laboratories outside Malawi, UK or Australia.
5. Stipend Amount: The successful candidate will be paid a standard monthly international stipend
for MLW PhD students.
Interested candidates should submit their applications to:
The Human Resource Manager,
MLW,
P. O. Box 30096,
Blantyre 3
Email: vacancies@mlw.mw

All applications must be submitted by 18 th January 2019.