Crick African Network workshop in Ghana

The Francis Crick Institute and the University of Ghana are inviting applications for a new training workshop on research methods, provided through the capacity development component of the Crick African Network, which is supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund of Research Councils (UK).

Across Africa there are talented scientists who have achieved their PhDs and are poised to improve medical outcomes in their countries, through research into the infections that blight the continent. However, that ambition is curtailed by a lack of funding and facilities and a shortage of mentoring. This is what the Crick African Network aims to address.

The Crick African Network (consisting of the Crick and five leading African partner institutions) is seeking out the best and brightest postdoctoral researchers and providing resources to help them reach the next level.

This workshop tackles the challenges of high-quality research study design and proposal development in the context of improving understanding and management of the major communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa.

The workshop aims to:

• Increase postdocs knowledge of the principles of good study design, in order to give them the tools needed to yield valid results and proceed with a research programme;
• Develop researcher-proposed study concepts into more advanced proposals;
• Expose participants to the range of challenges in research design and proposal writing, including common pitfalls and mistakes;
• Provide an understanding of the relationship between statistical concepts and research study design;
• Develop a cadre of well-trained researchers;
• Identify potential candidates for the Crick African Network career accelerator awards (to be advertised after the workshop)

The workshop will be held at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens at the University of Ghana, on 15 and 16 December 2017.

For more information on the workshop, eligibility criteria and how to apply please see the announcement and application form.