Dr Sylvia Meek Entomology Scholarship for Study in South Africa 2021

Malaria Consortium is proud to continue its partnership with the University of Pretoria, South Africa, to continue the Dr Sylvia Meek scholarship for Entomology.  

Application Deadline: 8th February 2021 17:00 (Johannesburg time; GMT+2).  

About the Award: The scholarship for Entomology has been set up in the memory of Dr Sylvia Meek, Malaria Consortium’s Global Technical Director who led inspiring and pioneering work in the fight against infectious diseases, and malaria in particular, before her untimely passing away in 2016. 

Both Malaria Consortium and University of Pretoria are committed to ensure Sylvia’s vision is continued by the future generation of entomologists in Africa. Sylvia was not only a great scientist but someone with great compassion who was an inspiration to her associates and colleagues.  

The scholarship, established in Sylvia’s honour by Malaria Consortium, will empower a new generation of public health entomologists and malaria staff in Africa and Asia. Given the limited number of field-oriented vector biologists, and the challenges African countries face in achieving malaria elimination, this scholarship is a great opportunity to support the next generation of public health entomologists in support of this quest. 

Malaria Consortium is delighted that the University of Pretoria will continue to host recipients of the scholarship. The University of Pretoria is one of the leading higher education institutions in Africa and will be accepting one scholarship student in 2021 for a two-year Master of Science in Entomology based in and supervised by academic staff in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. The MSc in Entomology offered by the Department of Zoology and Entomology is a research-only programme that does not include a coursework component. The successful applicant will start their MSc programme before the end of March 2021. 

Available projects: The following projects in public health entomology are available for the current call: 

1. Malaria entomology and insecticide resistance in a high disease burden region of South Africa 

Supervisors: Dr Megan Riddin (megan.riddin@up.ac.za) and Prof. Armanda Bastos 

Investigation into epidemiology and vector control strategy success is required to identify key factors contributing to persistence of malaria in Limpopo Province. This will be achieved through an in-field and laboratory study to investigate malaria vector community composition (primary, secondary and novel vectors) and insecticide resistance detection in local populations.  

2. Seasonal variation in mosquito community structure and associations with larval habitats at hotels in a region of South Africa with residual malaria transmission 

Supervisors: Prof. Christopher Weldon (cwweldon@zoology.up.ac.za) and Dr Megan Riddin 

Collaborators: Prof. Peter Furu, Dr Karin Schiøler, Dr Michael Alifrangis, Prof Flemming Konradsen, Ms Fatma Saleh, Mr Ayubo Kampango 

Tourism contributes to economic and social development in South Africa, but the risk of malaria can deter international tourists from visiting the northern regions of the country. This project will identify hotspots of mosquito diversity in hotels to develop effective, systematic and affordable ecological management interventions to reduce mosquito abundance.  

3. Improved forecasting of mosquitoesassociated with arbovirus transmission in South Africa 

Supervisors: Prof. Christopher Weldon (cwweldon@zoology.up.ac.za) and Prof. Kerstin Krüger 

Vector-borne pathogens impact human and animal health in South Africa, resulting in substantial economic costs to fight human disease and losses for livestock industries. This project will determine the relationship between weather variables and the distribution and abundance of mosquitoes using a nationwide suction trap network in South Africa. 

Type: Masters

Eligibility:

• Nationals from the following countries can apply: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 
• Applicants need to have successfully completed an Honours degree or equivalent in Entomology or a related discipline 
• Applicants should have good knowledge of English (the language of instruction) 
• Applicants should demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, entomology and the control of vector borne diseases 
• Applicants should be no older than 35 at the time of submission  

Selection Criteria: The University of Pretoria will screen and shortlist applications based on (1) the quality of the cover letter and preliminary proposal and (2) eligibility for the MSc in Entomology programme. The shortlist will be submitted to a scholarship selection panel constituted by Malaria Consortium vector control experts. 

Eligible Countries: Countries above

To be Taken at (Country): University of Pretoria, South Africa

Number of Awards: 1

Value of Award: The Dr Sylvia Meek scholarship for Entomology will cover all tuition fees, a research allowance to the total value of ZAR60 000 (ZAR30 000/year), ZAR 78 000/year for upkeep costs such as accommodation and board, an allowance for travel to South Africa (if non-national) and return home after completion of the programme, and health insurance for the duration of the MSc programme, i.e. a maximum of two calendar years, by which time the students should finish their degree. 

Duration of Award: 2 years

How to Apply: See steps (in Link below) and apply

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details