The MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit is an internationally recognized centre of
excellence with research themes in the areas of HIV and emerging infections, vaccines and
immunity, and chronic diseases and cancer. The Unit has a Disability Research Group (DRG)
which aims to further research on disability and inclusion of persons with disabilities in research.
Project
The DRG has received funding from the Wellcome Trust to conduct a project titled ‘Disability
Inclusive Youth (DIY) research: an innovative and co-creative programme to improve inclusion
of children and youth in health research in East Africa.’ This is implemented together with the
University of Nairobi and the University of Rwanda, and the Ugandan, Kenyan and Rwandan
National Councils for Persons with Disabilities.
The DIY program aims to explore barriers and facilitators to the inclusion of children and youth
with disabilities in health research, co-create solutions to make health research in East Africa
disability disability-inclusive, and create a disability knowledge and research centre to inform
and support inclusive health research in the region.
In Uganda, we are therefore seeking 4 (four) young people with disabilities to participate in a
3-year training and research program on disability inclusive health research, starting in June
2025 alongside colleagues in Kenya and Rwanda.
Job description
The youth researchers will work with the DIY principal investigator and co-investigators, study
coordinators, and respective research team in Uganda. The youth researchers will receive
training in research methods and will participate in fieldwork activities, including seeking
informed consent, collecting qualitative data, co-facilitating participatory action workshops, and
engaging in youth-led knowledge sharing over a period of 3 years with renumeration. We aim
to select 4 youth with disabilities, representative of different impairment groups, gender, age,
and social-economic background. Reasonable accommodations will be provided.
Who can apply
Young people aged between 18 and 34 years old who have a disability.
Candidates should possess at least a Bachelor’s degree.
They should be available for a period of 3 years,
2
They should have the ability to speak and write in English and speak at least two local languages
or sign language.
They should have the right to work in Uganda.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications online:
– Complete all sections in the online form
https://redcap.link/DIY_Intern_Youth_Researcher
– Upload your curriculum vitae of maximum 4 pages in the designated area on the form.
This CV should be uploaded in Word or PDF format.
– Submit your 500 words motivation statement in the designated area in the form. In this
statement, please explain why you would like to participate in this project, why you think
you are the right person for this, and how you think participating in this project will
benefit you and your community.
The deadline for application is 15th May 2025, 5:00 pm.
Candidates will receive a notification in their email if their application and documentation have
been successfully received.
Upon pre-selection interviews will be held in the week of May 19th. In person interview rounds
will be held in each country. Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited. Certification
of disability status may be requested from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities or
similar authority in Uganda.
Questions about this advert or the application process should be addressed to the DIY Study
Coordinator, andrew.ssemata@mrcuganda.org, Disability Research Group, MRC/ UVRI and
LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda