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Latest News Dr sylvia meekandrsquo s legacy lives on in scholarship for entomology students

Call for applications to our Dr Sylvia Meek scholarship for entomology in Nigeria

25 July 2017

Malaria Consortium is proud to announce its partnership with University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to continue Dr Sylvia Meek’s legacy through the Dr Sylvia Meek Scholarship for Entomology.

The Scholarship for Entomology has been set up in the memory of Dr Sylvia Meek, Malaria Consortium’s Global Technical Director whose untimely passing away in 2016 has left a big void in the fight against infectious diseases, and malaria in particular.

Both Malaria Consortium and University of Nigeria are committed to ensure Sylvia's values are carried on by the future generation of entomologists in Africa. Sylvia was not only a great scientist but someone with great compassion who was an inspiration to her associates and colleagues.

The scholarship, established in Sylvia’s honour by Malaria Consortium, will empower a new generation of public health entomologists and malaria staff in Africa and Asia. Given the limited number of field-oriented vector biologists, and the challenges African countries face in achieving malaria elimination, this scholarship is a great opportunity to support the next generation of public health entomologists in support of this quest.

Malaria Consortium is delighted that University of Nigeria is hosting recipients of the scholarship. University of Nigeria is the first indigenous university established in 1960, following the country’s independence. It is a land-grant university and according to webometric ranking (2017), University of Nigeria ranks among the top five universities in Nigeria.

The University of Nigeria will be accepting two scholarship students in 2017 for a two-year Master’s programme in Entomology at the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, starting mid-October. 

  

Who can apply for the Dr Sylvia Meek Scholarship for Entomology at University of Nigeria?

  • Nationals from the following countries can apply: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
  • Applicants need to have successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree
  • Applicants should have good knowledge of English (the language of instruction)
  • Applicants should demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, entomology and the control of vector borne diseases.
  • Mid-career applications will be considered along with fresh graduates.

 

Application and Selection Procedure

First step

Applicants should apply for their studies at University of Nigeria  by submitting the following documents to the Dean of the postgraduate school, Professor P Osadebe ([email protected]) and to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, James Ogbonna ([email protected]):

  1. An application letter, stating the area of entomology you intend to specialise in
  2. Bachelor’s degree certificate
  3. Bachelor’s degree academic transcript (grade report where the completed courses are listed)
  4. For those applicants from countries where English is not the official language: English proficiency test result or any other proof of proficiency in English

Please submit these documents no later than Sunday 27th August 2017.

University of Nigeria will screen, pre-select and shortlist applicants. The shortlist will be submitted to a scholarship selection panel comprising of University of Nigeria and Malaria Consortium vector control experts.

Second step

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to send to the scholarship selection panel the following:

  1. Personal statement written in English of no more than 500 words indicating why you would like to study entomology
  2. Two recommendations (can be professional or academic references)

Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process by Friday 15th September 2017.

Third step:

Selected students will start the academic year mid-October.

 

Financial aspects

The Dr Sylvia Meek Scholarship for Entomology will cover all tuition fees, a research study allowance, upkeep costs such as accommodation and board, an allowance to travel to Nigeria (if non-national) and return home after the course, health insurance and stationery costs for the duration of the MSc. degree, i.e. a maximum of two years, by which time the students should finish their degree.

Country: Nigeria

Dr Sylvia Meek’s legacy lives on in scholarship for entomology students: Asia

25 July 2017
16 June 2017

Malaria Consortium is proud to announce its partnership with Mahidol University’s Faculty of Tropical Medicine (FTM) in Bangkok to continue Sylvia Meek’s legacy through the Dr Sylvia Meek FTM Scholarship for Entomology.

The Scholarship for Entomology has been set up in the memory of Malaria Consortium’s Global Technical Director, whose untimely passing away in 2016 has left a big void in the fight against infectious diseases, and malaria in particular.

Both Malaria Consortium and FTM are committed to ensuring Sylvia's values are carried on by Asia’s future entomologists. Sylvia was a great scientist, her dedication and compassion were an inspiration to her associates and colleagues and her legacy will support a new generation of public health specialists in Africa and Asia.

The scholarship, established by Malaria Consortium, is a very fitting tribute to a woman with such vision and passion. Given the shortage of field-oriented vector biologists, and the threats undermining progress towards malaria elimination, this fellowship offers a great opportunity to support public health entomologist students to help move South and Southeast Asia forward on the path to malaria elimination.

In Asia, FTM will be hosting the scholarship, which will support two students through a two-year Masters’ programme in tropical medicine specialised in medical entomology starting in August 2017, one being selected from the countries of the Greater Mekong sub-region and one from South Asia.  It is our intention for this scholarship to be in place for at least a second intake in 2018.

Malaria Consortium is delighted that FTM is supporting the scholarship. The university is a global centre of excellence for entomology, vector control, malaria elimination and tropical medicine. Malaria Consortium is also holding discussions with African universities, allowing for the same number of African students to be eligible for scholarships in due course.   

 

Who can apply for the scholarship at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Tropical Medicine?

  • Nationals from South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, the People's Republic of China = specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam), and nationals from Indonesia and the Philippines can apply.
  • Applicants must have successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree and be able to demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, entomology and the control of vector borne diseases.
  • Mid-career applications will be considered along with fresh graduates

 

How to apply?

Applicants interested in the scholarship should provide the following information by 14 July 2017:

  1. Personal data
  2. Background
  3. Two recommendations (these can be professional or academic references)
  4. Certificate of health[1]

Applicants should also submit a copy of his/her degree transcript (grade report where the completed courses are listed) and a copy of the degree certificate.

Please send your application forms and aforementioned documents directly to: [email protected]

 

Timeline

The application will be considered by the Program Committee at its July meeting (2nd week of July). The Program Committee will look at the students’ qualifications as outlined in the submission forms. 

Following the Program Committee recommendation, a short list will be developed and a Scholarship Committee comprising both Mahidol University and Malaria Consortium vector control experts will decide on the final applicants to receive the scholarship. 

Selected applicants will receive acceptance letters during the first week of August.

Mahidol University Faculty of Tropical Medicine is able to initiate the scholarship on 15 August 2017.

 

Financial aspects

The Dr Sylvia Meek FTM Scholarship for Entomology will cover all tuition, room and board, transportation, health insurance and stationery costs for the entire duration of masters study (for a maximum of two years, by which time the students need to finish their degree.

 

[1] This form is a Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) requirement. It will not affect the selection process. Applicants can also submit it after they are accepted; however it is needed before sending the whole application package to FGS.

 

 

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