Call for application for internship with Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) in Geneva
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Call for application for internship with Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) in Geneva. Application to be sent to gs@ifmsa.org and colinbrown@doctors.net.uk. Deadline is Midnight GMT 25 June 2007.
Key Benefits
· International research experience at a renowned centre of health research in Geneva (Council on Health Research for Development)
· Opportunity to present findings in an address at an international health research conference (Global Forum for Health Research – Beijing, China, October 2007)
· Publication of results through COHRED in high level research journal
· Research will be used to develop youth health researcher award
Application
Please submit a copy of your CV and brief letter of application including relevant research experience and availability to reside in Geneva between July and September by June 25th. Applications and enquiries should be sent to gs@ifmsa.org and colinbrown@doctors.net.uk
Project Summary
As detailed below please find the opportunity to collaborate in a research project based at the Council on Heath Research and Development ( www.cohred.ch) in Geneva this summer. The selected individual will work within a respected international health research organisation investigating capacity development initiatives targeted at youth health researchers. The position will last for up to three months (depending on the candidate's availability this summer) and will be supervised by Andrew Kennedy, a senior research officer. The findings of the research will be discussed with a group of relevant experts and this input will be fed into the final set of conclusions and recommendations for presentation at the 2007 Global Forum for Health Research conference held in Beijing, China in October ( www.globalforumhealth.org). The author would be invited to attend this conference to present their findings; other participants would included the project supervisors, IFMSA and International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation representatives together with key individuals from international organisations/donor agencies/foundations and other bodies representing researchers from Low and Middle Income Countries. It is anticipated that an article presenting the findings will be prepared and submitted for publication in a high level journal within 3 months of the end of the project.
Background
In 2005, the International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF), the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) and the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) embarked on a collaboration to examine what roles they could play in helping to build the next generation of research leaders.
One of the themes identified by the collaboration was a lack of funding opportunities for health researchers early in their careers, and this was considered particularly difficult for researchers in applied fields and from Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).
At the 2006 Global Forum for Health Research meeting in Cairo, Egypt, the collaboration hosted an open session to elicit the views of conference participants on a proposal to establish a funding scheme for early career researchers directed towards "research for health". A core component of the proposal was to broaden the scope of the scheme to cover career development, rather than just research capacity, by including formal mentoring and leadership training.
The response from participants was strongly in favour of the collaboration further examining the feasibility of the concept, in particular on issues around effective factors supporting career development.
Purpose
In response to the session feedback, the collaboration decided to establish two research projects. The purposes of the projects are respectively as follows
- To better understand the "supply" side of health research capacity building for early career researchers. This will be done via a mapping exercise of international funding opportunities open to young researchers from LMICs,
- To identify effective models to mentor and strengthen leadership potential. This will be done via a literature review.
Findings from the research projects will undergo a consultative process before the conclusions are to be presented at the 12th Global Forum for Health Research conference in Beijing, China in October 2007.
Implementation
The research projects will each be of three months in duration and conducted in 2007. One student each will be selected from IFMSA and IPSF to undertake the projects. Reports are to be prepared by the students at the end of the study and will be used to inform the consultation.
Project 1
Host: COHRED Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
Supervisor: Dr Andrew Kennedy, Senior Research Officer, COHRED
Student Organisation: IFMSA
Aim: Map and evaluate international capacity development initiatives targeted to young health researchers from LMICs
Objectives:
* Identify and describe existing capacity building opportunities of international research and development programmes targeted to early career researchers, especially from low and middle-income countries
* Gather evaluation and other relevant documentation
* Examine outcomes of the identified initiatives
* Review the leadership and training components of key initiatives
Project 2
Host: University of London School of Pharmacy, London, UK
Supervisor: Dr Sarah Carter, Research Manager, University of London School of Pharmacy
Co-supervisor: Dr Andrew Kennedy, Senior Research Officer, COHRED
Student Organisation: IPSF
Aim: Tertiary review of career development literature to identify effective models for fostering leadership and research potential.
