SAMRC Institutional Clinician-Researcher Development Programme: PhD Scholarships for Clinician-Scientists

There is a national need to develop a cadre of clinician-scientists in South Africa; these are individuals with a degree in medicine or dentistry, who possess a PhD and are equipped to conduct high-level research and aspire to hold positions of leadership in the South African academic, clinical and research sectors. Through its Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD), the South African Medical Research Council is committed to addressing this need by encouraging the development of integrated clinical/research training programs for clinicians across all South African universities. RCD invites applications for PhD research and scholarship awards from South African citizens or permanent residents who are students or graduates in medicine or dentistry who meet the requirements specified on this call.

The main objectives of this funding instrument are to:

1. Support talented clinicians who want to obtain doctoral qualifications while retaining their employment or clinical duties.
2. Assist institutions to develop innovative and effective dual-training pathways which provide the opportunity for PhD-level research alongside the conventional clinical training track.

The award is designed to offer flexible and realistic options to clinicians who want to pursue PhD studies. It may be used to provide protected research time from clinical training or clinical service obligations to support PhD studies undertaken in parallel with clinical activities. The use of funds is strictly for the purpose of research training i.e., obtaining a PhD.

Types of Awards (with specific requirements)

Requirements for all applications

1. South African citizen or permanent resident. 
2. Must be registered at a South African university.
3. Officially approved research proposal and ethics clearance for the PhD project.
4. Research abstract to be provided (See example).
5. Research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas. See list below

• Biomedical Research
• HIV, TB and other communicable diseases
• Health System Strengthening
• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Maternal child and woman health
• Non-communicable diseases
• Public Health Innovation
• Violence, injury and trauma

6. Support letter from the supervisor who is willing to train and mentor the candidate for the entire duration of the degree. The support letter should clearly describe how the candidate will be supported for the duration of the award, available funding and other resources that the candidate requires to successfully conduct research.
7. Supervisor’s abridged curriculum vitae showing supervisor’s research track record in the last 5 years focusing on research grant funding, research outputs including H-index, and PhD student supervision.
8. Applicant’s motivational letter of approximately 500–1000 words demonstrating their suitability for the award and describing how success in the SAMRC Institutional Clinician-Researcher Development Programme application will impact on the candidate’s scientific career development as a Clinician Scientist.
9. The applicant’s abridged curriculum vitae detailing clinical training received to date, any prior or current research experience, research outputs (publications, conference presentations etc.) and any meritorious achievement in the academic, clinical or research domains.
10. A proposed timeline for completion of clinical training where applicable and/or completion of the PhD (Gantt chart format). It should include a description of how the clinical training/duties and research training will be combined, including arrangements to be made where applicants are required to perform internship, community service, complete specialist training time or fulfil employment obligations incurred because of bursaries or contracts upon which training is contingent.

Institutional Support

The SAMRC has a strong expectation that the universities where awardees are registered will extend their support by:

• Partnering with the health service organisations (e.g., hospitals) where awardees are employed for the delivery of the research project/PhD including assisting with negotiating for protected time to conduct research. 
• Facilitating the development of innovative and effective dual-training pathways which provide the opportunity for PhD level research alongside the conventional clinical training track.
• Supporting the awardee for the duration of the award by providing for example, co-funding, access to infrastructure, supervision, and in-house training.
• Receiving and administering the award to ensure compliance with the SAMRC regulations on the use of public funds and general terms and conditions of the award.

How to apply

Opening date: 15 July 2024

Closing date: 16 September 2024, 23:59

Application Process

Application steps 1 to 3 below must be completed before or by 16 September 2024, 23:59.

• Step 1 - Complete the online application.
• Step 2 - Upload all the required supporting documents.
• Step 3 - Research supervisor or proposed supervisor must complete the research supervisor’s commitment form and submit the application.

Attached are three documents to assist you with your application (1.) Abstract example, (2) 2024 RFA SAMRC Institutional Clinician-Researcher Development Programme guideline which includes the checklist of the required supporting documents and (3) Budget request template (Not applicable to MBCHB/PhD candidates).

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 31 December 2024, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

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