ANESVAD. Pre-doctoral or doctoral research fellowship on Access to Treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases in an Endemic Country

Fundación Anesvad

Vacancy: 1 pre-doctoral or doctoral fellowship.

ANESVAD. Pre-doctoral or doctoral research fellowship on Access to Treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases in an Endemic Country

Research Fellowship on the analysis of access to diagnosis and treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in an endemic country. Timely access to effective diagnosis and treatment for NTDs remains one of the main barriers to adequate management in endemic countries. This research aims to analyse the response capacity of a national health system in providing these services, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement. This analysis will contribute to understanding national supply mechanisms for essential medicines used in NTD treatment, regional inequalities in access, and structural limitations in pharmaceutical supply chains.

Vacancy: 1 pre-doctoral or doctoral fellowship
Modality: In person.
Place: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid.
Duration: 6 months.
Start/end date: February-September 2027 (approximate dates).
Language of research: English.
Academic requirements: Master’s degree or PhD in Public Health, Global Health, Pharmacy, Health Systems Research, Epidemiology, Sociology, Anthropology, Development Studies, or other related disciplines. Experience in health systems analysis, access to medicines, or Neglected Tropical Diseases will be an asset.
Additional requirements: English is compulsory (B2-C1 level). Knowledge of French (B1-B2) and/or Spanish (B1) will be an asset.
Attitudinal competencies: Autonomy; professionalism; planning and responsibility to meet deadlines; good stress management; problem-solving skills; excellent writing and communication skills in English; good Microsoft Office and video calling skills (Zoom, Teams). A telephone or Zoom interview will be conducted to assess some of the above competencies.

Documentation to be submitted with the application:

• CV;
• University degree(s);
• Transcript of records;
• ID card or passport;
• Concept proposal for the preparation of the study (background and justification, objectives, methodology, timeline – including deliverables);
• Motivation letter;
• 1 Academic and/or professional reference;
• Community engagement.

Expected results:

• A detailed characterization of the health system’s capacity to provide access to medicines for NTDs
• Identification of regional inequalities in access to treatment
• Analysis of bottlenecks in the pharmaceutical supply chain and dispensing mechanisms
• Assessment of external dependency for essential medicines
• Identification of the role of different healthcare levels in access to treatment

 Deliverables to submit during the research stay:

• Participation in a 3-minute video explaining the objective and methodology of the research.
• Report of research results.
• Participation in a 3-minute video explaining the results of the research.
• Submission of an article to an indexed scientific journal (Q1-Q2).
• Presentation of research results in a dissemination conference agreed between the parties.
• Other scientific-dissemination materials (with gender perspective and focus on Africa), aimed at promoting the health, well-being, participation, empowerment and advocacy of populations affected by NTDs.

Other relevant information: The selected candidate will have to move to Madrid to carry out her research, with occasional trips to Bilbao where the main headquarters of Fundación Anesvad are located. The selected person will be tutored/guided by an ISCIII and Anesvad Foundation professor; however, she will be expected to conduct her research autonomously.

The selected person will receive a monthly stipend to cover her accommodation and living expenses and will have all logistical costs covered (visa, travel, seminars, medical insurance, necessary materials, etc.).