This Early-Career Research Fellowship is being initiated by the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, to support a total of thirteen (13) Early-Career Research (ECRs) Fellows to undertake globally competitive research at the ARUA Centres of Excellence (CoEs). The goal is to strengthen the capacity of ECRs at African universities by giving them time away from teaching responsibilities at their home institutions while working with very senior and accomplished researchers. Each CoE is expected to host one research fellow from a country other than where the CoE is located.

Background to ECR Fellowships

The ARUA CoEs operate on a ‘Hub’ and ‘Spoke’ institution basis. The ‘Spoke’ institutions are organized around the ‘Hub’. The CoEs reflect the current priority areas of the network, and they are expected to significantly enhance research and graduate training. Currently, the CoEs are organized as follows:

(i) Energy,
(ii) Unemployment and Skills Development,
(iii) Non-Communicable Diseases,
(iv) Inequality Research,
(v) Notions of Identity in Africa,
(vi) Migration and Mobility,
(vii) Sustainable Food Systems,
(viii) Urbanization and Habitable Cities,
(ix) Climate and Development,
(x) Good Governance,
(xi) Post-Conflict Societies,
(xii) Water and
(xiii) Materials, Energy & Nanotechnology (MEN).

To support the activities of these Centres, ARUA is announcing a residential Early Career Research Fellowship opportunity with a duration of 12 months. During this period, prospective research fellows are expected to stay at the ‘Hub’ university of the relevant CoE and conduct research related to their existing projects. It is possible for the prospective fellow to be stationed at a ‘Spoke’ university of the CoE based on a recommendation from the Centre Director and so far as this ‘Spoke’ university is not the same as the home university of the applicant. Applicants are encouraged to suggest preferred locations and possible mentors/supervisors.

Successful applicants may explore new lines of research with the approval of the Centre Director. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the ARUA website (www.arua.org.za) as well as those of the 13 CoEs to familiarize themselves with their ongoing research projects.

For prospective fellows interested in the ARUA CoE in Climate and Development, applications in the following research areas are strongly encouraged: (i) Ecosystem-based adaptation, (ii) Coastal climate change impacts and/or adaptation, (iii) National climate policy development and implementation, just energy transitions, (iv) Climate governance and (v) Climate change attribution and/or loss and damage.

ARUA views this ECR Fellowship as critical to consolidating the progress being made by the CoEs, which aligns with the main vision of the network. ARUA, therefore, seeks to use this opportunity to enhance the relevance of postgraduate training for early career researchers at its member universities.

Application Process

To apply for this research fellowship, please submit the following documents:

• An introductory letter to express interest in Fellowship
• Curriculum Vitae
• A brief introduction to the proposed research (not more than 1,000 words)
• Names and addresses of two academic referees.
• Letter of support from applicant’s home institution

The selection of the successful candidates shall be done by the Director of the Centre to which the application is directed, in consultation with the host institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Applications should be submitted via the submission portal https://arua.org.za/early-career-research-fellowships-2023/ no later than 20^th July 2023.

Successful candidates shall be contacted by 31^st August 2023 and will be expected to begin the fellowship on 1^st October 2023.

See below for detailed call.