The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics (BI), Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) and University of Oxford Ethox Centre (Ethox) invite applications for the Fogarty African Bioethics Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program (FAB-PDF) – an 18-month advanced bioethics postdoctoral training program for scholars from sub-Saharan Africa who hold a bioethics-related PhD. Funded by the Fogarty International Center, NIH, USA, the program focuses broadly on global health ethics, with particular opportunities for fellows to concentrate on issues involving global infectious disease ethics and advanced international research ethics. The fellowship will begin approximately January 13, 2025.

Opportunities

• Complete fellowship activities across multiple institutional contexts:
  • 4.5 months based at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, USA
  • 1 month based at MakCHS in Kampala, Uganda
  • 1 month based at Ethox in Oxford, UK
  • 11.5 months based at the postdoctoral fellow’s home institution
• Access bioethics mentorship, coursework, seminars and scholarly/practice/training networks
• Conduct individual and international collaborative mentored research and writing
• Participate in international global health ethics and research ethics conferences
• Plan and complete a funded global health ethics leadership project

Eligibility

• Current national of a country in sub-Saharan Africa
• Completed a bioethics-related PhD or related doctoral research degree, generally within 5 yrs of the fellowship start

Preference will be given to candidates who:

• Previously completed an NIH Fogarty-sponsored bioethics training (at any level)
• Previously worked on global health ethics, infectious disease ethics, or international research ethics topics
• Have strong discipline-appropriate methods training used to conduct bioethics research and writing
• Have a record of bioethics scholarly publication, presentation, and/or professional service
• Hold a faculty position in an institution of higher-education in sub-Saharan Africa, or demonstrate institutional commitment to providing such a position

Salary/Benefits

• Stipend of $4,707 USD/month (pre-tax) to cover accommodations, meals, and incidentals during the 6.5 months while in residency at BI, MakCHS and Ethox, plus health benefits
• Airfare, ground transport and visa fees for residency requirements; modest budgets for leadership project,technology and supplies; fee coverage for required courses and conference registration

Applications are due by June 1, 2024 and must be uploaded via Interfolio (http://apply.interfolio.com/143696).

Candidates must submit:

• CV
• Personal statement describing: 1) motivation to pursue the fellowship, 2) nature of previous bioethics training, 3) bioethics scholarly research and writing interests, including description of any works in progress that will be completed during the fellowship, and 4) idea(s) for a potential leadership project (nature of the project, how it aligns with local priorities, personal skills that will be advanced, and any relevant preparations)
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• One (1) letter of institutional commitment, signaling sufficient leave from employment for all fellowship activities, and a commitment to, at minimum, position retention and support in undertaking the leadership project and in integrating bioethics capacity on completion
• Copies of graduate transcript(s)

For more information, please contact Joseph Ali, JD ([email protected]) and/or Nancy E. Kass, ScD ([email protected]).

The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities at the University of Oxford have established a Collaborative Bioethics Research and Training Program with support from the Wellcome Trust.  Through this partnership, we have created joint post-doctoral training opportunities.  We are pleased to invite applications from uniquely qualified individuals who are committed to interdisciplinary and transnational collaboration and who have a particular interest in the ethical issues at the intersection of global health and infectious disease.  This two-year fellowship will begin September 1, 2024.

Qualifications, Responsibilities and Opportunities

• Doctoral-level degree in bioethics, philosophy, public health, law, medicine, social science, history or other relevant discipline, with fewer than five years of post-PhD research by the start date.
• Scholarly interests in ethical issues at the intersection of global health and infectious disease.
• Primary, in-residence appointment at Johns Hopkins and a residency requirement at the Wellcome Center. The exact nature, duration and timing of the Oxford residency is flexible and case-specific.
• Fellows will become integrated members of the ongoing post-doctoral training programs at both Institutions and have access to a wide range of activities and opportunities, including:
  • Regular seminars, presentations and discussions with leaders in the field;
  • Individualized research program;
  • Bioethics coursework and mentorship;
  • Professional development training;
  • Teaching opportunities (commensurate with experience and background);
  • Participation in outreach efforts via social media

Salary/Benefits

• $62,500 per year, plus health benefits
• Travel for the residency requirement and modest living expenses when overseas
• A modest discretionary fund for travel to relevant conferences

To apply: The application window is now open. Applications are due by May 10, 2024 and must be uploaded via Interfolio (http://apply.interfolio.com/143815). Applications should include:   

• Cover Letter
• Personal statement in support of your application
• CV
• Copy of Graduate Transcript(s)
• Writing Sample
• Two Letters of Reference

For more information on the Berman-Oxford Joint Post-doctoral Fellowship Program, please contact the Berman Institute’s Director of Education Initiatives (Gail Geller, ScD, MHS at [email protected]) or Associate Director for Global Programs (Joseph Ali, JD at [email protected]).