The Paset Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund calls for proposals for awarding research grants to early-career scientists (RSIF Junior Investigator Research Award, RSIF JIRA).
The RSIF JIRA supports RSIF post-doctoral scientists to establish their research careers. JIRA enhances research excellence within the organization by unlocking the research potential of newly graduated RSIF PhD scholars. It also increases the institution’s research capacity when new PhD graduates who are staff gain experience leading research projects.
Beneficiaries of JIRA acquire research leadership and managerial skills and help emerging scientists settle down at their home institutions to establish research careers, building on existing and new networks with local and international partners.
The proposed projects should be aligned with PASET priority sectors, which are:
- ICTs, including big data and artificial intelligence; food security and agribusiness;
- minerals, mining, and materials engineering;
- energy, including renewables, and climate change.
Duration: 02 years
Benefits
- The total project funding requested from RSIF shall be up to US$80,000 for a period of 2 years.
- The host organization may provide additional funds or other in-kind support.
Eligibility
- The Call for JIRA is open to recent (i.e., not more than 2 years) graduates from the RSIF PhD program who get a staff appointment for either a permanent, temporary, or post-doctoral position in a university or research center in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The applicants should have completed their PhD study or demonstrate that they have met all the university’s requirements for the award of the degree.
- The applicant must demonstrate her/his interest in JIRA and potential to be a future research leader through their research work and other activities during their PhD studies.
- The RSIF graduate will be the lead applicant. He/She should have at least one international collaborating partner.
- Projects should be relevant to the priorities and needs of SSA countries
- The team should not exceed four members, including the RSIF graduate.
Selection Criteria
- All proposals will be screened to ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility requirements outlined in the Call for Proposal.
- All eligible proposals shall be evaluated by at least 2 internationally recognized independent experts.
- Evaluated proposals shall be submitted to the RSIF Grants Independent Technical Committee (GITC) for final selection and recommendations to the PASET Executive Board (EB) for funding.
- The PASET EB shall make the final decision on projects to be funded in line with the recommendations of the RSIF GITC. The decision of the PASET EB shall be final and binding on all applicants.
- The list of the projects selected for co-financing shall be published on the RSIF website.
Application Process
Applicants are to provide the following materials for their application:
- Project Proposal using the template provided
- Project Budget using the budget template provided
- Curriculum vitae of key research team members, max 4 CVs
- A letter of support from the host university or research center
- A letter of support from collaborating international partner
- Personal career vision statement
- Letter from AHU on graduation/meeting requirements for graduation
To apply for Call for Proposals: RSIF Junior Investigator Research Award (RSIF JIRA), click here
Deadline: March 30, 2024.
For more information on the Call for Proposals: RSIF Junior Investigator Research Award (RSIF JIRA), visit the official site.
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