Applications are invited from motivated continuing MSc and PhD students in Tanzania for a collaborative research and capacity-building initiative in antimicrobial-resistance genomics, priority Enterobacterales, plate-sweep metagenomics, bioinformatics and scientific data analysis.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
About the initiative
The initiative is organised by the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology at St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, in collaboration with Professor Lesley Hoyles of Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom.
It is led by Dr Reuben S. Maghembe, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group at St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences.
One or two postgraduate researchers will be selected to participate in structured mentorship, training and collaborative research activities.
Scientific focus
- Genomic characterisation of Klebsiella and other priority Enterobacterales.
- Antimicrobial-resistance phenotyping, genomics and genomic epidemiology.
- Plate-sweep metagenomics, also known as quasi-metagenomics.
- Bacterial community and resistome analysis.
- Bioinformatics, biostatistics and scientific data analysis.
- Scientific writing and development of collaborative research proposals.
The initiative links isolate-level evidence with broader bacterial-community and antimicrobial-resistance information.
Individual bacterial isolates may be characterised alongside mixed bacterial growth recovered from culture plates using plate-sweep metagenomic approaches.
Who should apply
Applicants must be continuing MSc or PhD students registered at a recognised university or research institution in Tanzania. Suitable research areas include:
- Antimicrobial resistance and bacterial pathogens.
- Clinical or public-health microbiology.
- Veterinary, food or environmental microbiology.
- One Health and related interdisciplinary research.
- Molecular biology, genomic epidemiology, bioinformatics, biostatistics or scientific data analysis.
Applicants should have basic practical experience in microbiology or molecular biology and must demonstrate readiness to learn. Advanced bioinformatics expertise is not required.
Priority isolates and research materials
Applicants should preferably have access to an existing or developing collection of viable bacterial isolates accompanied by basic de-identified metadata. Priority organisms include:
- Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex.
- Klebsiella oxytoca species complex.
- Escherichia coli.
- Enterobacter species.
- Citrobacter species.
- Other clinically or epidemiologically important Enterobacterales.
Relevant materials may originate from human clinical specimens, animals, animal products, food, wastewater, hospital or community environments and other One Health settings.
What selected candidates may receive
- Mentorship in AMR genomics and genomic epidemiology.
- Training in isolate quality control, metadata management and antimicrobial-susceptibility analysis.
- Exposure to bacterial whole-genome sequencing and plate-sweep metagenomics.
- Bioinformatics, biostatistics and scientific data-analysis training.
- Support with scientific interpretation, manuscript preparation and grant development.
- Participation in seminars, workshops and collaborative research meetings.
- Integration into an emerging Tanzanian postgraduate AMR genomics network.
Selection does not guarantee employment, scholarship funding, stipends, tuition support, overseas travel or sequencing of every submitted isolate.
Required application documents
Applicants should combine the following documents into one PDF:
- A motivation letter of no more than two pages.
- A curriculum vitae of no more than three pages.
- A preliminary isolate inventory.
- A signed formal recommendation letter.
- A supervisor support statement where the formal recommender is not the current research supervisor.
- A signed availability and commitment statement.
A formal recommendation from a current supervisor, programme coordinator, head of department, head of laboratory or another eligible senior academic or research leader is mandatory.
Selection process
Applications will first be assessed for eligibility, motivation, scientific relevance, isolate suitability, foundational skills, recommendation quality, supervisor support and capacity-building potential.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview covering their research, scientific reasoning, microbiology and AMR knowledge, isolate collection, readiness to learn, availability and ability to work collaboratively.
Applicants will not be tested on advanced bioinformatics methods they have not previously been taught.
Ethics, data governance and trainee protection
Applicants must not submit patient names, identifying clinical information or confidential institutional information during the initial application.
Submission or selection does not transfer ownership of biological materials, isolates, thesis data or institutional records.
Sample use, sequencing, data analysis, material transfer, authorship, acknowledgement, data ownership and benefit sharing will be governed by the required ethical approvals, institutional authorisations and written agreements.
How to apply
Combine all required documents into one PDF using the following filename:
Surname_FirstName_AMR_Genomics_Application.pdf
Use the following email subject:
Application: Tanzanian Postgraduate AMR Genomics Initiative - [Applicant's Full Name]
Dr Reuben S. Maghembe
Senior Lecturer and Head, Infectious Disease Research Group, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania
Email: [email protected]
Complete application guidance
The complete eligibility criteria, isolate-inventory guidance, recommendation requirements, selection process, expected commitment and governance provisions are provided in the official call document.
View full call document