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Global Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Aga Khan University

Entity

Aga Khan University

Location

Kenya

Introduction

The goal of this Fellowship Program is to strengthen capacity for global mental health implementation science in South/Central Asia and/or East Africa. The Fellowship Program is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute and the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School. The Program supports post-doctoral research fellows in conducting implementation science research designed to translate prevention, assessment, and treatment interventions to specific settings and vulnerable populations in low- and middle- income countries.

Responsibilities

Year 1: Harvard Medical School
The first year will be spent at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. During this foundational year, the Post-Doctoral Fellows will work closely with a nominated Harvard faculty member(s) to draft an implementation science research proposal, acquire the research skills for its conduct, and prepare for its implementation in Year 2.

The Post-Doctoral Fellows will get to draft an Individual Development Plan (IDP) following guidance from the NIH and Harvard Medical School Office for Postdoctoral Fellows (see for example Tools & Resources | HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows (harvard.edu)). The IDPs will be developed and finalized by the Fellow during the first two months of the fellowship collaboratively with Harvard and AKU faculty mentors. The IDP will involve working with a research committee that will include other AKU or Harvard collaborating faculty members to provide additional methods or content expertise for the Fellow’s research project.

The Fellows will have access to the Harvard research and training environment, including courses, seminar series and conferences. The Fellows will present research proposals, attend symposia, and participate in other networks of thematic interest, for example the early child development or implementation science groups coordinated by the Department.

Year 2: Aga Khan University
During the second year, the Fellow will implement the project, which was developed in year 1, at the home AKU campus in East Africa or South/Central Asia, under the supervision of selected mentor(s) at AKU. The Fellows will retain visiting appointments in Harvard with full access to all academic and networking opportunities. The Harvard mentor(s) will continue to offer supervision and guidance, in collaboration with the AKU mentor(s) , with two key goals: the successful completion of the study leading to at least one peer-reviewed publication; and the planning for at least one grant application for a new research project.

Faculty Mentorship
The Fellows will have regular (at least monthly) research and progress assessment meetings with their Harvard faculty mentor for the full two years of the fellowship. Each Fellow will also have an AKU mentor, identified by the AKU program leadership, thus paving the way for a collaborative relationship between senior faculty in both Universities.

Requirements

The Fellowship Program is open to individuals who have received their PhD or completed their MD with a research thesis degree by December 01, 2024. Additionally, applicants should have a record of academic achievement (for example, prior peer-reviewed publications), and have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in global mental health research, particularly in service to the geographies served by Aga Khan University and the Aga Khan Development Network. The Fellowship Program is open to any qualified candidate.

Selection Criteria
In addition to consideration of the candidate’s potential fulfilment of all aspects of the program
as outlined above, the selection process will include consideration of the following:
  1. Commitment to the fields of global mental health and implementation science.
  2. Commitment to the special needs of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially those served by Aga Khan University (AKU) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). 
  3. Demonstrated academic excellence and/or knowledge/experience in LMICs.
  4. Desire to establish a career in the geographies served by AKU and AKDN.

To Apply

​Interested applicants should submit the following as one PDF to Dr. Zul Merali, Director, Brain and Mind Institute,  brain&mind@aku.edu for consideration:

  1. Curriculum Vitae. 
  2. Cover letter outlining interest in the fellowship.
  3. Personal statement of no more than1,000 words addressing the candidate’s passion for a career in impactful research on mental health in LMICs, or how the candidate demonstrates commitment to the issues and countries where they plan to carry out future work.
  4. Writing samples or publication examples (no more than three total)
  5. Names and contact information of three references. 
  6. Confirmation of completion of an MD with a research thesis degree or award of a PhD by December 01, 2024 .

Submit items as one consolidated PDF document titled “[your last name, first initial] _GMH2024” by September 30, 2024. 

Harvard equal opportunity employer statement

Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applications from women and underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged.

Aga Khan University adheres to the same equal opportunity employment principles and practices.

Applications should be submitted latest by September 30, 2024