Accelerating the health equity impact of prevention and control interventions for infectious diseases in Africa (INDIE)

SACEMA is inviting applications from quantitatively skilled candidates for a PhD/Postdoctoral Fellowship in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis. The fellow will contribute to SACEMA’s role in the INDIE Project, a multi-institutional international collaboration. SACEMA’s contribution focuses on extending a South African individual-based model of HIV, HPV, and cervical cancer to capture trends and determinants of inequalities in cervical cancer prevention and incidence.

The fellow will be based at SACEMA in Stellenbosch and will work closely with Dr Cari van Schalkwyk and the SACEMA team, as well as international collaborators.

 Scope of Research:

The fellow will play a key role in SACEMA’s contribution to the project by:

• Extending the MicroCOSM individual-based model to integrate HPV and cervical disease and socio-economic factors.
• Calibrating the model to epidemiological and socio-economic data, accounting for uncertainty through advanced statistical methods.
• Quantifying the inequitable burden and response to cervical disease in South Africa.
• Forecasting future cervical disease burden under different intervention scenarios.

Collaborating with international partners and contributing to capacity building by supporting training of local epidemiologists and modellers.

Requirements for the PhD fellowship:

• A MSc degree (obtained within the past 5 years) in a quantitative discipline relevant to epidemiology, mathematical statistics, computer science, or mathematical modelling.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to programme in C++ and R.
• Demonstrated ability to perform independent research.
• Excellent communication and academic writing skills.

Requirements for the Postdoctoral research fellowship:

• A PhD degree (obtained within the past 5 years) in a quantitative discipline relevant to epidemiology, statistics, computer science, or mathematical modelling.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to programme in C++ and R.
• Experience in infectious disease or health systems modelling.
• Demonstrated ability to lead independent research and to contribute effectively within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication and academic writing skills, with a track record of peer-reviewed publications.

Deadline for applications: 19 October 2025

Submission of the application materials in response to this request will be the first of a three-stage application and selection process. Only candidates under further consideration will advance to each subsequent stage. The second stage will include an assessment of selected applicants’ problem-solving ability. The third stage will include an in-person interview.

Postdoctoral fellows are not appointed as employees, and as their fellowships are awarded tax-free, they are not eligible for employee benefits. The University reserves the right NOT to make an appointment if suitable candidates do not apply.