Faculty of Health Sciences

Lack of grant funding and research infrastructure in many sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries can make it difficult to attract and retain talented African scientists. As a result, African nationals are currently under-represented as leaders in medical research in the region. The African Research Leaders scheme aims to attract and retain exceptionally talented ‘rising star’ individuals who will lead high quality research on key global health issues pertinent to SSA.
 
This UK MRC-funded scheme seeks to support talented early-to-mid career African researchers who are either already based in a SSA country, or currently working overseas and wish to return to a SSA country. Researchers should be supported by an enthusiastic local research environment and by a UK-based mentor as part of a partnership between the African and UK institutions. The UK partner institution may be any eligible UK research institution, including MRC institutes and university units based in the UK.
 
The African research leadership proposal should be submitted in partnership with a UK co-investigator (mentor) offering relevant opportunities, such as:

• Senior or complementary scientific expertise

• Skill strengthening

• Discipline widening

• Technology sharing

• Mentoring

Eligibility:

• You can apply for this opportunity if you are a researcher based at an eligible African research institution with sufficient research capacity to manage and deliver research.

• The African candidate will:

  • Have completed a PhD

  • Be well-qualified for academic research having spent at least the last three years in active research (post-PhD)

  • Be building a track record of independence in their selected field and demonstrating promise as a future research leader

Award details:

• Awards will provide support for up to five years.

• The requested amount should not exceed £750,000 in total.

 
For more information, click here.

The Wellcome Trust have launched three new discovery research funding schemes in line with their new strategy. The Wellcome Career Development Awards scheme is soliciting applications from mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work, and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health, and wellbeing.
 
Research proposals may be in any discipline - including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), experimental medicine, humanities and social science, clinical/allied health sciences, and public health - as long as it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with the Wellcome Trust’s funding remit.
 
Eligibility

• This call is open to mid-career researchers who are already driving their own research and who:

  • Have completed one/two substantial periods of research after their initial training.

  • May have been appointed to their first permanent, open ended or long-term rolling contract within the last 3 years.

Award details:

• Grants are available for up to eight years and applicants may request salary (if required) and the resources required for their research programme.

Deadlines & submission process:

• Contact your Departmental Finance Officer (Budget Reviewer) with a completed budget by no later than Friday, 28 October 2022

• eRA Finance Approver deadline: Monday, 21 November 2022

• Funder due date: Thursday, 1 December 2022

For more information, click here.

The University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in the following areas:

• Cardiac research
• Cancer research
• Open category: any research area in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Applicants should not be registered for study towards any degree at the time of assuming the fellowship. Strong emphasis will be placed on the merit of the applicant and the quality of the research proposal. Applications for projects hosted in under-resourced research groupings, as well as for translational research projects, are encouraged.

Applicants should submit a research proposal developed with a suitable scientific host employed in the Faculty of Health Sciences and if awarded the fellowship should be registered in the Faculty of Health Sciences. For information on the Faculty of Health Sciences and its research activities, see http://www.health.uct.ac.za/

The following conditions apply:

• Applicants who were awarded their PhD degree no earlier than December 2018 are eligible
• Applicants who have not yet obtained their PhD but have official proof that their PhD thesis has been examined and approved by the submission deadline of 12 January 2023 are eligible.
• Only one application may be submitted per individual
• Preference may be given to South African citizens
• Applicants should not be in academic or research posts already.
• Applicants may not have held any previous professional or academic posts
• Successful candidates will be expected to spend most of their time undertaking the proposed research but may be required to participate in limited teaching duties as part of professional development.
• Successful candidates will not be expected to perform any service to the host department in return for the Fellowship.
• Fellowships are awarded for one year. Applications for renewal for one further year will be considered, in competition with new applications.
• The Fellowship may not be held concurrently with any other formal fellowship. Holders of such fellowships that are renewable for 2023 are ineligible for the FHS Fellowship.
• The Fellowship must be taken up by end of March 2023.
• Fellows will be required to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Cape Town, and a Memorandum of Understanding with their research host.
• Fellows will be required to comply with the University of Cape Town’s approved policies, procedures, and practices for the postdoctoral sector.

There are no fringe benefits, thus, the successful candidate is responsible for his or her own medical aid and insurance arrangements. Tax-free status will be arranged with the South African Revenue Service.

An application form is attached. Enquiries and completed applications should be addressed to

Ms Shameem Bray: research.health@uct.ac.za.

The University of Cape Town reserves the right to: disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications; change the conditions of award or to make no awards at all.

Submission deadline: 12 JANUARY 2023

VALUE: ZAR 260,000 for 2023