AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Program for Emerging Scientists 2024: (Deadline 06 May 2024)

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is delighted to announce the launch of the Towards Leadership Programme in partnership with the UKRI Medical Research Council.

The AREF Towards Leadership programme aims to empower talented, emerging scientists in Africa to compete successfully for UKRI MRC and other major funding opportunities in global health research. Together we are investing in talented African scientists in Africa, enhancing their global health research and leadership potential.

The programme will run between Oct 2024 to Oct 2025, consisting of two residential workshops (opening and closing) and one virtual workshop.

The curriculum is designed to support engage and enhance the participants’ capabilities and to empower talented, emerging scientists in Africa to compete successfully on a level playing field for UKRI MRC and other major funding opportunities in global health research. The programme is directed towards to winning grant funding, empowering effective teams, collaborating internationally, influencing stakeholders, and building rewarding research careers.

About Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF)

The Africa Research Excellence Fund aims to improve the quality and impact of health research in Africa by nurturing talented, emerging researchers to do the best health research in Africa, for Africa. We want to grow the community of African researchers who lead and partner excellent, collaborative health research that benefits patients, populations, policy makers and practitioners throughout the region and globally. You can be part of our vision and help us achieve it. Please read more about our programmes and how you can get involved:…

AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Program

Aim and Benefits of AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Program

• The costs of the workshops and associated accommodation and travel of selected nominees will be met by MRC and AREF.

Requirements for AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Program Qualification

• You are a citizen of a country in Africa.
• You are currently employed in Africa by a recognised university and/or specialist research institution.
• You are an early career researcher, having completed your research education and are now at the early stages of leading your own research group.
• You will hold a research doctorate (PhD/DPhil/MD) from a recognised academic institution OR you have a medical/clinical qualification PLUS a research-relevant Master’s degree, both usually within the last 10 years. If it has been longer than 10 years since your last degree, please explain in your application why you should still be considered an early career researcher (i.e. caring responsibilities or career break/change impacting your research career).
• You are currently responsible for managing/supervising one or more research students and/or research staff members and are involved in building research collaborations.
• You demonstrate evidence of being at the early stages of leading a research team or being an active member of a research team conducting Global Health research
• A significant part of your current employee role is to develop and conduct health research.
• You already have experience in obtaining research funding (Combined value of £500,000 or less).

Interview date, Process and Venue for AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Program

Selection

• To be accepted to the Programme, you will need to demonstrate the potential to benefit yourself and your home institution. Therefore, in the application form you will need to provide a persuasive personal statement demonstrating:
  • Your current/most recent research programme and the potential for it to make an impact on health
  • A compelling career vision and how you plan to achieve it
  • Your potential as an emerging research leader to build a successful research group, influence your discipline and engage with impact or innovation outside of academia.
  • How you and your institution will benefit from participating in the AREF Towards Leadership

• Nominations must be accompanied by a supporting letter from an authorised senior representative of your employing institution, such as the director. They should:
  • confirm your eligibility.
  • confirm they authorise you to participate in all three workshops – that you will not be withdrawn to fulfil teaching, administration or other obligations
  • Describe how they personally and the institution will recognise the benefits that participating in the programme brings – and how those benefits will be integrated into and sustained within the organisation.

• Nominees must be fully committed to participating in all three workshops of the Programme; partial attendance is NOT an option.

Key Dates

• Applications closing deadline 16:00 GMT 6 May 2024
• Successful applicants notified early to mid-July 2024

Application Deadline

May 6, 2024

How to Apply

For more details, visit OFFICIAL LINK & APPLY