Objectives:
* Conduct a literature review of published papers and grey literature on the role and impact of mentoring, leadership and team building training on early career researchers and research capacity.
* Examine the evidence base on the impact of international programmes that aim to develop leadership and research potential amongst young health researchers.
Consultation
An online consultation with early career researchers will be undertaken to elicit their views on the findings. A small group of experts and bodies representing the interests of researchers from LMICs will also be asked to review and comment on the research reports. This input will then be fed into the final set of conclusions and recommendations for presentation at the 2007 Global Forum for Health Research conference. Project supervisors, IPSF and IFMSA representatives together with key individuals from international organisations/donor agencies/foundations and other bodies representing researchers from LMICs will be invited to participate.
Publication
It is anticipated that an article presenting the findings will be prepared and submitted for publication in a high level journal within 3 months of the end of the project.
A jointly owned website will be established for the initiative. This will host background information, descriptions of planned activities, and a summary of the data collected through the internships.
Future activities
The results of the consultations will inform decisions on the further development of this initiative. This will include both the activities required to achieve the aims of the initiative and extending the collaboration to other bodies representing early career researchers from LMICs and fields that contribute to "research for health".
Responsibility and Liability
The organisations of the collaboration shall not be held liable for any matters relating to illness, personal injury, damage, or loss of the research interns. The interns are expected to provide their own medical and travel insurance, whichever applicable.
The internships shall be conducted in accordance to the Terms of References as stated in the appendices of this Memorandum. Interns will not be financially remunerated in any way.
The internships are not a promise of future employment.
The interns are responsible for and must fulfill visa, permit and residence requirements according to the law of the country of internship.
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The interns will not divulge information gathered as a result of their work with COHRED or the University of London or communicate to others information about COHRED or the University of London gathered as a result of being involved in its internal activities.
It is understood that in their work, while their may be in contact with others outside the organisation and school, the interns do not represent COHRED or the University of London and are not authorised to engage COHRED or the University of London in agreements with other individuals or organisations. The interns are also not authorised to engage IFMSA or IPSF in agreements with other individuals or organisations without permission from the Executive Committees of these organisations.
Appendix 1: Terms of References for Project 1 (Mapping)
International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation
International Federation of Medical Students' Associations
Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED)
Next Generation
TERMS OF REFERENCE
for Mapping Internship
Title
Internship
Contract Type
- Short-term
- 100%
Duration
§ 3 months
Location
Geneva, Switzerland .
Organisation
COHRED
Council on Health Research for Development
Programme
Next generation/Research Capacity Strengthening – Research and Development
Objectives of the programme
§ Map international career and capacity development programmes for early career health researchers open to low and middle income countries
Reporting to
· Andrew Kennedy
Main tasks and responsibilities of the position
Identify international career and capacity development programmes for early career health researchers open to low and middle income countries in research for health / health research for development
Review programme materials and any evaluation or annual reports
Describe the aims, capacities and characteristics of the programmes and any evidence used to support the capacity development approach adopted
Describe any career development components beyond research skills training (e.g. mentoring, leadership, team building, management etc.)
Produce a report of the project's findings and contribute to other outputs resulting from this work
Coordinate an online consultation exercise of the project's findings with young researchers
Other tasks as determined by the director of the organisation
Qualifications required
· Bachelors degree in a relevant discipline (health, development or social sciences)
Competencies required
· Good computer and web literacy
· Ability use initiative and work within a team environment
· Good communication skills
Competencies recommended
· Data management skills
Experience
· Experience of working or studying in Africa, or other developing country an advantage
Languages
· English
· Other languages an advantage
Other specific requirements
· Must fulfil residence requirements according to Swiss law.
Annual gross salary
· Internships are non-remunerated.
· Accident insurance will be covered by COHRED during the period of internship, according to Swiss law.
