Grants
The objective of the project is for the SAMRC to increase its footprint nationally to include all strata of universities - particularly to include under resourced universities otherwise referred to as Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs).
The purpose of the RCDI grant is to provide an opportunity for funding researchers at universities and research institutions previously constrained by inadequate access to resources. The aim of the RCDI grant is to contribute and assist in accelerating the building of research capacity and scientific leadership at the selected universities. The resources of the programme allow the HDIs and researchers to improve their contribution to the generation of knowledge towards the solutions to health challenges in South Africa. Additionally, as per its objectives, the RCDI programme builds capacity by enabling the researchers to partner with the SAMRC research units and research-intensive institutions to increase the number of MSc and PhDs graduates and peer-reviewed publications.
To date, eight universities have been invited for participation under this initiative, namely: i) University of Limpopo, ii) University of Venda, iii) University of Zululand, iv) University of Fort Hare, v) Walter Sisulu University, vi) University of the Western Cape, vii) Mangosuthu University of Technology and viii) Sefako Makgatho University.
Each university is awarded one million rand per financial year for five years. To date, the programme has funded 32 Principal Investigators across all the eight universities and including 18 current PIs hosted in the eight universities.
Priority research areas: Violence and Injury, Non-Communicable Disease, Maternal and Child Health, Health Systems, Public Health Innovation, and COVID-19.
Participation by universities is advertised through request for application.
SAMRC RCDI-Nested Postdoctoral Fellowship and Postgraduate Programmes |
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RCDI-nested research fellowship/ scholarship is an intervention programme to accelerate the building of research capacity and scientific leadership by strengthening the research team and improving supervision experience of the RCDI- principal investigators. This will be done by creating opportunities to host and retain early career scientists that have demonstrated the potential to become established researchers. RCDI Principal Investigators are eligible to participate in the expression of interest to host postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students. It is expected that the RCDI project will have funding for the period of the fellowship and scholarship. Selected institutions (HDIs) are: University of Fort Hare, University of Limpopo, University of Venda, University of the Western Cape, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Walter Sisulu University, and University of Zululand. Only one postdoctoral fellow and one PhD student may be nominated for one RCDI-funded project. SAMRC RCDI-Nested Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme Application processes include advertisement of the request for application followed by nomination by RCDI-funded PI at the HDI. Full-time employees may not hold an RCDI-PhD Scholarship. SAMRC RCDI -Nested Scholarship Programme |
The main purpose of the MCSP is to invest in promising Mid-Career Scientists to facilitate their retention in the public sector in areas of strategic interest to both the National Department of Health (NDoH) and the SAMRC. This programme aims to equip mid-career scientists in their affiliated institutions to be able to write successful grant proposals in their funded research, and to grow their research teams by mentoring postgraduate students and hosting postdoctoral fellows. The stature of the funded principal investigator must demonstrate growth that cannot be achieved without the MCSP grant.
The purpose of the SAMRC Intra-mural Postdoctoral Fellowship is to contribute and 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. Postdoctoral fellows play a crucial role in strengthening the research team and student supervision.
Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD) has funded intramural postdoc within research and business units. The period for the award is three (3) years with the option to extend for a further two years subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. Funding for each financial year is subject to receipt of satisfactory progress reports and the availability of funding for the programme. The hosting Unit Director and/or Principal Investigator (mentor) shall also provide the necessary research running expenses, infrastructure, career development, and mentorship.
The Fellow shall act as a researcher on the project that he/she applies for and will spend a minimum of 80% on the project. The Fellow will negotiate a performance contract with his/her supervisor.
The SAMRC Extramural Units (EMUs) are external research entities commissioned by the 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 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 supporting postgraduate student supervision.
The purpose of the SAMRC Extramural Postdoctoral Programme is to accelerate research capacity development and scientific leadership by creating opportunities to host and retain postdoctoral scientists who have demonstrated the potential to become established researchers. The programme seeks to build research capacity and scientific leadership among early-career scientists within EMUs, taking transformation requirements into account and focusing mainly, but not exclusively, on black and female individuals who have demonstrated the potential to become excellent researchers.
As a career development intervention, the programme aims to address the challenges EMUs face in contributing to training and retaining talented young scientists with the potential to establish themselves within the Units as independent scientists. It is expected to strengthen SAMRC EMU research teams by financially supporting newly graduated PhDs to join the postdoctoral programme in the EMUs, encouraging peer-reviewed publications, supervision training, research project proposal development and grant applications, and preparing promising scientists for research and academic leadership positions within their institutions.
Value and Duration of the Award
On a full-time basis, the value of the award will be R350 000 (three hundred and fifty thousand rand) per annum as tax-free funding. The period of funding is three years, renewable for an additional two years, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of programme funding.
Requirements to host a Research Fellow
The hosting EMU and supervisor submit their expression of interest application. They must demonstrate that the postdoctoral fellow will be supported through appropriate research infrastructure and research expenses, supervision and career development opportunities to progress towards independent investigator status.
In the expression of interest to host a research fellow, Unit Directors must provide the following:
- The rationale for the Unit to host a postdoctoral fellow (motivation by the Unit Director)
- Evidence of an approved/funded research proposal with ethical approval (where applicable)
- Evidence of a proven track record in research supervision and mentorship
- Evidence of available support structures and infrastructure to host a postdoctoral researcher
- A clear plan for the academic development of the Postdoctoral Fellow (clear mentorship plan)
Obligations of the Postdoctoral Fellow
Successful applicants and the host institution sign a contractual agreement with the SAMRC. The fellow shall act as a researcher on the approved project and spend a minimum of 80% of their time working on the project.
