East Africa Biodesign Fellowship

The East African Biodesign (EAB) fellowship is a leading-edge initiative at the University of Global Health Equity in partnership with the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign and the Center of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering and eHealth under the University of Rwanda.

At EAB, we believe in need-driven innovations that can minimize risk and maximize impact. The fellowship is fundamentally rooted in the Biodesign innovation process – an evolving process that has been tried and tested for the past two decades yielding medical technologies that have helped approximately 7.6 million patients globally to date and inspiring similar successful training programs Worldwide. We have carefully tailored the Biodesign methodology to the growing needs and requirements of the East African region.

Over the 10-month fellowship, successful applicants will engage in a transformative project-based learning experience, combining classroom instruction, hands-on experience, and mentorship from experts in the field. They will learn how to identify unmet clinical needs, conduct rigorous research and analysis, and leverage a deep appreciation of health needs and opportunities to develop innovative solutions that make a real impact towards equitable healthcare delivery.

Throughout the program, fellows will interact with global experts and build a professional network that can help them launch or boost their careers in health technology innovation. Whether you’re early in your career or an experienced professional looking to excel in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field, the EAB fellowship offers an exciting pathway to high-impact entrepreneurship in healthcare.

The inaugural EAB cohort will be four fellows, priority will be given to candidates from the East African Community member states with a background in the fields of engineering, business, medicine, and other health sciences.

About this Program:

● Start: January 2024
● Format: Full-time
● Duration: 10 months
● Location: Kigali, Rwanda, with occasional travel to different regions
● Tuition: Fully covered by the program
● Stipend: Successful applicants will receive a modest stipend to cover living expenses
● Application deadline: August 18, 2023, at 23:59 CAT.

Note: This is not a degree-granting program; fellows who complete the fellowship will receive an EAB certificate and continue to be part of the greater Biodesign community.

Required Qualifications

1. University degree holders in Medicine, Rehabilitation, Nursing, Global Health, Public Health, Health Informatics, Engineering (Biomedical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, etc..), Biotechnology, Internet of Things (e.g. Embedded Computing Systems), or Business.

2. Demonstrated interest in health technology innovation via research, entrepreneurship,

granted patents, coursework, or other means.

3. Experience working with interdisciplinary teams.

4. Demonstrated problem-solving skills.

5. Strong communication skills.

6. English proficiency is required (See English language proficiency criteria below)

Apply now and become part of a community of innovators dedicated to transforming healthcare in East Africa and beyond. We believe in your potential and look forward to seeing the difference you’ll make.

Application

Please provide us with a current CV (not more than 3 pages in length) in PDF.

1. CV

Please provide us with a current CV (not more than 3 pages in length) in PDF.

The CV should include personal and professional activities/accomplishments that illustrate your leadership, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and communication skills; community engagement; awards and achievements; intellectual property filings; key academic publications, conference posters, and presentations; projects with substantial business impact, and/or leadership roles that might not be self-evident from the title and description of the various roles you’ve held.

2. English language proficiency

If you are not a native English speaker or did not study at an institution where the primary language is English, please submit a copy of one of the following:

● TOEFL iBT score
● IELTS score
● Diploma of an attended degree program in an English-speaking country
● Other evidence acceptable to the reviewers.
● Any other Proof of English Proficiency.

3. Academic Transcripts and Diplomas

Please submit the transcripts and diplomas from all university degree-granting academic programs. Successful applicants will submit notarized copies as part of the enrollment process.

4. Passport or National ID

Copies of valid passports at least six months before expiration at the time of application. Rwandan nationals can submit a copy of their national ID.

In the application, you will be asked to:

● Submit three reference names and their email addresses.

● Record a two-minute video about yourself. (Be sure to have a functioning camera on your computer or phone, and a video should be recorded facing the camera on your phone or computer and then uploaded to the application system)

● Submit two written essays.
● Provide the email and phone number of your last degree’s records office
● Be sure to have all the information mentioned ready before starting your application.

EAB is an equal-opportunity trainer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, skin color, origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, or physical disability.

If you have any questions or need clarifications, contact us via email at: innovation_center@ughe.org 

Many answers can be found on our FAQ page.

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