2019 UCT Genetics Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Scholarships for Sub-Saharan Africans

The Genetics Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is now available at The University of Cape Town in South Africa for the year 2019. Students from Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible to apply for this fellowship.

The HIGENES Africa project aims to use Whole genome sequencing (WES), bio-informatic analysis and functional studies to study the largest sample of sub-Saharan Africans from Cameroon, Mali, Ghana, Sudan, Rwanda and South Africa with prelingual autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment (ARNSHI), to identify novel and relevant NSHI genes in African populations.

The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College making it the oldest higher education institute in South Africa.

Scholarship Description

• Applications Deadline: November 26, 2018
• Course Level: Fellowships are available to pursue Postdoctoral programme.
• Study Subject: The Division of Human Genetics invites highly motivated individuals to apply for a Genetics Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to be part of a multidisciplinary team of experts as part of the Hearing Impairment Genetics Study in Africa (HIGeneS Africa) project under the directorship of Prof Ambroise Wonkam.
• Scholarship Award: The fellowship is valued at R300 000 per annum. The fellowship may be renewed for a second year depending on satisfactory progress and mutual agreement.
• Nationality: Students from Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible to apply for this fellowship.
• Number of Scholarships: Numbers not given
• Scholarship can be taken in Africa

Eligibility for the Scholarship

Eligible Countries: Students from Sub-Saharan Africa (Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic), Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) are eligible to apply.

Entrance Requirements: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Applicants must have:

• A PhD degree (achieved within 2 years of this application) in an area of Human Genetics, Molecular/Cell Biology or Bioinformatics.
• Proficient in standard molecular biology techniques (e.g. cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, and fragment analysis, DNA and RNA isolation, quantitative Real-Time PCR, RNA interference), and immunoblotting), common cell biology techniques (e.g. immunofluorescence). Experience in sequence library preparation (e.g., using the Illumina NextSeq™ 500)
• Experience in basic statics like R, SPSS and STATA
• Previous experience in LIMS and quality control

The following would be advantageous:

• Evidence of a publication record
• Bioinformatics skill set needed to process raw FASTQ files

English Language Requirements: Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University.

Application Procedure

How to Apply: Please email applications to Dr Carmen de Kock (carmen.dekock-at-uct.ac.za)

The following documents are required:

• A letter of application in which the candidate’s research interests are outlined;
• A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications;
• Certified copies of all academic transcripts (no certificates); and
• The names and contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the applicant.

Scholarship Link