Objective
This PhD programme mainly focuses on ecology and disease. Targets knowledge and research skill development to conduct in-depth research. The research emphasizes on how large-scale environmental change and events (e.g., habitat destruction, pollution, invasion of non-native species) alter the risk of emergence of communicable and non-communicable disease in human and animals. It also focuses on how to tackle health problems through eco-friendly environmental management.
Entry requirement
Candidates who have successfully completed their MSc degree with distinction in the field of Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Environmental technology, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering, and other fields in the area of natural sciences recommended by the supervisory committee of the department and partners from the North (after the realization of joint programme).
In the case of many applicants or when the candidate’s qualification and ability is questionable, the department will prepare an entrance exam for which he/she should score a “pass”.
Duration of study: 4 years
Graduate profile
- identify, design and implement research projects independently or in leadership of research team in the field of Ecology;
- undertake research work and publish articles based on timely important Ecological problems of Ethiopia, Africa or elsewhere to influence policy and decision makers;
- can consult, advise and counsel the Government or the Private Sector on project and ethical issues in the Ecological aspects;
- can administer programs and protocols related to his/her particular field of specialization to a wide range of clients;
- can teach in Higher Learning Institutions;
- can positively influence society, and serve as an agent of change in patters related to Ecological Sciences such as conservation ecology, ecosystem ecology, aquatic ecology, terrestrial ecology, vector ecology, wetland ecology, etc
Graduation Requirements
- Seminars and Progress Report: the candidate should satisfy the advisor and the advisory committee presentation of the seminar every year for the first three years and by submitting a progress report.
- Publication: a Ph.D. candidate should publish part of his/her Ph.D. thesis work at least one article and submitted another one in a peer reviewed journal having an impact factor of one or more.
- Doctoral Dissertation:
- The doctoral dissertation shall constitute individual effort in academic pursuits to identify and analyze problems by analyzing sound methodology;
- The doctoral dissertation should be approved by the Ph.D. examination committee (reading committee) which could be established by the advisor/promoter and the Graduate Program of the University. Member of reading committee will be those who have Ph.D. degree with associate professor rank and working in Higher Education Institutions or private sectors. This committee will have Chairperson and Secretary. After reading, the committee will decide to postponed the date of defense in case of major comments or approve the defense for the predetermined program.
- A doctoral dissertation shall constitute the fulfillment of the requirement to the Ph.D. Degree Program.
- Ph.D. Dissertation Defense:The candidate shall successfully defend his/her Ph.D. thesis in public in the presence of the Examination Committee. The examination committee (internal and external examiners will decide the grade)
Degree Nomenclature
- In English “Ph.D. Degree in Applied Ecology“
- In Amharic “ፒኤች ዲ አፕላይድ ኢኮሎጂ“
Common compulsory coursesthat should be taken in the first year
| Academic Year: 2020/2021 Year I Semester I | |||
| S. No | Course title | Course Code | ECTS |
| 1. 1. | Advanced research methods | Pubh768 | 3 |
| 2. 2. | Philosophy of science | Pubh761 | 3 |
| 3. 3. | Systematic Review and Meta-analysis/synthesis | Pubh801 | 3 |
| 4. 4. | Advanced Biostatistics | Pubh810 | 3 |
| 5. 5. | Scientific writing and communication | Pubh804 | 1.5 |
| Total | 13.5 |
List of mandatory courses that should be taken in the first year
- Advanced Ecology
- Ecological Modelling
- Advanced Statistics
- Ecological Informatics
Optional courses
- Advanced Medical entomology,
- principles of environmental health,
- Environmental pollution and control,
- advanced water and waste treatment,
- toxicology and risk assessment, EIA,
- Solid waste management and
- other conservation, botanical and zoological courses
Research centres
The department established Environmental Health Research Center under the JU Institute of Health Science Research.
Laboratory Facilities
The department has two postgraduate research laboratories of environmental biology/microbiology and environmental chemistry.
External Links
The department has both local and international links in research, training and consultancy services.
Local links:Currently, the department has been working as a coordinator of Omo-Gibe Ecohydrology center under the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity. The department also sensitizing and urging both government and non-governmental organizations to consider and recognize the department as a national WASH consultant and training center. The department also has been closely working with Zonal Health departments and the municipality, working with Biodiversity Institute and Ethiopian Environment and Forest Institute, working with flower industries through industry linkage by POPRIC project.
International Links
- Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Poland
- Under Erasmus Plus staff and student mobility project mainly on gasification and pyrolysis of fecal sludge and air quality
- Wageningen University through research and Short term training
- Emory and North Carolina Universities, USA
- Human Ecology, Biology Department, Vrije Universitiet Brussel, Belgium under Erasmus Action 2 and Erasmus Plus staff and student mobility project.
- Chemical Engineering Department, KU Leuven through VLIR-IUC project
- University of Rostock
- University of Gent
- Scientists in Switzerland and Alburg University Denmark
Researches
The department has been conducting research and consultancy services in broad areas of environmental health and ecology. Please visit the CVs of the department staffs to see research outputs. In addition, PhD and MSc students undertaken a lot of research activities, staffs under their individual projects undertaken researches in relation to public health problems particular in relation to the environmental.