Eligibility criteria
- South African citizens and permanent residents (preferably under 45) may apply.
- Applicants must have obtained their doctoral degree no more than five (5) years prior to application.
- Applicant who are still waiting for graduation need a strong motivation from the host Unit (Unit Director or the PI).
- Applicants who are returning after a period of absence from research due to family responsibilities may be considered, upon motivation.
- Preference is given to suitably qualified candidates from the designated groups. For this reason, we require race, gender and disability status to be specified. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Application Process
The postdoctoral applicant and the Unit respond to the advised request for application.
Before applying, the postdoctoral applicant contacts the Unit for project details.
Supporting documents include the following:
- Applicant's CV and full publication list
- Certified copy of ID
- Certified copy of PhD certificate
- A written motivation from the host supervisor, including details of the research project on which the fellow will be engaged
- A written commitment from the supervisor to provide all necessary support, as well as the running expenses of the proposed research project
- At least two referees' contact details
Selection Process
- Eligible applications are peer-reviewed and evaluated by a panel comprising the SAMRC's RCD Grant Selection Committee, which scores applications against standard objective criteria.
- Research proposals submitted by the host in their expression of Interest are expected to be of high quality. The relevant research area and expected output must be clearly outlined and linked to the SAMRC's strategic research priorities.
- While preference is given to individuals from designated groups, applicants must also demonstrate strong suitability, academic merit and research potential. An optional interview may be conducted by RCD as part of the review and selection process.
- SAMRC RCD submits the selection outcomes to the Executive Management Committee (EMC) for review and approval.
Purpose and objectives
The SAMRC Early Investigators Programme is a research capacity development programme under the partnership between SAMRC and South African academic/research institutions to support future health research leaders to establish their own research teams and make the transition to Mid-Career Scientists and independent researchers.
As a career development intervention, the SAMRC Early Investigators Programme supports promising early-career scientists with leadership potential to become independent researchers. The purpose of the Early Investigators Programme is to
- support the career development of South African scientists at the end of their early postdoctoral stage (3-5 years post-PhD or 1-5 years post-PhD for clinician PhD)
- facilitate their transition to the next level of mid-career scientists, and
- foster their retention in the public sector in areas of strategic interest to the National Department of Health (NDoH) and the SAMRC in order to bolster the scientific and academic leadership in the country.
It is expected that funded investigators will be able to strengthen their leadership skills, increase their research outputs and management skills, train and graduate research students, and attract further funding to grow their own research programmes.
Research projects that contribute to the mandate of SAMRC and demonstrate potential for public health impact will receive preference.
Value and Period and conditions of the Award
The value of the award is up to R500 000 per year for three years, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. Payment of the grant funding will be linked to clear milestones and deliverables and subjected to the terms and conditions of the awards.
The grant is used for research purposes as per the agreed-upon budget including R200 000 for research expenses and R300 000 towards the awardees' salary. Since the grant is partially used as a salary, a formal letter must be included in the initial application stating the Institution's commitment to (i) appoint the applicant as a researcher, (ii) to fund the running expenses of the applicant's research project, and (iii) to provide infrastructure support for the applicant.
The award must demonstrate an intentional and measurable contribution to the objectives of the programme to facilitate retention in the public sector in areas of strategic interest to both the NDoH and the SAMRC.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only South African citizens and permanent residents may apply.
- Applicants must have a research doctorate in health / medical research with 3 to 5 years of demonstrated postdoctoral research experience or at least one year of post-PhD research experience for clinician-scientists.
- Applicants must be younger than 45 years; applicants over 45 years require a strong motivation from the Institution.
- Applicants must be affiliated with a recognized academic or health research institution for at least the duration of the project or have secured a commitment from the Institution to host the proposed project and provide the necessary financial support to the applicant for the duration of the grant.
- Applicants who are in an academic or research position fully remunerated by their institutions or those who have already demonstrated independence as evidenced by substantial grant income as principal investigators or have already established their research groups (for more than three years) are not eligible.
- The SAMRC Early Investigators Programme award may not be held concurrently with another SAMRC capacity development grant. Any other funding received needs to be declared in the application.
- Full-time employees of the SAMRC Intramural Research Units may not hold the SAMRC Early Investigators award.
Selection Process
- Eligible applications will be subject to a peer-review process; review reports will be assessed by the panel (Grant Selection Committee), who will also score the application against standard objective criteria (evaluation guidelines)
- While black and women early career scientists, as well as applicants based at resource-limited institutions, are encouraged to apply (targeting 65% of the awards), the academic merit and scientific quality of the proposed research must be ranked higher. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial programme of research with integrity. Applicants must also provide a clear rationale of why the Early Investigators Grant will best support their long-term career goals and chosen career route.
- The research area and expected outputs must be clearly outlined and linked to the SAMRC's strategic research priorities. Research projects that are proposing work on behalf of commercial entities will not be considered.
The SAMRC 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.
For Current Open Request for Applications please view our Funding Page
Contact details: Research Capacity Development Grants Management and administration