Future Africa/Carnegie Early Career Research Leader Fellowship Programme 2018

Application Deadline: 30th April 2018

Eligible Countries: African countries

To Be Taken At (Country): University of Pretoria, South Africa

About the Award: The Early Career Research Leader Fellowship is an initiative of the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Institute, funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York. It serves early career research leaders in basic and applied sciences, engineering, social sciences, the humanities and the arts. It aims to grow African academics in their thought leadership, team development, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with an intention to stimulate the emergence of centers of research excellence to solve complex problems that face Africa and the world.
The program design for the Early Career Research Leader Fellowship will aim to stimulate new thinking on the perceived frontiers of science to produce theoretical frameworks for transformation, develop novel questions and/or novel approaches to old and emerging new questions with a focus on adaptability, resilience, and co-design of systems for sustainable and equitable development in Africa.
This early-career fellowship will aim to develop research leadership tofill a critical gap in the African research capacity ecosystem. Emerging researchleadersin the natural and social sciences and humanities are encouraged to apply for this fellowship to help address Africa’s most urgent challenges and opportunities to develop a sustainable and inclusive bioresource-based economy.

Field of Study: Applications are welcome for such topic areas as:

• Technological and non-technological exploitation of natural resources such as animals, plant biodiversity, micro-organisms and minerals to improve human health, address food security, and subsequently to contribute to economic growth and improved quality of life.
• Ecological issues and climate change as influencers, promoters, and inhibitors of bioeconomic advancement.
• The politics of the bioeconomy, including tensions around land and food security, biodiversity and indigenous knowledge, and economic growth and growing income insecurity and inequality.
• Cultural perspectives and practices that influence, assist, or impair human interactions with the natural environment.

Type: Research, Fellowship

Eligibility: The Early Career Research Leader Fellowship Program seeks candidates who are committed to developing a new generation of scholars and research leadership in Africa.

Selection Criteria: 

• To be selected, applicants need to display a compelling vision of their future involvement in the development of research projects, programs, human capacity, specific policies, or societal structures.
• The selection process will consider individual qualities but also focus on ensuring a diversity of culture, subject background (natural and social sciences, humanities) and gender among the fellows.

The following criteria will be used as a guide for the nomination and selection of fellows:

• A PhD degree or equivalent qualification;
• A faculty or a continuing research position at a research institution;
• Active in research and teaching at an African institution of higher education or research;
• A sustained record of outstanding scientific or scholarly outputs;
• Interest in translating and communicating the results of their work for impact in society;
• Demonstrated leadership ability in research and beyond;
• Interest in the role of research in addressing complex issues affecting society;
• Interest in collaborations across disciplines and sectors (e.g. industry, civil society, government, etc.);
• Commitment to participate in all the activities of the fellowship; and
• Intent to share what is learned in the program with their broader networks.

All applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by representatives of Future Africa at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with expert reviewers at other institutions.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: 

• The program itself will require that at least 70% (8-9 months) of the academic year is spent at the Future Africa Campus of the University of Pretoria. Furthermore, fellows will be expected to develop their research leadership projects and engage with other fellows for peer support.
• Training and development components of the program will require onsite engagement with a number of different audiences for the duration of the stay at Future Africa. These will be integrated into an overall schedule to allow for participation in the advanced workshops and other skills transfer mechanisms envisaged to ensure the efficacy of the fellowship.
• The Fellowship will carry the bulk of the costs associated with the program,including accommodation, meals, and allowances for attending one conference as well as traveling to the home institution once per annum. Costs for visas, vaccinations, travel and medical insurance, and travel not related to the academic content of the program will not be not covered by the program.

How to Apply: All applicants have to provide two support letters by academic referees (details are provided in the application form). One of the two referees has to commit to be involved in future communications and mentorship in case of selection of the applicant into the program. This referee will be informed about the progress of the fellow and should be willing to support the fellow if he or she requires it.

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Award Providers:  Future Africa