Do you build models that help health teams plan for outbreaks? Then this fellowship may be made for you. The IDM-Africa Fellowship 2027 is a 12 month infectious disease modelling fellowship for scientists in Sub Saharan Africa. You get mentorship from leading modellers. You also get a clear path to turn your own data into a paper and a policy brief.
There are only 3 positions this round. Applications close on 30 October 2026 at 5:00 pm. The portal does not name a time zone. So apply early.
This is not a beginner course. You must already have real modelling experience. The advert also does not state a stipend. Read all the details below before you start.
Last Information Checked: 24 October 2026
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme in Infectious Disease Modelling |
| Coordinating centre | Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) at Makerere University |
| Length | 12 months |
| Positions | 3 (2 in Kampala, Uganda and 1 in Bamako, Mali) |
| Format | 1 month in person then 11 months online |
| Time needed | Full time in month 1 and about 4 hours a day online |
| Who can apply | Early career and mid career scientists in Sub Saharan Africa |
| Advert posted | 8 October 2026 |
| Deadline | 30 October 2026 |
About the IDM-Africa Training Hub
Sub-Saharan Africa needs more local modellers. Their work gives evidence for outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance. It also helps with other public health priorities. IDM-Africa is a strategic training hub built to grow this skill.
The hub runs workshops for early-career and mid-career researchers. The fellowship is the advanced track. The advert says it is for scientists who already have training and practical modelling experience. Fellows build a policy-relevant project using their own data. They then turn the results into a paper and advice for policymakers.
The partners are IDI at Makerere University and the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB). Amsterdam UMC is also a partner. Placements this round are at the African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences. That means ACE Uganda in Kampala or ACE B in Bamako.
How the 12 Months Work
- Month 1: You join the host site in person for a placement. You work with mentors to shape your project.
- Months 2 to 12: You continue online. Plan for about 4 hours a day on fellowship work.
- You meet your mentor at least once every two weeks.
- You send progress updates every two weeks and quarterly performance reports through the IDI iBRIDGE system.
- You join monthly peer fellow meetings and quarterly review meetings.
What Fellows Must Deliver
- A documented and validated infectious disease model with reproducible code in R or Python or similar software
- A final project report for the IDM-Africa coordinating centre at IDI
- A manuscript sent as lead author to a peer-reviewed open-access journal
- A policy brief as lead author for policymakers
- Progress presentations at the quarterly review meetings
- Findings presented at a workshop or regional scientific conference
- A talk at the annual IDM-Africa policy translation workshop
You get a certificate of completion only after you finish all agreed requirements. The workload is real. Think of it as a working fellowship.
Host Sites and Language
| Host site | Positions | Language |
|---|---|---|
| IDI and ACE Uganda in Kampala | 2 | English (open to fluent English speakers from other African countries) |
| ACE B and USTTB in Bamako | 1 | French (open to fluent French speakers from other African countries) |
You must name your preferred host site in your application. You must also explain why it suits you.
Fellowship Benefits
- Structured mentorship from modellers and infectious disease experts
- Guidance from policy specialists at partner institutions
- One month of intensive project development at your host site
- A mentor session at least once every two weeks
- Peer learning activities and monthly peer fellow meetings
- Code and data review support
- Training in scientific writing and policy communication
- A chance to work with public health stakeholders where relevant
- A platform to present your findings at a regional conference and the annual policy workshop
- A certificate of completion
Who Can Apply
You must meet all of these.
- You are affiliated with an institution in Sub Saharan Africa and within the EDCTP Association. The advert does not list the countries.
- You live in an eligible country or can move there for the placement.
- You hold a master’s degree in a quantitative field such as mathematics physics data science or statistics. A health related field also counts. You also need short term training in infectious disease modelling. A PhD holder or student in these fields can also apply.
- You have practical modelling experience. You led a large part of a modelling project. This is mostly the mathematical modelling part.
- You are skilled in at least one tool such as R or Python or MATLAB. You can manage datasets and build models. You can run simulations and read the results.
- You show a clear commitment to a career in infectious disease modelling.
- You can work with epidemiologists and public health officers and policymakers.
- You can attend the full one month placement and the 11 months online.
- You will complete all agreed outputs.
- You are not affiliated with IDI at Makerere University or ACE B at USTTB.
You should apply if:
- You have already led part of an infectious disease model
- You have your own data for the project
- Your employer can give you at least 50% protected time
- You want to publish as lead author and write a policy brief
You should skip if:
- You work at IDI Makerere University or at ACE B or USTTB
- You are new to modelling and have not led any modelling work
- Your employer cannot support the time needed
- You cannot attend the full month of in person placement
How To Apply Step By Step
- Open the IDI recruitment portal at idi.mak.ac.ug/opportunities. Sign up or log in.
- Find the advert titled IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme in Infectious Disease Modelling. The portal lists it as IDM-Africa fellow with job code IDMA003.
- Click Apply.
- Put your full application in one PDF file. It must include:
- A current CV
- Certified copies of your academic certificates and transcripts
- A scanned copy of your national ID or passport
- Two recommendation letters from current or past supervisors or mentors
- A statement of your career goals and why you want to work in infectious disease modelling
- Your preferred host site (ACE Uganda or ACE B) with a short reason
- A description of your project with the research question and methods and expected public health value
- A statement on the policy impact of your work and how you will help findings get used
- A short description of the data you will use to build and test your model
- A letter from your home institution backing your participation
- Check that the institution letter promises at least 50% protected time for the 11 online months. The advert says it should also support your manuscript and policy brief and visualisation or dashboard outputs.
- Upload the PDF and submit before 30 October 2026 at 5:00 pm.
You can also use the direct apply link. The advert says all applications must go through the official IDI portal.
Key Dates
- 8 October 2026: Advert posted on the IDI portal
- 30 October 2026 at 5:00 pm: Applications close (time zone not stated)