PhD Program Coordinator

Background

The Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) is a World Bank-supported African center of excellence for education and research at the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University. The main aim of CDT-Africa is to serve as a platform for equitable access to interventions (medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and complex interventions) and bring about sustainable development in Africa through high-quality capacity development for innovative medical discovery.

As part of this effort, CDT-Africa would like to hire an experienced PhD Program Coordinator who can coordinate all matters related to the PhD programs of the Center: teaching-learning, resource acquisition, dissertation, and completion of the PhD training.

Duties and Responsibilities

• At a minimum, the responsibilities of the PhD Program Coordinator are:
• Serves as a point person and information source for Faculty and PhD students;
• Coordinates the selection and inclusion of guest professors in consultation with Faculty;
• Assists Faculty in some teaching and laboratory demonstration sessions;
• Coordinates students’ attachments and site visits to external institutions;
• Supports students in their proposal and thesis works;
• Follow-up and manage the timely completion of course works and exams;
• Oversees the PhD day-to-day teaching-learning activities;
• Ensures the students have the support and regular resources including classrooms, workspaces, and laboratories required to undertake effective academic and research works;
• Ensures that assigned supervisors are monitoring progress effectively;
• Keeps copies of students’ grade reports, research protocols, and all correspondence about their academic and research works;
• Creates opportunities for experience sharing and research dissemination, including conferences, seminars, and panel discussion events where the PhD students present their progress to a wider community;
• Creates short-term training opportunities for PhD students relevant to their projects;
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

No. Required: One

Location: CDT-Africa office, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University

Terms of Employment: One year on a full-time basis, with the possibility of extension

Start Date: As soon as possible

Qualification and experience

• Holds PhD in biomedical sciences relevant to translational medicine;

• Proven familiarity with specific university legislations and administrative processes, and more desirable if the candidate has prior experience of the academic system and culture of the Addis Ababa University;

• Being active in research within the last five years as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, grants, or other such expressions appropriate to translational medicine;

• Preferably in active contact with national, regional, and international academic institutions.

Other Competencies

• Ability to work collaboratively with CDT-Africa Faculty and staff and build trust in colleagues; able to foster cooperation among academic and research teams and relevant stakeholders.

Accountability

• The PhD Program Coordinator is responsible for reporting on activities to the CDT-Africa Training Lead, individual program coordinators and the Center Leader.