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July 2024 RFA 2025 Enrollment
SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme
Masters and PhD Scholarships for Clinical/Health Research
SAMRC INTRA & EXTRA-MURAL RESEARCH UNITS AND RESEARCH CENTRES
Opening Date: 15 July 2024
Closing Date: 16 September 2024, 23:59

SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme: Masters and PhD Scholarships for Clinical/Health Research

The long-term goal of the SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme is to transform the composition of the country’s health and clinical research human capital to be more representative of the demographics of the nation, by substantially increasing the number of scientists from designated groups in strategic and emerging fields within the health and clinical research where these groups are underrepresented. Within the context of the SAMRC, the purpose of the programme is to (i) contribute towards the SAMRC's transformation agenda to increase the representation of quality postgraduate scientists from designated groups, and (ii) growing the number of PhD candidates from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs).The programme attracts young scientists of the highest calibre to complement SAMRC senior researchers and influence sustainable long-term collaboration with national and international institutions through joint supervision of South African students. This programme emphasises the training and development of emerging scientists from historically under-represented groups, namely African Black, Indian and Coloured, whose research supervisors are employees or researchers at SAMRC. These research supervisors may be working for the SAMRC as researchers within SAMRC intra or extra mural research units. Therefore, preference will be given to candidates of the designated groups, registered for a doctoral degree or masters in scarce skills and strategic and/or emerging research areas.

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to attract emerging researchers within the following research fields, which will be given preference: Biostatistics, Bioethics, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Digital Health, Demography, Epidemiology, Environmental Public Health, Evolutionary Virology, Implementation Science, Health Economics, Genomics, Immunology and Structural Biology.

Level

Funding period (Years)

Value of scholarship p.a.

Notes

PhD

3 + (1 year extra, on compelling motivation from hosting Unit Director and Supervisor)

R200 000

1. Candidates will only be funded for the prescribed PhD duration (i.e., the first 3 years) notwithstanding the fact that previous years were not funded by the SAMRC. Fourth year funding is considered on special circumstances.

2. Candidates must i) provide proof of being registered full time, and ii) have both PhD research approval and ethics clearance where applicable.

Masters

1 + (1 year on compelling motivation from hosting Unit Director and Supervisor)

R160 000

1. Candidates will only be funded for 1 year.

2. Only candidates who are registered in Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs) or candidates who are doing specialized Masters degrees in the following research areas will be considered for 2 years of funding: Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computer Science / Data Science / Epidemiology / Demography and Data analytics.

3. Candidates who are applying for funding for 2nd year Masters enrollment in 2025 must i) provide proof of full-time registration, and ii) have the Masters research proposal approval and ethics clearance where applicable. Candidates who will be enrolling for 1st year Masters in 2025 must provide a support letter from the proposed supervisor at the institution where they will register.

Requirements for application

PhD Candidates

Masters Candidates

All PhD candidates

1) South African citizen or permanent resident. 

2) A fully developed and officially approved research proposal for PhD.

3) Must be registered as a full-time student at a South African university.

4) Research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas

5) Must provide written commitment of participation by a research unit director from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.

6) Must be receiving supervisory support from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to train and mentor the student for the entire duration of the degree.

7) The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project.

2nd year Masters candidates

1) South African citizen or permanent resident. 

2) A fully developed and officially approved research proposal for Masters.

3) Must be registered as a full-time student at a South African university.

4) Research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas 

5) Must provide written commitment of participation by a research unit director from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.

6) Must be receiving supervisory support from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to train the student for the entire duration of the degree.

7) The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project

1st year Masters candidates (Scarce skills and candidates registered in Historically Disadvantaged Institutions)

1) South African citizen or permanent resident. 

2) Intend to register as a full-time student at a South African university.

3) Support letter by a Master’s course coordinator or departmental HoD stating that the applicant’s application has been received by the institution and date by which selection process will be concluded.

4) Letter of recommendation from your proposed supervisor at university.

5) Letter of recommendation from your proposed supervisor at SAMRC

6) Must provide written commitment of participation by a research unit director from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.

7) The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project.

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 – SAMRC research supervisor or proposed supervisor must complete the research supervisor’s commitment form and submit the application.

Attached are two documents to assist you with your application (1.) Abstract example and (2) 2024 RFA SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme guideline which includes the checklist of the required supporting documents.

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.

Deadline
Mon, 16-09-2024 - 23:59