IDM-Africa Infectious-Disease Modelling Fellowship 2026

IDM-Africa is recruiting three early- and mid-career scientists from sub-Saharan Africa for a 12-month fellowship in infectious-disease modelling. Fellows will develop an applied, policy-relevant modelling project using their own data, supported by experienced modellers, infectious-disease specialists and policy experts. Two positions are hosted through IDI/ACE-Uganda in Kampala for applicants fluent in English. One position is hosted through ACE-Mali/USTTB in Bamako for applicants fluent in French. The programme begins with a one-month, full-time in-person placement at the selected host institution, followed by 11 months of online mentorship requiring about four hours per day. Fellows will refine a research question, prepare and analyse data, build and validate an infectious-disease model, strengthen reproducible research practice, and receive code, data, scientific-writing and policy-communication support. Expected outputs include reproducible model code, a final project report, a lead-author open-access journal manuscript, a policy brief and presentations at a regional scientific meeting and the IDM-Africa policy translation workshop. The official advert does not state a stipend, travel allowance or accommodation support. Applications must be submitted through the official IDI recruitment portal as one PDF. The package must include a current CV; certified academic certificates and transcripts; a national ID or passport copy; two recommendation letters; a career-goals and motivation statement; preferred host site and rationale; a proposed modelling project with research question, methods and public-health relevance; expected policy implications; a description of the data to be used; and a home-institution commitment letter confirming at least 50% protected time during the online phase. The deadline is 30 October 2026 at 17:00. The official advert does not specify a timezone, so applicants should submit early.

Applicants must be affiliated with an institution in sub-Saharan Africa that is within the EDCTP Association, and must be resident in or willing to relocate to an eligible sub-Saharan African country for the placement. They need a master's degree in a quantitative discipline such as mathematics, physics, data science or statistics, or in a health-related field, together with short-term infectious-disease modelling training. Current PhD candidates and PhD holders in these fields may also apply. Candidates must have practical infectious-disease modelling experience, including leading a substantial part of a modelling project, and proficiency in R, Python, MATLAB or an equivalent platform. They must be able to manage data, formulate models, run simulations and interpret results, work in interdisciplinary teams, attend the full one-month placement, commit about 50% full-time equivalent during the remaining 11 months, and complete all fellowship outputs. Applicants affiliated with partner institutions, including IDI/Makerere University in Uganda and ACE-B/USTTB in Mali, are not eligible. English fluency is required for the two Uganda positions, while French fluency is required for the Mali position.