SAMRC Call for Applications: Postgraduate Research Associate Programme

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is calling for applications for Postgraduate Research Associate Programme. The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to attract PhD and Masters candidates within the following research fields, which will be given preference: Biostatistics, Bioethics, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Digital Health, Demography, Epidemiology, Environmental Public Health, Evolutionary Virology, Implementation and Translational Science, Health Economics, Genomics, Immunology and Structural Biology.

The long-term goal of the SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme is to transform the composition of the country’s health and clinical research human capital to be more representative of the demographics of the nation, by substantially increasing the number of scientists from designated groups in strategic and emerging fields within the health and clinical research where these groups are underrepresented. Within the context of the SAMRC, the purpose of the programme is to

  • contribute towards the SAMRC’s transformation agenda to increase the representation of quality postgraduate scientists from designated groups, and
  • growing the number of PhD candidates from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs).

The programme attracts young scientists of the highest calibre to complement SAMRC senior researchers and influence sustainable long-term collaboration with national and international institutions through joint supervision of South African students. 

Requirements for the application:

1. PhD candidates: 

  • South African citizen or permanent resident. 
  • A fully developed and officially approved research proposal for a PhD.
  • Must be registered as a full-time student at a South African university.
  • Must provide written commitment of participation by a research unit director from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.
  • Must be receiving supervisory support from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to train and mentor the student for the entire duration of the degree.
  • The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project.

2. Master’s:

  • 1st year Master’s candidates (Scarce skills and candidates registered in Historically Disadvantaged Institutions):
    •  South African citizen or permanent resident.
    • Admitted into a structured scarce skill Masters programme at a South African university for studies in 2026
    • Letter of recommendation from your proposed supervisor at university and letter of recommendation from your proposed supervisor at SAMRC.
    • Must provide written commitment of participation by a research unit director from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.
    • The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project.
  • 2nd year of Master’s candidates:
    •  South African citizen or permanent resident. 
    • A fully developed and officially approved research proposal for Masters.
    • Must be registered as a full-time student at a South African university.
    • Research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas.
    • Must provide written commitment of participation by a research unit director from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.
    • Must be receiving supervisory support from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to train the student for the entire duration of the degree.
    • The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project

Funding: 

PhD:

  • Candidates will only be funded for the prescribed PhD duration (i.e., the first 3 years) notwithstanding the fact that previous years were not funded by the SAMRC. Fourth year of funding can be considered in special circumstances.
  • Candidates must i) provide proof of being registered full-time, and ii) have both PhD research approval and ethics clearance, where applicable.

Masters:

  • Candidates will only be funded for 1 year.
  • Only candidates who are registered in Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs) or candidates who are doing specialized Masters degrees in the following research areas will be considered for 2 years of funding: Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computer Science / Data Science / Epidemiology / Demography and Data analytics.

Click here for more information

Application deadline, 21st of August 2025 at 23:59 (South African time).

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