UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG

Research Office

The University of the Witwatersrand is a research-intensive University, and all of our academic staff are expected to be active researchers. We sustain an impressive research output at Wits, and strive to attain the highest levels of excellence. Wits is committed to providing quality training of postgraduate students, as one means of ensuring a continuing supply of active and motivated researchers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This "Announcements" page is updated approximately once a month, to bring upcoming research events and funding opportunities to the attention of the Wits Community. The notes below are largely sorted in chronological order.

GENERAL NEWS

Science Policy News

For information and news on a worldwide range of issues in the fields of science policy, jobs, events, funding opportunities, etc, please visit http://www.scidev.net
Award for achieving a recognized qualification

Employees on 50% time or above may receive a 4% gross salary increment on completion of a recognized higher degree (Academic and Support Staff). Further, any member of the Academic Staff completing a PhD will receive a R 12,000 research grant.

Eligibility is on the premise that the qualification obtained is at a higher level than anything the staff member previously held and the qualification must be awarded by an accredited Higher Education Institution.

Heads of School or Department must motivate to the Human Resources Office, attaching proof of the qualification.
Facts and Figures on the NRF’s rating system

The NRF has put a report on its website, which seeks to:
- provide objective information and statistics
- explain relevant procedures and policies
- illustrate the objectivity, fairness, credibility and impact of the system
- answer FAQ’s
Click here to see this report
NRF-rated scientists at Wits

For a list of NRF-rated scientists at Wits (current at 26 March 2012, please click here

The call is now open for rating and re-rating applications, for the annual round which closes on 15 February 2012. Please click here for information about eligibility, information sessions and deadlines.
Special Terms for African Researchers (STAR)

STAR is a programme of the publishers Taylor and Francis to make access available at discounted rates to printed copies of their journals and to grant fee online access. To learn more, please visit www.tandf.co.uk/star
NRF Knowledge Fields Directorate

The Knowledge Fields Development Directorate wishes to notify the research community of the following information with respect to development grant opportunities:

Part of the mandate of the Knowledge Fields Development Directorate (KFD) is to promote new knowledge and to push the boundaries of existing knowledge and associated research capacity by stimulating and developing the entire spectrum of knowledge fields.

In addition to the management of research programmes, KFD employs a range of tools to stimulate the development and advancement of knowledge fields.

These functions are driven by a dual approach, namely:
A directed approach: development activities as identified and coordinated by the NRF;
A non-directed, ad hoc approach: development activities as identified by the research community.

The KFD Directorate identifies a number of activities each year for implementation using both of these approaches.

Please be advised that the development grant strategy document, as well as the development grant application form for ad hoc grants are attached and may also be found on the NRF website (http://www.nrf.ac.za/). These grants are awarded throughout the year and as such, are NOT subject to specific submission deadlines.

The grant applications are subject to internal selection processes, and budget availability throughout the year.

To read more about the purpose of these grants, click here.

Should you have any queries concerning the information on the website, please contact Candice Steele (Candice@nrf.ac.za) or Renee le Roux (Renee@nrf.ac.za).
Singapore Statement on Research Integrity

The University subscribes to the policy on research integrity set out in the Singapore Statement, which may be viewed at http://www.singaporestatement.org
Oppenheimer Memorial Trust

The Trust offers grants in two categories:

Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Study

The Trust awards a limited number of grants each year for postgraduate study at Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral level. South African nationals are eligible to apply and preference is given to candidates with a proven record of academic excellence, coupled with financial need, who intend to pursue careers in academia or research. Applications for study abroad may be considered where the field of specialisation cannot be undertaken locally or in cases where candidates have advanced to a level where international tuition is appropriate to proceed meaningfully in their chosen fields of specialisation.

To find out more, including how to apply, click here

Sabbatical Study

The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) awards a limited number of grants each year to support excellence in scholarship at South African Higher Education Institutions. These awards are intended specifically for full-time academics undertaking short to medium term sabbatical studies locally and/or overseas. Preference is given to candidates with a proven record of academic and teaching excellence coupled with financial need.

