The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) and the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) invite applications for one-year travelling research fellowships in health research, with preference given to proposals which address the MRC?s research priorities (see below) and particularly to those addressing HIV/AIDS research.
While applications for shorter periods of three to twelve months may be considered, applications for the full twelve-month period are encouraged. The purpose of the fellowship is to build re- search capacity and strengthen research collaboration within Af- rica and between African scientists. The fellowship may be held in South Africa for non-South African applicants, or in any other African country for South African applicants.
The award will cover the fellow's return economy airfare from home to host country, the fellow's salary (to a maximum of two hundred thousand South African rand) in the host country, and re- search costs (to a maximum of one hundred thousand South African rand) for research undertaken in the host country. Four such fel- lowships may be awarded. Applicants providing proof of a research doctorate or equivalent in a health related area including, health economics, nursing or public health will be considered. Applicants that do not hold a research doctorate or equivalent must have proven research capabilities.
They must be citizens of an African country, currently working in that country, and must be able to provide assurance that there is a position to return to in their home country on completion of the fellowship. The host institution must be a university or re- search institute, including research councils and government laboratories but excluding industrial laboratories. The host must be a member of staff of the host institution.
Application process:
The application process is initiated by the submission of a pre- liminary application to the MRC. The preliminary application will be evaluated by an MRC nominating committee and successful pre- liminary applicants will be asked to submit a full application (in a prescribed format) that will be sent out for independent peer review. The MRC nominating committee will then make recom- mendations for the award of the fellowship based on the reports received from the independent external assessors. Successful ap- plicants may commence work as soon as visa requirements have been fulfilled. The South African Department of Home Affairs requires applicants to apply in the category of visitors visa in terms of section 11(ii)(cc) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002). Applicants may not enter South Africa and apply from within the country, they must enter on the correct permit with the correct endorsement.
To be considered for this fellowship, applicants must submit a preliminary application with the following information: full cur- riculum vitae of the visiting fellow and host researcher, includ- ing full publications lists and reliable telephone, cellu- lar/mobile phone, fax and e-mail contact details, a letter of support from the host researcher, a letter from the home institu- tion assuring a post to return to after completion of the fellow- ship, a 2-page project outline prepared in consultation with the host researcher, a preliminary budget in South African Rand to cover the fellow?s salary, return airfare and reasonable research costs. In addition, three letters of support for the applicant must be submitted by the applicant?s referees under separate cover. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be consid- ered.
MRC's research priorities:
please refer to the following URL: http://www.mrc.ac.za/research/ourresearch.htm
The MRC's six National Programmes focus on: Molecules to Disease, Health Systems and Policy, Women and Child Health, Infection and Immunity, Non-communicable Diseases, Environment and Development.
The Lead Programmes focus on: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Crime, vio- lence and injury, Malaria, Genetics and Genomics.
Cross-cutting programmes: Ethics and human rights, Capacity De- velopment, Culture and Indigenous Knowledge, Information and Knowledge Management, Health Promotion, Intellectual Property.
Deadlines:
Applicants must send a preliminary application to the MRC by Fri- day 31 October 2003. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the preliminary application by Friday 14 November 2003. The full ap- plication, in the prescribed format which will be sent with the invitation to submit a full application, must reach the MRC by Monday 5 January 2004. Applicants will be notified of the nomi- nating committee's final decision by the end of March 2004.
Applications and queries must be sent by post, courier, e-mail or facsimile to: Ms Carole Roberts Director, Office of International Affairs Medical Research Council P O Box 19070 Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
Street address for hand/courier delivery: Medical Research Council
Francie van Zijl Drive Parowvalley 7500, South Africa Tel: +27-21-938-0359 Fax: +27-21-938-0239 mailto:carole.roberts@mrc.ac.za http://www.mrc.ac.za
Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.
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