The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.
Invitation to apply
The Southern African Institute for Nuclear Technology and Sciences (SAINTS) is a division of iThemba LABS focusing on the provision of education, training and professional development for students and staff linked in the first instance to iThemba LABS.
iThemba LABS uses a variety of particle accelerators to provide accelerated ions and associated detectors systems for use by researchers and students to conduct research in the fields of basic and applied nuclear physics; materials science/nanoscience; radiobiology (radiation effects on biological materials); and radiochemistry.
iThemba LABS has over the years significantly advanced through major upgrade to its accelerators. In particular, a comprehensive infrastructural development flagship project has advanced under the pillar of SAIF (South African Isotope Facility) which is based on a newly procured 70 MeV cyclotron which has recently been commissioned and has come into operation recently. Because of this development there are also research opportunities for post-graduate students in Electrical/Electronic/Mechatronic Engineering and Computer science.
With this call, the SAINTS is inviting academically outstanding students to apply for Masters and Doctoral scholarships (in fields of Science and Engineering) to do their research full-time in one of the following fields:
Basic nuclear physics (study of nuclear reactions, shapes and more),
Applied nuclear physics (study of radiation effects on matter, environmental radiation, accelerator mass spectrometry and more),
Materials science (materials characterization),
Nanoscience (new materials development),
Radiobiology (studying effects of radiation on the body),
Radiochemistry (development of novel radioisotopes for use in nuclear medicine and more), and
Advanced control systems for accelerator components and detector instrumentation (Engineering, Computer science).
Full Cost of Study:
The scholarships will be on “Full Cost of Study” (FCS) as determined by the NRF post- graduate funding policy, covering the annual tuition fees, accommodation allowance (i.e., university owned accommodation or private rental accommodation), living, transport and food allowance. The electronic study and assistive technology device (for students living with a disability) allowances will be provided as a once off basis during the tenure postgraduate studies. Successful students will also be sponsored to attend at least one international conference and/or participate in an international research visit during their studies.
Requirements:
An above-average academic record, achieved with a minimum average of 65% for the previous degree/qualification,
must be a South African citizen,
must register at a South African public university for full-time studies from 2025,
must be supervised/co-supervised by a staff member at iThemba LABS for studies
commencing in 2025,
must be 30 (thirty) years old or younger in the year of application with the NRF (Masters funding); and
must be 32 (thirty-two) years old or younger in the year of application with the NRF (PhD funding)
To Apply:
Application closing date – 1 December 2024.
your up-to-date CV;
copy of your full academic record;
copies of all your degree/diploma certificates to date;
letter in which you indicate your selected research project, your motivation for
selecting this project, your choice of institution to register for your studies, and
your career goals;
copy of your ID document;
two letters of support (one from your current or most recent
lecturer/supervisor);
copies of any research publications/reports you have authored or co-authored,
and
copies of your dissertation (MSc) or mini-dissertation (BSc (Hons) / BSc Eng).
Successful applicants will later be invited to submit on online application on the NRF Connect system.
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