The Centre for Epidemic Response & Innovation (CERI) Call for Application: African STARS fellowship

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) (Senegal), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, invite applications for the African STARS Fellowship; a fully funded opportunity to pursue an MSc in Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Genomics at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

About the MSc Programme:

  • Duration: 2 years (Feb 2026 – Jan 2028).
  • Location: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Structured 9-month lecture block, including a compulsory Statistics and Bioinformatics module, followed by elective capita selecta modules in Infectious Diseases or Pathogen Genomics, offering flexibility to address emerging research priorities.
  • Over 1 year of hands-on research training within Stellenbosch University’s world-class infectious disease laboratories to complete a bioinformatics research project.
  • Career development workshops tailored to the needs of researchers in low- and middle-incomecountries (LMICs).
  • Ongoing mentorship from a dedicated team of supervisors based at Stellenbosch and partnering institutions.

Eligibility: 

  • Born in and / or living in Africa
  • 35 years of age or younger at the time of application
  • Hold a BSc Honours (NQF level 8) or equivalent 4-year degree (≥65%) in:
    • Bioinformatics, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science,
    • Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, or a related field
  • Women are strongly encouraged to apply

Funding: 

  • Tuition, flights, housing, health insurance & stipend all covered.

Click here for more information

Important dates: 

Application deadline, 26th of June 2025

Admission to Stellenbosch University, 31st of August. 

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