STIAS Iso Lomso Fellowships for Early Career African Researchers 2024: (Deadline 15 February, 2024)

Iso Lomso aims to address the gap that exists between completion of the Ph.D. and becoming an established scholar in Africa. While there is increasing support for doctoral study and for post-doctoral fellowships, it is during the extended post-doctoral period that the greatest loss of talent occurs.

Fellows are expected to be present at STIAS for the duration of their STIAS residency, with no academic obligations other than pursuing the proposed research project. The only other duties are to share in the discussion over lunch which is served daily, and to participate in the Thursday STIAS fellows’ seminar where fellows in turn present their work to other fellows and invited academics from the local community.

About Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)

n today’s knowledge society accessing reliable, appropriate, future-orientated, ground-breaking knowledge and being able to process the technologies and know-how that flows from this knowledge is key. It is also critical to nurture a future generation of independent thinkers and leaders. Leaders who not only understand the realities of a changing world, but also have the abilities and skills to implement new advances to the benefit of society….

Iso Lomso Fellowships

• Type Entrepreneurs
• Organisation Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)
• Country to study–
• School to study–
• Course to study Not specified
• State of Origin
• Gender Men and Women
• Application Deadline 15 February, 2024

Aim and Benefits of Iso Lomso Fellowships

The main means of support is STIAS residencies. Residential periods will be agreed mutually between the fellow, his or her home institution and STIAS, and may vary between six weeks and five months per residency. A first period of residency will typically be of longer duration to be taken up during 2025, followed by two further residencies through 2027. While in residence fellows receive regular STIAS fellow support which includes:

• An economy return flight;
• Comfortable accommodation within walking distance from the institute;
• Individual offices equipped with a PC, telephone and printer;
• A monthly stipend for daily living costs;
• Access to the Stellenbosch University library (including electronic resources) and a high-speed internet connection;
• Participation in the regular STIAS fellows programme, including daily lunch, weekly fellows’ seminars, STIAS public lectures and social events;
• A child care subsidy for fellows accompanied by young children while in residence.

Iso Lomso fellows’ home institution will be eligible to apply for a lecturer replacement subsidy during residency periods. This will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis with the home institution after the fellowships have been awarded. It will be the fellow and the home institution’s responsibility to recruit replacement lecturers.

While not in residence at STIAS Iso Lomso fellows will continue their regular academic duties at their home institution. During these periods fellows may apply for a range of research sponsorship interventions. These elements will be considered in a flexible manner to ensure that each fit optimally into the research programme. They may include:

• A subsequent residency at a sister Institute for Advanced Study or relevant research institution in North America, Europe or elsewhere (this will form part of the ten months’ residency allocation; the fellow’s preferences for potential host institutions will be considered);
• Funding to attend up to two relevant academic conferences or research training events (covering travel, accommodation and
  participation fees);
• Limited project funding for key interventions in the research programme;
• The possibility of hosting a workshop at STIAS or their at their home institution as a means of strengthening the fellow’s scholarly network and research impact.

Applicants are encouraged to consider which of these elements they would like to include in the pre-proposal timeline. These elements will be planned and finalised with Iso Lomso fellows during their initial period of residency.

Requirements for Iso Lomso Fellowships Qualification

The programme is aimed at African scholars who have obtained a doctoral degree within the preceding seven years and who hold an academic position at a university or research institution anywhere in Africa.

Candidates should have established a research programme and have completed a post-doctoral fellowship or equivalent post-PhD programme. All disciplines are considered.

To be eligible for the 2024 call, applicants must:

• Be a national of any African country;
• Be born after the 1st of January 1981;
• Have an affiliation at a research or higher education institution in an African country, and continue to do so for the foreseeable future;
• Have obtained a doctoral degree from any recognised higher education institution (worldwide) after the 1st of January 2016;
• Have completed a post-doctoral fellowship or equivalent post-PhD research programme;
• Be in a position to commence a first period of residency at STIAS during 2025.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Iso Lomso Fellowships

Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated and selected on the basis of the following criteria:

• Level: the applicant’s academic excellence and the originality and scholarly strength of the proposed research project;
• Innovation: the project’s promise of new insights and the potential to produce new knowledge;
• Interdisciplinarity: whether the project methodology allows for drawing from different disciplines and its potential to facilitate an interdisciplinary discourse;
• Relevance: the project’s relevance for scholarship and knowledge production in Africa;
• Feasibility: whether the research design and the research plan are convincing and realistic.

During final selection, additional consideration will be given to:\

• Gender representation;
• Diversity of nationalities;
• Diversity of disciplines;
• Participation in previous or current research projects;
• Previous international experience.

How to Apply

For more details, visit OFFICIAL LINK & APPLY