Division of Biology and Medicine
Center for Global Health Equity
NEZLAMNI Research Training Program
NEZLAMNI Building Capacity in HIV/TB and Mental Health is a research training program designed to strengthen research capacity in HIV, tuberculosis (TB), substance use disorders (SUD), and mental health in conflict-affected settings. Now in it's second year, the program is recruiting Master's level, doctoral-level, or short course candidates.
NEZLAMNI Research Training Program
NEZLAMNI Building Capacity in HIV/TB and Mental Health is a research training program designed to strengthen research capacity in HIV, tuberculosis (TB), substance use disorders (SUD), and mental health in conflict-affected settings. Now in it's second year, the program is recruiting Master's level, doctoral-level, or short course candidates.
Recruitment
Check back in the Spring for PhD and Faculty Fellow applications.
Expression of Interest Forms Closed on October 15th
Qualified individuals will be invited to submit formal applications to the relevant university and/or invited to enroll in a short Implementation Science course.
Eligibility Criteria: We are seeking exceptionally qualified Ukrainian trainees who have a demonstrated interest in any research area related to HIV/AIDS and especially the interaction of HIV and TB, substance abuse, or mental health. MPH trainees must have, at a minimum, an undergraduate degree with prior research experience. Doctoral-level trainees must have, at a minimum, a master's degree and at least 3 years of relevant professional work and/or research experience. There are no minimum requirements for those interested in the short course. Applicants are expected to have an outstanding academic record and be committed to remaining in Ukraine and pursuing research focused broadly in one of the targeted areas of HIV research after completing their training.
The D43 graduate-level training program will provide:
- Full tuition, fees and a stipend to cover training-related costs associated with degree programs.
- Mentorship from U.S. and Ukrainian experts to complete an HIV-focused thesis.
- If selected by the D43 training program, all application fees, including TOEFL and transcript evaluation costs.
- Participation in an annual symposium for research dissemination and networking.
- Opportunities to participate in additional intensive training workshops and conferences.
- Travel funds for doctoral trainees are provided annually for travel to the county of Georgia.
- Eligibility for pilot research funding.
Short Course: Several slots are available to participate in a fully online implementation science short course organized through Brown University and NaUKMA, which will be held in synchronously in early 2027.
Upon successful completion of the online Implementation Science Short Course, trainees become eligible for seed grant funding ($3,000).
Faculty Fellowship: Faculty trainees will be paired with a Brown/BU mentor and will be able to participate in several remote courses to complement and provide structure to their training. Faculty fellows will receive 6 months of protected time to pursue efforts related to HIV research curricula development under the mentorship of international faculty.
Master of Public Health (MPH), School of Public Health, Brown University: MPH is completed entirely online within 16-24 months, with a May 2027 semester start date. More information, please visit: https://onlinemph.sph.brown.edu/
Doctoral Level Training:
PhD-level training is available through the program in Biomedical and Health Sciences at the David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU), in the country of Georgia. The PhD program will follow a hybrid format, allowing for training in Georgia as well as thesis-related research activities in Ukraine. PhD candidates are generally expected to complete their programs in 3-4 years.
As a partner institution in NEZLAMNI, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) offers a third-cycle PhD program in Psychology (specialty 053) through its Yukhymenko Family Doctoral School. The program is hosted by the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy within the Faculty of Health, Social Work and Psychology. It lasts four years and combines a two-year taught component (49 ECTS credits) with an independent dissertation project supervised by one or two academic advisors. Coursework helps doctoral students plan and conduct their own research and present the results in both Ukrainian and English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Research at the department centers on psychosocial support for displaced persons, veterans and conflict-affected communities, psychological resilience in crisis, and decision-making, conflict and leadership. The department works closely with the NaUKMA Centre for Mental Health, and doctoral students have the opportunity to join the Centre’s ongoing research projects, gaining hands-on experience in applied mental health research in conflict-affected settings. This makes the program a relevant option for trainees working on mental health in the context of war. Program documents, course syllabi and admission information are available on the NaUKMA website.
“ Participation in NEZLAMNI gave me the opportunity to deepen my knowledge and meet people who work on extremely useful and necessary fields in Ukraine. So I’m grateful for this opportunity, for the networking and to be able to hear in person about the journey of people who have already done significant work. ”
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