SAMRC Clinician Researcher Programme

The SAMRC’s Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD) invites applications from eligible South African citizen or permanent resident health professionals who hold an MBChB or BDS qualification to apply for PhD scholarship funding under the SAMRC Clinician Researcher Programme. The aim of the SAMRC Clinician Researcher Programme is to increase the number of clinician-scientists in South Africa who possess a PhD and have the capability to conduct high-impact research and occupy leadership positions in the South African academic, clinical, and research sectors. The full time PhD scholarships will only be awarded to candidates with a degree in medicine (MBChB) or dentistry (BDS).

The 2023 SAMRC Clinician Researcher Programme (CRP) Request for Applications (RFA)

This funding opportunity is aimed at individuals who are already enrolled for PhD studies. The overarching goal of the SAMRC  in this programme is to increase racial diversity and gender balance in the pipeline of clinician-scientists. As such, we encourage participation from underrepresented groups.

Requirements for application

1. Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident.  
2. Must have an officially approved PhD research proposal.
3. Must be registered as a full-time PhD student at a South African university.
4. Must provide written commitment of participation by an experienced research supervisor who is willing to train the student for the entire duration of the degree.
5. The research supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the PhD research project.

Scholarship Conditions

• Scholarship holders are expected to spend at least 90% of their time conducting research towards their PhD.
• Teaching and clinical activities may not take up more than 10% of the time of the scholar.
• Scholarship holders may not receive, concurrently with this scholarship, other bursaries, grants, or remuneration which bind them to enter the service of any organization without prior agreement of the SAMRC.
• Candidates may not hold a bursary from more than one South African Government or statutory entity at any given time.
• Scholarship holders may not receive, concurrently with this scholarship, other non-binding remuneration/fellowships and grants without prior agreement of the SAMRC.
• Scholarship holders may not, without seeking approval from the SAMRC, register at a university other than that through which the application has been submitted.
• Once the scholarship has been awarded, the scholarship holder may not change his/her supervisor or research project without informing the SAMRC.
• Scholar will be expected to submit six-monthly progress reports endorsed by the supervisor.
• Application for renewal of funding will be considered on an annual basis, and success thereof will be subject to satisfactory progress being made.
• Successful applicants will be required to enter into an agreement with the SAMRC to complete their studies within the specified period.

Application Process

Application steps 1 to 3 below must be completed.

• Step 1 - Complete the online application before or by 15 August 2023, 23:59 (Extended to 29 August 2023, 23:59).
• Step 2- Complete the application form PhD Scholarships for Clinician-Scientists Request for Applications
• Step 3- E-mail the required supporting documents together with the application form from step 2 in a single pdf file to the dedicated e-mail address: CRPapplications@mrc.ac.za on or before 15 August 2023, 23:59 (Extended to 29 August 2023, 23:59)

The South African Medical Research Council reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, change the conditions of the award, extend the closing date, or make no awards at all. Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted after completion of the review, selection, and approval processes. Should you not hear from the SAMRC by 30 October 2023, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

For enquiries contact Dr Lindokuhle Ndlandla at Lindokuhle.Ndlandla@mrc.ac.za / Tel. 021 938 0442.

Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)
As of the 1st of July 2021, the new Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) came into full effect. The law is designed to protect how all juristic persons use, store and process data. You can read the full details on the act here: https://popia.co.za/.

The SAMRC as a responsible statutory science council complies with POPIA. The SAMRC will receive personal information through applications submitted to the SAMRC for the purposes of applying for funding. The personal information requested on the application template is necessary for the SAMRC to fully evaluate the applications for funding. This information will be shared with members of Scholarship Selection Committees of the SAMRC and external funders and/or stakeholders, where applicable, as well as the SAMRC management for the purposes of processing the applications. The SAMRC will process this personal information strictly in accordance with POPIA. The SAMRC undertakes specifically to process the personal information on the basis that (a) it was provided voluntarily, and (b) the information will be processed only as far may be necessary and within the limitation and ambit of the purpose of evaluating the application for funding (i.e., the purpose with which the personal information was received). The SAMRC confirms that it is lawfully processing the information since the purpose of processing is to seek quality applications for funding which the SAMRC is mandated to do in terms of Section 4 of the SAMRC Act 58 of 1991, thus the SAMRC is fulfilling its legislated and lawful mandate, and strategic objectives as provided for in the SAMRC Act.