MeBoP Call for Applications: 2-Week Training Course on Middle Eastern Biology of Parasitism

Middle Eastern Biology of Parasitism (MeBoP) provides a high-caliber scientific course that would cover various aspects of parasitology from molecular biology and epidemiology to genomics, targeted for students in the Middle East as well as North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dates: July 23 – August 5, 2023

Location: University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

MeBoP Goals:

1. To provide high-caliber scientific training covering various aspects of parasitology research from molecular biology and epidemiology to genomics. We believe that it is critical that scientific skills that are well established elsewhere in the world are disseminated to endemic areas where they can be put into practice to face local issues.

2. To provide an environment where young scientists from conflicted political areas are given the opportunity to focus on their mutual professional interests and goals, and to promote networking and the building of professional collaborations across these areas.

Eligibility:

• The applicant must hold at least a BSc or equivalent in a field relevant to the course (e.g. biology, biochemistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, public health or epidemiology).
• The applicant must be a citizen of one of a country located in the Middle East or in North or Sub-Saharan Africa.
• All aspects of the course will be conducted in English, therefore fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Workshop format:

• MeBoP is a 2 week intensive course that will host a small select group of top candidates (12-16 grad-students, postdocs and young professionals) from Middle Eastern as well as North and Sub-Saharan African countries.
• Each day will consist of a 4-hour morning lecture session followed by an afternoon lab practical. Lectures and modules are given by leading scientists in the field of parasite research.

Main topics covered:

Biology of parasites

• Lecture component: focus on diseases endemic in the Middle Eastern region such as water-borne diseases and vector-borne disease.

  • molecular and cellular biology

  • host-parasite interactions

  • epidemiology and population genetics

  • transmission and life cycle

  • Bioinformatics and genome mining

• Practical modules: focus on the best established systems for molecular parasite research.

Workshop cost:

• The course is free and includes meals (suitable for all diets).

• Some scholarships will be available for travel and accommodation. Scholarship determinations will be done after admittance decisions have been made. We may request a letter to explain the need for a scholarship at a later date.

Read more here

Application deadline February 26, 2023.