Twenty PhD positions available on pro-poor sanitation innovations

Posted on: 09.12.2011

Twenty PhD Positions are available in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Funded Project on Pro-poor Sanitation Innovations, named "Stimulating local innovation on sanitation for the urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia".

UNESCO-IHE, The Netherlands, and the following partners: Makerere University in Uganda, KNUST in Ghana, AIT in Thailand, 2iE in Burkina Faso, ITB in Indonesia, UCT in South Africa, UFMG in Brasil, and Univalle in Colombia were awarded a US$8 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will be used to finance a 5-year capacity building and research project to stimulate local innovation on sanitation for the urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. To support the research component of the project 20 PhD positions for junior researchers are funded by the project at 8 host institutions.

Deadline for application: 15 December 2011.

PhD position information

The positions are based at the premises of the 8 project partners.
The PhD fellow will report to the professor in charge at the host academic institution.
The PhD position is funded on a fellowship arrangement in accordance with standard practice applied at host institutions;
Expected starting date is early 2012;
Duration of the assignment is maximum 4 years.
The PhD fellow will have high degree of involvement in execution of the research package assigned to the host institution under this project.
The PhD fellow will be awarded the doctoral degree by the host institution.

Position requirements

Candidates should be young researchers from developing country, preferably from sub‐Saharan Africa and South‐East Asia, however researchers from other developing regions are encouraged to apply;
Candidates must have a Master degree in a discipline relevant to the research themes, e.g. sanitary engineering, civil engineering, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology etc.
Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest and experience in conducting and managing experimental and interdisciplinary sanitation-related research;
Applicants with pronounced affinity for laboratory and/or practical research and fieldwork will be preferred;
The applicant must be proficient in English and have developed communication and writing skills;
Applicants for the position in Brasil must originate from Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP).

How to apply?

Applications, including curriculum vitae, the names and contact details of two referees, and a motivation letter, should be sent by email to a responsible professor at host institution by 15 December 2011.
Please put the subject heading “PhD application to BMGF project” and clearly indicate in the body of the mail preferred thematic areas and host institutions (assuming that preferred host institutions are engaged in preferred thematic area).
Short-listed candidates will be contacted in the first week of January 2012. For further information please visit UNESCO-IHE website.

Resources for: