NRF 2022 Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills (FISS) Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applications from candidates intending to pursue postdoctoral research in the specific areas listed below will be considered for the respective fellowships.

NRF Freestanding Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Natural Sciences;
• Engineering;
• Technology;
• Social Sciences; and
• Humanities.

In allocating funds for Postdoctoral Fellowships at South African public research institutions, priority will be given to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) disciplines. The percentage of Fellowships awarded towards the SET domain will be between 70 – 80%; and between 20 – 30% for the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH).

Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Biotechnology;
• Cellular and Molecular Biology;
• Engineering;
• Computer science;
• Physics;
• Astronomy;
• Mathematical Sciences;
• Nanotechnology;
• Chemistry;
• Earth Science;
• Ecology;
• Medical sciences;
• Social Sciences; and
• Humanities

Scarce Skills Development Fund Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Management:
  • Financial Management
• Financial sector:
  • Accounting, Auditing, Statistics, Actuarial Science
• Biological sciences:
  • Biotechnology
• Physical sciences:
  • Mathematical Sciences, Physics, Geology, Computer Science, Information systems, Chemistry
• Engineering:
  • All fields of Engineering
• Sector specific:
  • Agricultural Sciences, Transportation Studies, Tourism, Demography

• Table of Content
• About National Research Foundation (NRF)
• Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills (FISS) Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Aim and Benefits of Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills (FISS) Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Requirements for Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills (FISS) Postdoctoral Fellowships Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About National Research Foundation (NRF)

The NRF was established through the National Research Foundation Act (Act No 23 of 1998), following a system-wide review conducted for the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST). The new entity incorporated the functions of the research funding agencies that were previously servicing various sections of the research community, namely the former Centre for Science Development (CSD) of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the former Foundation for Research Development (FRD) that included several National Research Facilities. As an entity of the Department of Sci... continue reading

Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills (FISS) Postdoctoral Fellowships

Aim and Benefits of Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills (FISS) Postdoctoral Fellowships

Successful applicants will receive funding for a maximum period of two (2) years based on the initial commencement date of the project. Female Postdoctoral Fellows that take maternity leave during the tenure of the fellowship, are eligible for an additional four (4) months of support beyond the two (2) year fellowship period

Requirements for Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills (FISS) Postdoctoral Fellowships Qualification

The eligibility criteria applicable to all the Postdoctoral Fellowships supported by the NRF are listed in section 6.1. In addition, sections 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4 list eligibility criteria for each category of fellowships relating to citizenship requirements

General eligibility criteria for all Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Applicants must have obtained their doctoral degree within five (5) years of submitting an application to the NRF;
• Applicants who are currently completing their doctoral dissertation for submission may apply. They should however complete their doctoral degree by 31 December 2022, as all awards that are not taken up by 30 June 2023 will be cancelled by the NRF
• Full-time employees of Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) or other research institutions are only eligible to apply if they intend to take unpaid leave for the duration of the postdoctoral fellowship;
• Applicants who are applying for a second NRF Postdoctoral research placement will be eligible if they intend undertaking research on a new project;
• Applicants who are applying for a second NRF Postdoctoral research placement to continue with research on the same project are not eligible; and
• Applicants who are applying for a third NRF Postdoctoral research placement are not eligible.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Applications must be completed on the NRF Online Submission System at https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za. Applicants are advised to complete their applications soon after the call opened to prevent IT system overload nearer the closing date

For more details, visit NRF website.