The centre supports candidates that meet her criteria for Master of Science, Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy, as well as Certificate of Participation in Human-Animal Disease Surveillance in West Africa. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Higher Education Initiative in Africa Grant to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria funds career track offices and academia for postgraduate fellowship in surveillance of human-animal diseases in West Africa. The following trans-disciplinary areas are supported:

1. Studies on native intelligence, including indigenous knowledge, attitude and care-seeking preferences associated with zoonoses in selected West African communities

2. Studies on time-series analysis and trend modeling of suspected and confirmed cases of human-animal diseases in West Africa

3. Studies on geographic mapping, spatial and spatio-temporal analyses of spread and associated risk factors in the epidemiology (epizootiology) and management of human-animal diseases

4. Studies on community medicine and comprehensive monitoring of clinical cases

5. Sturdies on indigenization of biotechnology for rapid detection of zoonotic diseases

6. Parasitology, entomology and ecology of zoonoses

7· Studies on characterization, virology and molecular epidemiology of causal agents of zoonoses

8. Studies on pathogenesis, immunology, genomics and vaccinology of human-animal diseases

We intend to award a number of 2-year (M.Sc.) Scholarships and 3-year (PhD) Fellowships. A Fellowship or scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, accommodation on campus, travel to and from home country, and approved conference attendance. University of Ibadan accommodation will be allocated by the Office of International Programmes or Students Affairs Division into suitable graduate students’ hostels. Other expenses, including research equipment and reagents are the responsibility of the centre in its student support facility. Applications will be evaluated by the Implementation Committee based on a set of eligibility criteria. Fellowship or scholarship will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Masters-level scholarships will include the following: 1) $6,000 for an International student (Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone) per year for one or two years; 2) $4,000 for a national student (Nigeria) per year for one or two years. 3) An approved 10-week internship in research on human-animal disease investigation.

Doctoral-level fellowships will include the following: 1) $6,000 for a national student per year (Nigeria) for one, two or three years. 2) $7,000/International student per year for one, two or three years. 3) An approved 10-week internship in research related to human-animal disease investigation. Applicants must be West African citizens, hold high Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) at first degree, equivalent to a minimum of Second Class (upper division) or above in a discipline that aligns with the mission of the centre. Applicants must be willing to attend a mandatory sponsored career development modular course, compulsory monthly seminar presentation, and to conduct a 10-week internship in a West African field in a selected domain. Applicants must be willing to attend all activities of the programme. Finally, applicants must be willing to commit a one-year home institution employment experience.

Selected Publications

1. Olugasa BO, Jomah ND, Dogba JB, Ishola OO, Olarinmoye AO, Adeola OA, et al. (2020) Improving dog bite victim survey and estimation of annual human deaths due to suspected rabies cases in three selected Liberian cities and environs, 2008–2017. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(12): e0008957. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008957 

2. Olarinmoye AO, Ojo JF, Fasunla AJ, Ishola OO, Dakinah FG, Mulbah CK, et al. (2017) Time series analysis and mortality model of dog bite victims presented for treatment at a referral clinic for rabies exposure in Monrovia Liberia, 2010–2013. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol. 2017; 22:1–13. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sste.2017.04.003 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28760263/ pmid:28760263

3. Olarinmoye AO, Kamara V, Jomah ND, Olugasa BO, Ishola OO, Kamara A, et al. (2019) Molecular detection of rabies virus strain with N-gene that clustered with China lineage 2 co-circulating with Africa lineages in Monrovia, Liberia: first reported case in Africa. Epidemiology and Infection;147:e85. pmid:30868993; PMCID: PMC6518606. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268818003333 

4. Olugasa, B. O., Odigie, E. A., Lawani, M. and Ojo, J. F. (2015). Development of a time-trend model for analyzing and predicting case pattern of Lassa fever epidemics in Liberia, 2013-2017. Annals of African Medicine Vol. 14, No.2:89-96 https://journals.lww.com/aoam/fulltext/2015/14020/development_of_a_time_trend_model_for_analyzing.3.aspx