SAMRC Extra-Mural Postdoctoral Programme - Request for Applications

The South African Medical Research Council's Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD) invites applications from Postdoctoral Fellows who have obtained their Doctoral degrees not more than five (5) years before the date of application; who are immediately available to start working within one of the SAMRC Extramural Research Units (EMU) based at South African research institutions.

Interested applicants should contact the Unit Directors to obtain details on the available projects. Due to limited budget, only one application per unit is allowed.

The aim of the Award

The overarching objective of the SAMRC's Division of RCD is building capacity for the long-term sustainability of the South African health research by providing funding for the next generation of health researchers. The SAMRC's Extramural Units are external research entities commissioned by SAMRC to conduct research on its behalf. This research - which includes basic laboratory investigations, clinical research and public health studies - is undertaken by scientists employed by different South African and international science councils, medical schools, universities and research institutions that work with the SAMRC.

Postdoctoral fellows play a crucial role in strengthening research teams and postgraduate student supervision. The purpose of the SAMRC Extramural Postdoctoral Programme is to assist in accelerating research capacity development and scientific leadership by creating opportunities to host and retain postdoctoral scientists that have demonstrated the potential to become established researchers. It seeks to build research capacity and scientific leadership of early-career scientists within EMUs, taking into account transformation imperatives, and thus focusing mainly on but not limited to individuals from designated groups. Designated groups refer to black people (African, Coloured and Indian), women and people with disabilities, in terms of the Employment Equity Act.

The purpose of this Request for Applications is to attract and fund Postdoctoral Fellows under the SAMRC Extramural Postdoctoral Programme as a career development intervention in Extramural Research Units with priority given to the units who have not previously received fellowship awards under this programme.

The intervention seeks to address the difficulties of EMUs in contributing to training and facilitating the retention of talented young scientists with the potential to establish themselves within the Units as independent scientists. It is expected to strengthen the research teams of SAMRC EMUs. This will be done by financially supporting and encouraging newly graduated PhDs to join the postdoctoral programmes in the EMUs, encouraging peer-review publications, supervision training, research project proposal development and grant applications for funding, and preparing promising scientists for research and academic leadership positions within the institutions.

Value of the Award

On a full-time basis, the value of the award is R350,000 (three hundred and fifty thousand Rand) (tax-free funding) per annum.

Duration of the Award

The period of funding is three years, renewable for an additional two years, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Eligibility criteria

• South African citizens and permanent residents (preferably under 45) may apply.
• Applicants must apply within five years of obtaining their PhD degree.
  • Candidates who are still waiting for graduation need a strong motivation from the host Unit (Unit Director or the PI).
  • Motivation from female candidates who are returning after a period of absence from research due to family responsibilities may be considered.

Conditions

• The host EMU and the mentor must demonstrate that the postdoc will be supported in terms of research infrastructure and research expenses, mentorship and career development to reach their independent investigator status.
• The full-time Research Fellow must spend a minimum of 80% of his/her time working on the approved research project.
• The Fellow must negotiate a performance contract with the supervisor/mentor.
• Successful applicants (fellow and mentor) and the host institution will be required to sign a contractual agreement with the SAMRC.

Application Process

• Step 1: Before application, the postdoc contacts the Unit for the project details. Contact the Unit Directors to obtain details on the available projects.
• Step 2: The Host Unit Director completes the host EMU here: online Expression of Interest form. The Unit Director must upload the following supporting documents to the Expression of Interest form:
  • Comprehensive CV of UD and mentor
  • Evidence of an approved/funded research proposal
  • Ethical approval (where applicable) for the research project
• Step 3: The postdoctoral applicant completes and submit their application here: application form. The following supporting documents must be uploaded by the postdoctoral applicant:  
  • Applicant's CV and full publication list
  • Applicant’s certified copies of ID and PhD certificate
  • A written motivation from the host mentor with details of the research project on which the Fellow will be engaged and where the fellow will be hosted
  • A written commitment for the mentor to provide all necessary support as well as the running expenses of the proposed research project
  • At least two referees'contact details
• Step 4: Unit Director or Mentor will receive the application form of the postdoc and check it for completeness. They will then complete steps 3c and 3d by completing the motivation and commitment online, and submit the completed postdoc fellow application.

Selection criteria

• Preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from the designated groups. For this reason, we require race, gender and disability status to be specified. Disabled persons are encouraged to apply.
• While previously disadvantaged individuals will receive preference, the skill suitability and academic merit/potential of the applicant as a researcher must be ranked high.
• The research proposals submitted by the host must be of high quality and relevant research area and expected outputs must be outlined and linked to the SAMRC’s strategic research priorities.
• Collaboration with SAMRC Intramural Research Units is encouraged.

Review and Approval Process

• Eligible applications are peer-reviewed and evaluated by a panel comprising the SAMRC's RCD Grant Selection Committee members, who score the application against standard objective criteria and recommend fundability.
• An optional interview may be conducted by RCD as part of the review and selection process.
• RCD submits the selection outcomes to the SAMRC Executive Management Committee for review and approval decision.
• Successful applications are approved by the EMC.

Award Monitoring and Evaluation

A detailed report must be submitted to the SAMRC's RCD annually in a prescribed format. 

Interim reports may be requested by SAMRC's RCD for monitoring or for internal stakeholder reporting and programme evaluation purposes.

The South African Medical Research Council reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, change the conditions of award, extend the closing date or to make no awards at all. Please note that we will endeavour to contact successful candidates within 45 days after the closing date.

Contact details

For further enquiries contact Dr Frederic Nduhirabandi (email: frederic.nduhirabandi@mrc.ac.za or Tel: +27 21 938 0461).

Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)
Please note that by submitting your application and other supporting documents, the SAMRC concludes that you are a competent person to consent and that you are giving consent to the SAMRC to process all personal information contained in the application forms and supporting documents for the purposes of evaluating the applications, selecting beneficiaries, and executing the awards in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act No 4 of 2013 (as amended). You can read the full details on the act here: https://popia.co.za/. The SAMRC as a responsible statutory science council will comply 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 the 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 research proposals 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. Should you not approve the use of your personal information as outlined above, then please refrain from applying.