Deadline: 31 March 2025
The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation has announced its Young Professional Programme which will target future leaders in Africa, living in Africa, or from the diaspora to be attracted and offered a 12-month fellowship.
The fellowships will focus on innovation and entrepreneurship training and placement at commercial companies, industry or innovation hubs.
Program Specifications
- The fellowship has 4 tracks:
- Research management;
- Innovation and entrepreneurship,
- Infectious diseases R&D for diagnostics and
- Innovations to enhance patient outcomes in Africa.
- The YPP will support placements within leading biotechnology innovation hubs in South Africa and Senegal or commercial entities to develop new skills. This holistic approach will encompass training in critical thinking, problem-solving, writing, grantsmanship, effective communication, and project management. The YPP training and placement fellowship will consist of:
- A 6 week intensive core training (leadership, research management, public health and research) at the Stellenbosch Business School, CERI and/or IPD.
- A 6 week innovation and entrepreneurship training at LaunchLab/BIO-CERI and/or IPD.
- One international rotation in a placement institution for up to 4 months. Rotations will focus on visits and exchanges at the commercial, industrial and/or advanced R&D institutions (e.g. Illumina, Thermo-Fisher Scientific, Roche, Inqaba biotech, Fluorobiotech, etc). Africa CDC, IPD and CERI will help to identify the hosting institution as they have set up multiple previous partnerships within industry.
- The remainder of the fellowship, which will be hosted at CERI or IPD, will focus on the outcome (product, patent, research paper, research grant or job offer) of the programme, which will be presented to a Programme committee (or mentors) and should directly or indirectly lead to a job opportunity and/or a catalyst grant.
- In addition to technical expertise, the training Programme will prioritize equipping Fellows with a range of core skills essential for success in their research careers. By nurturing both technical proficiency and the development of transferable skills, the training Programme aims to empower Fellows with the confidence and capabilities needed to pursue independent research and make a meaningful impact in preventing future pandemics in their home countries.
For more information, visit African Star Fellows.
