PhD Scholarship for study in One Health Initiative for a Resilient, Circular, and Regenerative Food System in Eastern Africa

Deadline for applications: 14th March 2023

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a PhD scholarship in the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Sciences (ARPPIS).

icipe (www.icipe.org) is an African institute and a regional and global leader in research for development in insects and arthropods and their impacts, positive and negative, on food production, human and animal health, environmental sustainability and livelihoods. icipe works across the continent with a network of partners, including universities, NGOs, and the private sector. It has a staff of >500 based in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Benin. The Centre’s research is structured around four research health themes (Human, Animal, Plant and Environmental Health) and employs a diverse range of science disciplines to achieve impact.

African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Sciences (ARPPIS)

The primary objective of the ARPPIS PhD Programme is to prepare young researchers from Africa to be globally competitive in research and development environments within national, regional and international research programmes. At icipe, ARPPIS scholars are provided with excellent research facilities in an interdisciplinary environment within a structured, three-year PhD programme that includes research, training, developing research partnerships, publishing scientific articles, writing grant proposals, and attending scientific meetings and international conferences. Scholars conduct strategic, innovative research at icipe’s laboratories and field sites located in different agro-ecological zones.

A PhD student position is available in the field of agricultural economics, with a focus on the one health impact of insect farming in Eastern Africa.

The PhD study is part of the project “Scaling regenerative black soldier fly farming innovations with vegetable push-pull cropping systems for One Health in Rural Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda” granted to the International Centre of Insect Physiology Ecology (icipe) and funded by the IKEA Foundation. This is a four-year project support to icipe and partners to integrate and upscale black soldier fly farming with smallholder vegetable push-pull cropping for better agri-based livelihoods in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. You can find additional information about the project in the link below.

http://www.icipe.org/news/ikea-foundation-provides-usd-5-million-grant-icipe-one-health-initiative

  • PhD project available to nationals of sub-Saharan countries: Project details available here
  • The student will be jointly supervised by university professors and researchers from the Social Sciences and Impact Assessment Unit of icipe.
  • The PhD position provides a stipend and health insurance. It will cover also other costs such as visa, office, conferences, and research costs.
  • Successful candidate will be a competent PhD student and must have a strong motivation to conduct independent research in the field of agricultural economics.

Eligibility criteria

  • A citizen of a country in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Bachelor’s degree with above average results (at least Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent).
  • Master’s degree with above average results (at least Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent), taken with both coursework and research in the field relevant to the PhD project (Project details available here).
  • Master’s degree must have been completed less than six years ago at the time of application.
  • Completed application form, PhD project concept note based on the PhD project and accompanying supporting documents.
  • Good working knowledge of written and spoken English.
  • Clearly show motivation and strong commitment.
  • Candidates who are staff members of a public university, or considered for university teaching or research staff recruitment, are encouraged to apply.
  • Qualified female candidates and candidates from less privileged regions or groups as well as candidates with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Application Procedure

A. Download and complete the scholarship Application Form

  1. To download the Application Form as a doc file click here
  2. To download the Application Form as a docx file click here

B. Go to the online application platform by clicking here to apply and upload the following documents:

  • Completed application form
  • Curriculum Vitae (please use the Europass Format: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu)
  • Certified copies of official university certificates and transcripts, and any other professional or academic certificates. Please combine into 1 file. If necessary, you may zip the file to make it smaller for uploading. For pdf files, can reduce the size using the online tool at https://smallpdf.com/compress-pdf
  • Copy of a signed recommendation letter from your employer (if currently employed) or University where MSc was undertaken. The letter must be on institute letterhead.
  • Close-up photograph in colour of your full head and upper shoulders (passport-style photograph)
  • Copy of National ID
  • For foreign nationals, copy of Passport biodata page (the page that has your picture and personal details)

Timeline

Closing date for applications 14th March 2023. Successful candidates will be notified by April 2023. The PhD positions will be a 3-year doctoral training by research: start: May 2023, end: April 2026.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the ARPPIS PhD Programme or your application to icipe, kindly contact Ms. Vivian Atieno, Capacity Building Officer, icipe. Email: vatieno@icipe.org
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