The Young Academics Advancement Programme (PhD) Call is now open on NRF Connect under the Research Grants category. The aim of the programme is to accelerate the development of demand-driven research and innovation in the renewable energy sector by young academics in South Africa.
Objectives
The objectives of the YAAP funding instrument are to:
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Promote the attainment of a doctoral qualification, by young academics employed at South African public universities and training of the academics in the energy sector;
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Promote networking and collaboration of young researchers with national and international academics, and companies in the renewable energy sector;
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Support research and skills development of young academics to be international experts in the energy sector;
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Effect transformation in the demographic composition, of academics undertaking research within the energy sector as recognised by the NRF, with respect to gender, race and persons with disabilities.
Research Focus
There are five identified focus research themes for the NRF-Sasol YAAP and funding will be awarded to applicants with proposals that are aligned to one of these themes:
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Environmental Sustainability (e.g. Water, Coal, Air, Waste)
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Clean Energy Solutions (e.g. Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, Energy and Power System modelling, Techno-economic Modelling)
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Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Production (e.g. CO2 capture, Fischer–Tropsch (FT), CO2 utilisation and conversion)
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Sustainable Feedstock (e.g. Green H2 Development, Biomass, DAC)
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Electrification of industry processes
Eligibility Criteria
The following eligibility criteria apply to all applicants:
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Only South African citizens and South African Permanent Residents with a valid South African Identity Document (ID) number may apply. Individuals who are in the process of obtaining permanent residence will not be considered.
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Applicants must hold a permanent, full-time academic appointment at one of the 26 public universities in South Africa, or a fixed-term appointment that extends for the full grant period plus one additional year i.e. 4 years
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Applicants should have obtained a master’s qualification or in their final year of a master’s qualification at the time of application and intending to pursue doctoral studies.
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Applicants must be registered for a doctoral degree at the time of commencement of the YAAP grant. Applicants must generally be under the age of 45 years at the time of first application.
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Applicants over the age of 45 years, at the time of first application, may be considered on submission of a motivation demonstrating that they are late entrants to research or that they are returning to research after a period of absence from research e.g. due to family responsibilities. This information must be included in the application template under the section “Absence from Research”.
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This grant may not be held concurrently with a Thuthuka Grant, New Generation Academics Programme (nGAP) scholars, Black Academic Advancement Programme (BAAP), a grant as a Director of an NRF Centre of Excellence (CoE), Institute or Centre, South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) grant, any NRF Knowledge Advancement and Support (KAS) grants, NRF postgraduate student bursary, Competitive Support for Unrated Researchers (CSUR) and any Established Researcher grant.
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The grant caters for lecturer replacement costs. The relevant Dean must thus provide written commitment pledging to allow the applicant time release for research and relief from teaching duties to conduct research. This letter must be uploaded under the attachment section of the application.
Funding support
The YAAP grants will be funded for a 3 year period to a set maximum amount for each budget category, subject to budget availability. The grant is intended to fund three (3) distinct budget categories i.e.:
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Running Expenses (max R150 000 per annum)
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Lecturer Replacement (max R100 000 per annum)
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Local and International travel (max R50 000 per annum)
Funding Model
Grants are awarded for well-structured research projects that demonstrate the prudent use of funds. Projects should have a clear aim and objectives and sound methodologies that support the study objectives.
As the YAAP grant is aimed at development and the advancement of designated groups per race and/or gender, the NRF has set the following targets for allocation of grants to designated groups, to bring about this transformation:
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at least 80% of all funded grantholders to be Black; and
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at least 55% of all funded grantholders to be female.
Application Process
Applications should be completed and submitted via the NRF Connect System at https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za . Please carefully read through the attached Framework and Funding Guides, which provides step-by-step instructions for completing the application template. Before commencing a YAAP application, applicants are required to update their CV and list all their qualifications, research outputs (if any) and student supervision record in the Curriculum Vitae (CV) section.