ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme (SAWBP) PhD Fellowship 2027

Eligibility

The current call states that:

• Applicants must be female.
• Applicants must be South African citizens or South African permanent residents with a valid South African ID number.
• Applicants must have the academic preparation required for doctoral study.
• Applicants must intend to undertake a PhD in Biotechnology.
• The proposed project must be innovative and fall within one of the five specified ICGEB Cape Town research macro areas.
• Applicants must obtain the required endorsement from an ICGEB Cape Town Group Leader.
• Applicants must satisfy the programme's documentary and application requirements.

The current call states that preference will be given to Black and disabled applicants.

Academic Requirement

Applicants need to demonstrate the academic preparation necessary for doctoral research.

The application requires proof of an MSc degree or, where applicable, a letter from the supervisor confirming the applicant's intention to submit the MSc thesis.

Importantly, proof of the MSc degree must be available before the fellowship commences for an applicant to take up the award.

Financial Support

The fellowship provides:

• Tuition fees at the University of Cape Town.
• ZAR 16,500 per month stipend.
• Three years of fellowship support, subject to satisfactory performance.
• Additional mobility support for eligible research activities at other ICGEB Components.

The current call specifically identifies Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India as ICGEB Components where supported mobility may take place.

International Mobility

International interaction is an important feature of SAWBP.

The programme promotes mobility between South African women biotechnology researchers and the wider ICGEB community. Fellows may receive additional support to conduct research at other ICGEB Components, including the ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India.

The mobility component can expose fellows to additional scientific expertise, facilities and research networks beyond their primary doctoral environment in Cape Town.

The exact opportunity and duration of mobility will depend on the research requirements and programme arrangements.

Professional and Research Development

During the fellowship, researchers can develop experience in:

• Advanced biotechnology research
• Experimental design
• Laboratory techniques
• Scientific data analysis
• Research communication
• Scientific writing
• Collaboration within multidisciplinary research teams
• Presentation and discussion of research findings
• International scientific networking
• Research planning and project development

The programme also promotes mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and complementary skills development.

Who Is This Fellowship For?

This opportunity is specifically suited to South African women who:

• Have an appropriate background for doctoral research in biotechnology.
• Want to pursue a research-intensive PhD.
• Have a clearly defined interest in one of the five SAWBP research areas.
• Can identify an appropriate ICGEB Cape Town laboratory.
• Are prepared to work closely with an ICGEB Group Leader.
• Want to develop a long-term career in biotechnology, life-science research or related scientific fields.

It is particularly important that an applicant's research interests match the expertise of the intended ICGEB laboratory.

Application Documents

The current call requires applicants to submit:

1. Copy of South African ID.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Detailed research project proposal.
4. Letter of endorsement from the relevant ICGEB Cape Town Group Leader.
5. Proof of MSc degree, or a letter from the MSc supervisor confirming intention to submit the MSc thesis.

Applicants should ensure that all documents meet the requirements of the current call before submission.

How to Prepare the Research Proposal

The research proposal should be developed around an innovative question that fits the selected ICGEB Cape Town research group.

Before writing the final proposal, applicants should:

1. Review the ICGEB Cape Town research groups.
2. Identify the Group Leader whose research is closest to the proposed project.
3. Contact the Group Leader in advance.
4. Discuss the proposed research direction.
5. Refine the project according to the laboratory's expertise and available facilities.
6. Obtain the required endorsement.
7. Prepare the detailed project proposal and remaining documents.

A proposal that is scientifically interesting but does not fit the selected laboratory may not be appropriate for this fellowship.

Application Process

Applications are submitted by email to the ICGEB Cape Town contact specified in the official call.

Applicants should prepare the required documents, obtain the mandatory Group Leader endorsement and submit the complete application before the closing date.

Key Dates

Application deadline: 20 October 2026

Expected fellowship commencement: Early 2027

Fellowship duration: 3 years, subject to satisfactory performance

Important Information

This is a South Africa-specific doctoral fellowship. Applicants from other countries are not eligible for this particular SAWBP PhD call.

The fellowship is also not a general biotechnology scholarship that can be used at any university. The doctoral research is undertaken at the ICGEB Cape Town Component, and the proposed project must fit one of the five research macro areas identified in the call.

The ICGEB Group Leader endorsement is mandatory, so applicants should make contact with the appropriate research group well before the application deadline.

The current financial package consists of University of Cape Town tuition fees and a ZAR 16,500 monthly stipend, with additional mobility support available for eligible research activities within the ICGEB network.

How to Apply

Review the official SAWBP PhD call and the ICGEB Cape Town Group Lists, identify a suitable Group Leader, discuss the proposed project, obtain the mandatory endorsement and submit the required documents by 20 October 2026.