Invitation for Nominations for Professional Development Programme (PDP) Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2023

The National Research Foundation (NRF) invites Science Councils, National Facilities and Public research-performing institutions to nominate candidates for the PDP for the 2023 academic year.  Candidates may be nominated in one of two categories to advance their research and professional development thereby bridging the gap from doctoral graduation to employment.  The two categories are:

1. Postdoctoral Research Fellowships for the purpose of engaging in a period of dedicated research; or
2. Research Infrastructure Postdoctoral Fellowships for the purpose of engaging in a period of dedicated research and honing their competencies in utilising and managing specialised research infrastructures. This fellowship aims to produce highly trained and skilled Research Infrastructure Scientists/Professionals able to optimally manage and use research infrastructures as well as ensuring that they develop the required expertise for managing and operating research infrastructures.

The objectives of the Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are to:

• Leverage innovation and research at public Research Institutions, Science Councils and National Facilities in South Africa, through the implementation of science and technology related skills development.
• Enable recently qualified doctoral graduates to gain further research experience and to thereby improve their prospects of employment in the science and technology system;
• Develop a cohort of high-performing emerging/early career researchers in order to renew and replenish the research workforce;
• Attract and retain young scientists and professionals of the highest caliber in order to complement senior researchers’ influence on the current science and technology research system;
• Effect transformation in the demographics of the research workforce in South Africa by supporting Black and female emerging/early career researchers and those that are living with a disability.

The objectives of the Research Infrastructure Postdoctoral Fellowships are to:

• Strengthen, renew and replenish the currently aging workforce making use of high-end research infrastructure through skills development;
• Develop a cohort of high-performing emerging/early career researchers in order to succeed experienced operators, technicians and engineers;
• Develop a cohort of Research Infrastructure Scientists/Professionals whose specialised knowledge and competencies are required by the national knowledge enterprise to ensure optimal research capability and maximum utilisation of research infrastructures; and
• Transform the demographics of the research workforce that make use of high-end research infrastructure in South Africa by supporting black and female emerging/early career researchers and those that are living with a disability.

The eligibility criteria for the PDP Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Research Infrastructure Postdoctoral Fellowships are as follows:

·         Only bona-fide South African citizens or permanent residents may receive a PDP Postdoctoral Fellowship;

·         Full-time employees of public Research Institutions, Science Councils, Museums or National Facilities may not hold a PDP scholarship or fellowship;

·         To be appointed as a PDP Postdoctoral Fellow, the individual must have obtained his/her Doctoral degree no more than five (5) years before commencement of the PDP Postdoctoral Fellowship. In the case of female candidates that are returning after a period of absence from research due to family responsibilities, this criterion may be waivered;

·         Postdoctoral Research Fellows will be individuals that have undergone Doctoral level training and who undertake research and generate their own research outputs. In addition, they are involved in teaching and in training of postgraduate students; and

·         Research Infrastructure Postdoctoral Fellows will be individuals that have undergone Doctoral level training and who undertake research and generate their own research outputs through the utilisation of specialised research infrastructures. In addition, they are involved in teaching, training of postgraduate students and users, establishing new calibration methods and the development, design, and construction of research infrastructures.

The eligibility criteria for the PDP Postdoctoral mentors is as follows:

·         Mentors must hold a doctoral degree and have postgraduate supervision experience to host and supervise a Postdoctoral Fellow; and

·         Mentors must also hold a full-time permanent position as a researcher at the host institution, or a contract position as a researcher for the full duration of the PDP Fellowship.

The PDP programme has showed underperformance in attaining the Ministerial Guidelines target of 80% Black but was able to achieve the set target of 55% women for PDP postdoctoral fellows for the 2022 academic year. Nominations that will be approved for the 2023 academic year will prioritise Black and females to align with the objectives of transforming the emerging researcher cohort.

With the available budget, approximately fourty (40) new PDP Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and fourty-five (45) new Research Infrastructure Postdoctoral Fellowship awards will be made for the 2023 academic year. The value of the PDP postdoctoral fellowship for 2023 shall be a maximum of  R400 000.00 per annum for a three-year period and this amount will be taxable.

All successful PDP Postdoctoral fellows will be expected to complete and submit to the NRF the following:

1. An Agreement for Grantholder-linked PDP Fellow Support;
2. A signed three-year, fixed term, non-renewable employment contract with the host institution;
3. Copy of South African identity document; and
4. Proof of completion of the Doctoral degree.

Host institutions and principal investigators will be expected to contribute towards training costs, travel costs and running expenses in addition to providing the necessary infrastructure and mentorship of the PDP Postdoctoral Research Fellow or Research Infrastructure Postdoctoral Fellow.

Nominations must be made on the attached nomination spreadsheet for consideration by the NRF. A maximum number of six (6) nominations for Postdoctoral Research Fellows and six (6) nominations for Research Infrastructure Postdoctoral Fellows may be submitted to the NRF per research institution. The proposed postdoctoral fellow must only be nominated once per research institution, including those institutions with multiple campuses.

The submission deadline for nominations is 10 February 2023 for funding in the 2023 academic year.

Deadline for take up of awards is within two (2) months from the date of receiving the award letter. No extensions will be granted, including for nominated candidates who fail to complete their doctoral degree by the deadline date.

Completed nomination spreadsheets must be submitted to Ms Queen Mohohoma via email on PQ.Mohohoma@risa.nrf.ac.za.

Should you have any queries regarding the nomination requirements and/or process, please contact the individuals below:

Ms Queen Mohohoma

Professional Officer – Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development (HICD)

Telephone: 012 481 4392 E-mail: PQ.Mohohoma@risa.nrf.ac.za ; or

Ms Sphumelele Duma

Professional Officer – Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development (HICD) 

Telephone: 012 481 4051; E-mail: ST.Duma@risa.nrf.ac.za