PHFI’s FUTURE FACULTY PROGRAMME WELLCOME TRUST PROGRAMME

STUDENTSHIPS FOR DOCTORAL STUDIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH

About the Doctoral Studentships

These studentships are for doctoral studies at one of PHFI’s partner institutions in the UK. Each studentship is expected to be completed in 3 years. It includes course work (in UK), research work (in India), and thesis defense (in UK). Broadly, each candidate is expected to spend 1 year in the UK and 2 years in India (at PHFI / its institutes) during the PhD. The research is expected to be India based, India centric and India relevant.

Recognizing the significant commitment and investment made by PHFI towards career development of fellows of this program, it is expected that the candidates will return to work with PHFI or its institutes for five years following the completion of their course work.

Who should apply?

We are looking for public health professionals, who wish to build upon their rich experience in public health by pursuing a doctoral degree. In 2010, PHFI is seeking to build its capacity in the following technical areas specifically:

1. Health Management (Public health management, health care administration, hospital management / administration, etc)
2. Biostatistics and data management
3. Clinical research (Pharmacology, Operations of clinical research, ethics)
4. Environmental and occupational health
5. Public health nutrition
6. Health economic, health financing, health insurance
7. Epidemiology

Further,

• The candidate must possess a Masters degree in the relevant discipline from an accredited institution
  
  
• The candidate must have demonstrated significant interest in public health related academic areas.
  
  
• The thesis work should focus on issues relevant to India & most of the work would be carried out in India.

Candidates having significant research and teaching experience will be preferred. Please note that broad field based work experience in health care will be an added advantage for applicants to the programme.

Past Future Faculty fellows are requested to contact the Wellcome Trust team for further details on eligibility.

How to apply?

Please send the following as one application packet containing:

1. A cover letter stating clearly the technical area of specialization that you have applied for under the PhD studentship and your reasons to choose the same.
2. A copy of your latest curriculum vitae.
3. Compulsory Essays –
   • Why should you be selected for the programme? [500 words or less]
   • Public Health Challenges in India and how you will be able to contribute to the solution?[500 words or less]
   • A write up on your research question(s) and on the methodology you would use for conducting the research. [500 words or less]
     
     These essays should persuasively establish (1) your preparation to undertake this intense course of study, (2) your understanding of the curriculum, and (3) a good fit between the curriculum and your interests and goals, and those of PHFI
     
     
4. Two of your best research publications
5. Three letters of recommendations, with one from your current direct supervisor
6. Relevant documents (academic transcripts, certificates of work experience, etc)
7. Valid score sheets in any relevant exams (IELTS) as may be required by the partner institutions. Please refer to the website of the partner institutions for further details on this.

Selection Process

All applications would be carefully screened by public health experts. Following this review, promising candidates would be invited for interviews. Interviews would be mandatory and by invitation only. After the interviews, candidates would be further short-listed and would be matched with appropriate UK partner institutions. The studentships would be awarded to the short-listed candidates securing an admission to the matching partner institution.

Timelines and Logistics

* Mid decision date: all applicants in this round will receive either a short list notification (from PHFI), or a regret notification by this date.

You can apply in EITHER ONE of the following ways –

1. Email the application packet at wt.phd@phfi.org , OR
2. Post the application packet to