ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS FOR THE2025 DSTI – NRF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) are pleased to announce the DSTI-NRF Professional Development Program (PDP) Postdoctoral Fellowships awards for 2025. These fellowships are aimed at promoting research and research capacity development in all knowledge fields of research, with priority given to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) disciplines. Fellowships are open only to South African citizens and permanent residents who intend to undertake research at a South African Public Research entities only, viz., Science Councils, National Facilities, Museums or other NRF recognised research institutions as declared by the DSTI.

Please note:

• If your name does not appear on Table 1, you have not been awarded a DSTI-NRF Professional Development Program Postdoctoral fellowship for 2025.
• Successful candidates will be able to view and download their award letters in January 2025, via NRF Connect against their applications.
• Read through the Conditions of Grant (CoG) letter and award letter documents carefully before accepting the award.
• Guidelines on how to accept the award: https://www.nrf.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Acceptance-of-Award.pdf
• All required documentation must be uploaded on the awardees’ NRF Connect profile within two months of receipt of the award letter. All awards that are not taken up by this period will be cancelled by the NRF.
• The sooner the NRF obtains all the required documents, the sooner it will release the funds.
• Applicants who are currently completing their doctoral dissertation for submission were allowed to submit applications. They should however complete their doctoral degree by 31 December 2024. The NRF must receive proof of having completed the doctoral degree at the time of commencement of the Postdoctoral fellowship grant. All awards that are not taken up by 30 June 2025 (for only this category of applicants) will be cancelled by the NRF and no exemptions will be made if the completion letter or Doctoral certificate has not been issued by this time.
• The NRF feedback on the review of applications will be forwarded to all unsuccessful applicants between January and March 2025.
• The NRF reserves the right to withdraw and cancel the fellowship should the applicant fail to meet all necessary conditions and/or requirements as stated in the NRF Postdoctoral Fellowship Call for 2025 Framework document and the CoG.