Applications are invited for the 2016 Claude Leon Foundation postdoctoral fellowships available for South African and Foreign citizens to study at various universities and institutes in South Africa.
The flagship education project of the Claude Leon Foundation is the Postdoctoral Fellowship programme in the sciences at South African universities which is now in its fourteenth year. It has as its main goal the building of research capacity at all South African universities and research institutes. More specifically, the Trustees are seeking to upgrade research in the faculties of Science, Engineering and Medical Sciences by making awards to both South African and foreign postdoctoral scientists, who should increase the volume and quality of research output, transfer technical skills, and generally enhance the research culture of universities. It is envisaged that Fellows will not be involved in undergraduate teaching, but will contribute to postgraduate research training. It is believed the Foundation currently accounts for between 15 to 20 percent of all Postdoctoral Fellowships in South Africa on an annual basis. The Foundation offered 46 new awards for 2015.
The Claude Leon Foundation fellowship will be awarded for duration of two years.
Eligibility
- The Fellowships are open to South African and foreign nationals
- Candidates should have received their PhDs within the last five years
- Preference will be given to candidates who are currently under-represented in South African Science, Engineering and Medical Sciences
- It is preferable, but not obligatory, that a candidate will undertake his/her postdoctoral research project in a department other than the one where his/her doctoral degree was obtained. Applicants who wish to remain in the same department where they completed their PhD should explain this choice. An accompanying motivation from the prospective supervisor is also required
- An applicant who has not completed his/her PhD at the time the Fellowship is offered (usually October) must have at least submitted the PhD thesis by the end of the calendar year in which the offer is made. In those circumstances the Foundation will require written assurance from the applicant’s PhD supervisor that the PhD thesis has been submitted and there is a reasonable expectation that the doctoral degree will be awarded.
Value
- The fellowship is worth R235 000 per annum.
- Fellows, after having completed their first year of Fellowship, may apply to the Trustees for one travel grant per Fellowship. The grant is up to a maximum of R25,000 to attend international conferences for the purpose of presenting a paper or poster.
- Entirely within the discretion of the Foundation, one economy class return flight may be awarded to those coming from outside South Africa.
- The Foundation must be informed immediately of any supplementary travel grants and the conditions pertaining thereto which the Fellows may receive.
- The Foundation reserves the right to adjust or cancel its translocation allowance without prior notice.
How to apply
- Completed Postdoctoral Application Forms must be submitted to the institution at which the applicant hopes to undertake the Fellowship.
- Sections J, K, L and M of the application form must be dealt with by the university/institution of choice.
- These universities/institutions will ensure that applications forms are signed by the appropriate authorities, and that all copy documents are attached.
- These forms should also be scanned and emailed to postdocadmin-at-leonfoundation.co.za.
Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, taking the applicants’ academic achievements and potential as researchers into account.
The results will be available in October each year.
Application deadline
The application deadline is 31 May, 2015.
For more information, enquiries and application, click here