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Application Deadline: April 30th 2018
The University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Institute invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, working within an inter-and transdisciplinary approach to developing a deeper understanding of the African bioeconomy. For purposes of this call, “bioeconomy” is defined activities that make use of bio-innovations, and are based on biological sources, materials and processes to generate sustainable economic, social and environmental development.
Applications are welcome for such topic areas as:
•Technological and non-technological exploitation of natural resources such as animals, plant biodiversity, micro-organisms and minerals to improve human health, address food security, and subsequently to contribute to economic growth and improved quality of life.
• Ecological issues and climate change as influencers, promoters, and inhibitors of bioeconomic advancement.
• The politics of the bioeconomy, including tensions around land and food security, biodiversity and indigenous knowledge, and economic growth and growing income insecurity and inequality.
• Cultural perspectives and practices that influence, assist, or impair human interactions with the natural environment.
This early-career fellowship will aim to develop research leadership to fill a critical gap in the African research capacity ecosystem. Emerging research leaders in the natural and social sciences and humanities are encouraged to apply for this fellowship to
help address Africa’s most urgent challenges and opportunities to develop a sustainable and inclusive bio resource-based economy.
Benefits:
- The Fellowship will carry the bulk of the costs associated with the program, including accommodation, meals, and allowances for attending one conference as well as traveling to the home institution once per annum. Costs for visas, vaccinations, travel and medical insurance, and travel not related to the academic content of the program will not be not covered by the program.
Mentorship and network development
Fellows will be required to participate in a structured mentorship system. This will include:
• Each fellow will have research mentors at both the home and host institutions;
• Each fellow will be paired with a career mentor at Future Africa, other than the research mentor.
Guidance will be given for the expectations from such mentorship relationships,
including support for ‘upward connection’ in the research system, discussions on an academic career, structures and systems, and research program and institutional development ; and
• Fellows will be required to act as a mentor to four Future Africa resident Ph.D. students to
share their experiences from training workshops with these students
Requirements:
The following criteria will be used as a guide for the nomination and selection of fellows:
• A PhD degree or equivalent qualification;
• A faculty or a continuing research position at a research institution;
• Active in research and teaching at an African institution of higher education or research;
• A sustained record of outstanding scientific or scholarly outputs;
• Interest in translating and communicating the results of their work for impact in society;
• Demonstrated leadership ability in research and beyond;
• Interest in the role of research in addressing complex issues affecting society;
• Interest in collaborations across disciplines and sectors (e.g. industry, civil society, government, etc.);
• Commitment to participate in all the activities of the fellowship ; and
• Intent to share what is learned in the program with their broader networks.
Selection criteria
The program will select fellows from among the doctoral graduates and early-career postdoctoral fellows linked to networks and initiatives supported by Carnegie Corporation
New York. Eligible programs are:
• African Humanities Program
• Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA)
• University of Cape Town (Corporation-supported doctoral and postdoctoral fellows)
• University of Ghana ( Corporation-supported doctoral and postdoctoral fellows)
• Makerere University (Corporation-supported doctoral and postdoctoral fellows, plus MISR\ doctoral graduates)
• Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship Program
• Networks comprising the Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE): AFNNET, AMSEN, SABINA, SSAWRN, WIO-RISE
• Regional Universities Forum for Capacity-Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
(Corporation-supported doctoral fellows)
• University of the Witwatersrand (Corporation-supported doctoral and postdoctoral fellows)
Application:
- All applicants have to provide two support letters by academic referees (details are provided in the application form). One of the two referees has to commit to be involved in future communications and mentorship in case of selection of the applicant into the program. This referee will be informed about the progress of the fellow and should be willing to support the fellow if he or she requires it.
- All applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by representatives of Future Africa at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with expert reviewers at other institutions
.
Key dates:
30 April 2018 : Applications close
31 May 2018 : Outcome letters sent to applicants
September 2018 : onwards Arrival of fellows
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[…] The University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Institute invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, from among the doctoral graduates and early-career postdoctoral fellows linked to networks and initiatives supported by Carnegie Corporation New York (CCNY). […]