Molecular Virology/Epidemiology Training in Kazakhstan (MoVE-Kaz) is a collaborative training program that includes key Kazakh institutions and is supported by United States and Belgian universities. Through MoVE-Kaz, early career scientists and clinicians will be trained in molecular epidemiology and HIV control.

The program will provide research and training opportunities in HIV and public health for scientists, researchers, academic medical school faculty, and government public health officials in Kazakhstan. It is a partnership between Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan, and Yale University School of Public Health in New Haven CT, USA. Other key collaborating institutions are Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Faculty of Public Health in Almaty; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium; and State University of New York (SUNY)-Downstate, Brooklyn, NY, USA. The program MoVE-Kaz is funded by the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

The aims of the MoVE-Kaz program are to:

• Build a pool of well-capacitated Kazakhstani faculty who conduct molecular virology research.
• Enhance research capacity for HIV molecular epidemiology in Kazakhstan.

The goal of MoVE-Kaz is to train early-career Kazakhstani physicians and scientists in:

• Basic and advanced concepts of molecular virology and epidemiology through two 3-month certificate courses (modules 1 and 2).
• Developing hands-on research skills through an 18-month research certificate course (module 3) in molecular virology and field epidemiology for studying transmission and emergence of infection, drug resistance, and viral variants – applying this knowledge to improve HIV surveillance and patient care.
• Ethical conduct of research that meets international standards.
• Developing competitive grants to fund research in molecular virology and epidemiology.

• Candidates must be employed at an academic, research, clinical Kazakh institution.
• Candidates should have documentation of the ability to retain their academic/work position during and after the completion of the program.
• Ability to converse with ease in English.
• Demonstrated interest or background in HIV, or closely related topic (such as infectious diseases or public health, epidemiology).
• Minimum English language competency as indicated by TOEFL scores: Internet Based Test 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110.

Topic areas for research theses may include population-based studies related to HIV treatment and prevention, viral hepatitis and other infections, with emphasis on molecular analyses.

For additional information, please contact:

movekaz@nu.edu.kz