Overview

The program is intended to increase the capacity of faculty at Addis Ababa University (AAU) and University of Nairobi (UoN) (and eventually other universities in Ethiopia and Kenya) in various areas of data science. The mentoring program began with a first cohort of scholars encompassing the most senior members of the team (two from each country) with the main focus on training in advanced data science techniques, curriculum development for the MS degree programs, and research immersion in collaboration with the partner projects, as appropriate. The length of the core mentoring program is one year, but mentoring is expected to continue for long-term career development once a working relationship is established between the mentors and the Faculty Scholars. Each Faculty Scholar will work with 1-2 mentors from CU, matched for areas of expertise. The second, third and fourth cohorts will be progressively more junior, at which stage the mentoring process will involve senior mentors from both CU and AAU and/or UofN. Finally, all members of the various cohorts will be further engaged in Year 5 of the project for more in-depth scale development and experience sharing along with exploration of regional and programmatic (e.g., PhD) expansions.  

Recruitment

We will identify candidates for training who demonstrate commitment to careers addressing critical issues in public health data science in their respective countries and across Eastern Africa. Key characteristics will include grounding in the technical quantitative competencies that are crucial for a successful career in data science, prior training in one or more key pillars of data science [e.g. Mathematics, (Bio)statistics, Computer Science, Information Science], fundamental tools of public health research; a record that includes some relevant research; willingness to engage in core technical research and transdisciplinary activities that will improve public health research; and a mindset that embraces teaching, leadership collaboration, and public service. Candidates will be identified through rigorous search processes in Ethiopia and Kenya that identify promising candidates for data science scholarship and leadership among AAU and UoN faculty members and their academic affiliates within each country.  

The Faculty Scholar application process includes:

1. a three-page personal statement on interest in a career in public health data science. The statement will include an assessment of prior experience and training around key themes and the training that the candidate is seeking to address any gaps in their experience
2. two letters of reference
3. a curriculum vitae demonstrating outstanding academic achievements and research potential
4. an institutional letter of support for the candidate, documenting that the candidate will have time for the one-year training period and that the institution is committed to supporting the candidate in pursuing the agenda of the initiative.

Candidates will be evaluated by the MPIs and the TAC to assess their strengths and suitability for the Faculty Scholar role and the level of institutional commitment.  

Mentoring process

Each faculty scholar will be assigned a primary and a secondary mentor from CU, initially, and from AAU and/or UoN for latter cohorts. The scope of training will be both general, i.e., core competency in key areas of data science complementary to the scholar’s existing strengths, and specific, such as specialty training on the chosen area of data science with focus on inter- disciplinary research. A flexible array of educational modalities will be used that will include stays of limited length at CU for immersion, focused mentoring, and experience sharing; in-country workshops and short courses; distance-based approaches that are both asynchronous and synchronous; and use of selected local courses and/or virtual attendance of training modules from CU. Their main training will extend over a year, beginning with a 1-2 week stay in the United States based on tailored Individual Development Plans for each Faculty Scholar. Progress will be tracked throughout the year by the primary and secondary mentors, the MPIs and the TAC. Longer term career development monitoring will be conducted by the project through integration of the faculty scholars in project activities and ongoing short-term training opportunities. The training regimen will include skill building to ensure long-term research career sustainability, such as scientific writing and presentation, grant writing, and expertise in research administration and management of intellectual property.