Oxford University Clinical Research Unit
Antibiotic Resistance Internships

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Duration: 8-12 weeks
Number of Positions: 2
Stipend: $5,000

About: The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) aims to have a positive and significant impact on global health and, in particular, the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. OUCRU's key areas of research are: Dengue fever; malaria; tuberculosis; influenza; enterics; HIV and HIV coinfection; central nervous system infections; animal health and zoonoses; pharmacology; and statistics, bioinformatics, modeling, and mapping.
 
Intern Responsibilities: The OUCRU Hanoi research group is evaluating a range of interventions in different settings to tackle inappropriate antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. This work includes antibiotic stewardship in hospitals and primary healthcare, point-of-care diagnostics to guide better prescribing, health messaging for the public, and community engagement using a one health approach to generate collective solutions. All of these approaches will be evaluated through both qualitative and quantitative research. Epidemiological and modelling work on vaccine-preventable diseases will also be conducted, as well as investigating the role of vaccination as a potential tool in the fight against antibiotic resistance. More recently, the OUCRU Hanoi research group has been exploring the impact of Covid-19 on the incidence of infectious diseases, healthcare utilization, and antibiotic use.
 
There are many possibilities for what interns could be involved with, depending on their skills and interests. These may include:
 

If summer travel is possible, research activities will primarily be based at the OUCRU offices in Hanoi. These are split across two sites, one at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and one at the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology. There could also be extensive fieldwork in Nam Dinh Province, to the South East of Hanoi, and there may be opportunities for students to visit the sites.