To find out more, including how to apply, click here
NRF Equipment-related mobility and training grants

The NRF offers financial assistance to researchers wishing to have access to equipment which is not available, locally or nationally. It also offers funding for training on equipment purchased through the national Equipment and Nano-Equipment programmes. This is currently an open-ended call and applications are considered quarterly. The Research Office needs a minimum of one week to sign off hard copy applications and get them to the NRF.

To find out more about the programme, click here. To download an application form, click here, if for travel, or here, if for training,

All enquiries to Ms W Bala on 011 717 1236, or Waheeda.Bala@wits.ac.za
Six Institutes

To view the Six Institutes proposal, current at August 2011, click here.
Animal Ethics Applications

The Research Office has introduced an Electronic System for submitting applications for Animal Ethics Clearance (InfoEd). A group of researchers in APES were successfully trained and we are happy to announce that we are now going live. The electronic system will run as pilot until the end of this year and researchers wishing to apply for clearance or for modifications may now do so online instead of submitting hardcopies to the Research Administrator. We are aiming to discontinue paper-based submission as from 1^st January 2012. For access to InfoEd and training material please contact Mahani Bodhi on 011 717 1112, or Mahani.Bodhi@wits.ac.za
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)

The University has been granted access to the database of the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), based at the University of Michigan. This database contains a large repository of quantitative social data at http://www.icpsr.umich.edu, which is freely accessible to Wits’ researchers.

For further information, please contact Rod.Alence@wits.ac.za

UPCOMING EVENTS AND CLOSING DATES

CARTA Fellowships

All young academics working in the fields of publicand population health and development (Humanities and health Science)that have a Masters degree and are intending to register for a PhD maybe interested in applying for a CARTA Fellowship. The Fellowship is astructure PhD programme that involves at least 4 international (twoweek) seminars spread over 4 years. The seminars are designed to assistwith the PhD study and develop strong academic careers. Funding supportsall travel costs related to the seminars and a small stipend. Two briefing sessions to be held on 3 May 2012: (1) At 9h00 at Medical School, Parktown, 10th floor (School of Public Health meeting room) and(2) At 14h00 Senate House, Braamfontein, SHB1. Closing date for applications: 17 May 2012. For more information contact Prof Kahn (Kathleen.kahn@wits.ac.za) or Dr Wade (Alisha.wade@wits.ac.za) or Dr Drennan (robin.drennan@wits.ac.za).
MRC self-initiated grants

The Medical Research Council invites applications for self-initiated research grants. Click here to download an application form.

When an applicant has completed the application form, it must be submitted in the first instance to iain.burns@wits.ac.za and not to the MRC. It will be internally reviewed and the applicant will be invited to consider any possible amendments, which might improve his or her prospects of a successful outcome. Any application which does not go through internal review will not be supported by the University.

The internal closing date is 11 May 2012.

Internal enquiries should be directed to Mr I Burns on +27 11 717 1231 or iain.burns@wits.ac.za.

Enquiries to the MRC should be directed to Mr C Glass on +27 21 938 0225 or clive.glass@mrc.ac.za
CANSA Grants

CANSA invites applications for funding of research projects addressing cancer epidemiology, prevention and detection. An application form may be downloaded from:
http://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&news_id=74882&cause_id=1056

Applications must be endorsed by the Research Office. Our deadline is 18 May 2011.

Internal enquiries should be directed to Mr I Burns on +27 11 717 1231 or iain.burns@wits.ac.za.
Enquiries to CANSA should be directed to Ms A Victor on +27 21 689 5381 or avictor@cansa.org.za
SPARC Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applications are invited from postdoctoral fellows already at the University, who wish to extend their stay into a third year. To read more, click here

The closing date for applications is 31 May 2012

Enquiries to Dr R Drennan on 011 717 1254 or Robin.Drennan@wits.ac.za

Research Office

Wits University