Crick African Network (CAN) African Career Accelerator Awards for Early-career Researchers 2019

Application Deadline: 1^st July 2018.

Eligible Countries: African countries

To Be Taken At (Country): The Fellowships will be undertaken in two locations:

• At the Francis Crick Institute (‘the Crick’, UK) and
• At one of the five African partner institutions: The University of Ghana (Ghana), Stellenbosch University (South Africa), University of Cape Town (South Africa), MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM (The Gambia) and MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.

About the Award: The Crick African Network’s African Career Accelerator (CAN ACA) awards will provide Fellowship support for African Post-Doctoral researchers aiming to make the transition to becoming an independent researcher and launching their own research group.
The CAN ACA awards will invest in early-career researchers who have demonstrated strong scientific and leadership potential, as well as a commitment to continuing their research on the African continent. This call is made possible by funding from the UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund.
The fellowships will accelerate careers that have already shown great potential both scientifically and in leadership. These awards will identify individuals who will go on to make significant contributions to research as well as science and knowledge on the African continent and applicants should articulate how this award would establish them as a research leader.

Research Areas: The scope of the research themes which can be undertaken as part of this Award can be defined as the infectious diseases of poverty, with an emphasis on Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS, but also extending to neglected tropical diseases or non-communicable diseases with an infection component.
Clinical research is possible, but will have to be discussed specifically with potential supervisors/ advisors and institutions to confirm whether resources are available to support the research.

Type: Research, PhD

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must be a citizen of one of the 55 African nations, as defined by the African Union.
• Applicants will also have a PhD and have no more than 6 years’ post-doctoral research experience (with allowances for legitimate career breaks) but more than 2 years’ post-doctoral experience unless the applicant has an outstanding track record, supported by publication and employment history.

Competitive applicants

• will have a strong track record of research.
• will have a PhD, and have progressed to a postdoctoral role through which they are on a demonstrable path to independence.
• Prior experience of applying for grant funding is desirable but not required.
• Neither is it essential to currently be employed on the African continent, but applications should demonstrate the applicant’s desire to establish themselves as an independent researcher on the African continent.

Selection Criteria: Applications will be assessed predominantly on the quality of the science proposed, which will take into account the project, the individual, the research environments and the timeliness, relevance and feasibility of the project, by peer reviewers. The leadership potential of applicants and statements from supervisors will also be taken into account.

Number of Awards: Up to 6

Value of Award: Each Fellowship has a value of up to approximately £130,000.

• Fellowships may include personal salary, visa costs and research expenses to implement the research.
• Provision has been made to cover costs of travel for both relocation and conferences, as well as research related costs for consumables.
• Each fellowship also includes the option of the purchase of up to two pieces of equipment, each up to a value of £10,000.
• Fellows will be supported by two supervisors/advisors: one each from the Crick and the chosen African partner institution, as well as having the option of support from one of the 14 Crick Science Technology Platforms (STP) which specialize in specific techniques and technologies.

In addition to conducting the proposed research programme, Fellows will participate in advanced training which will provide the skills and competencies to make the transition to becoming an independent research leader on the African continent. To facilitate this, Fellows will be supported to submit a research grant proposal to major international funders in order to be able to continue their work after the end of the Fellowship.

Duration of Programme: Up to two years. Fellowships will commence no later than 31^st March 2019.

How to Apply: To apply, applicants must first submit a mandatory Expression of Interest form (see Guidance Notes for Expression of Interest form) by emailing it to CAN-Fellowships@crick.ac.uk. The Expression of Interest form will be available between Monday 23^rd April 2018 and 23:59 GMT on the 1^st July 2018.

Visit the Programme Webpage for Details

Award Providers: Francis Crick Institute.
The Francis Crick Institute is a unique partnership between the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Wellcome, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King’s College London