contract: Contract
location: New York
apply-url: https://arua.org/early-career-research-fellowships/
The African Research Universities Alliance is launching an Early-Career Research Fellowship program to fund 42 early-career researchers. The program is supported by the Mastercard Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The fellowships aim to enhance the capacity of early-career researchers at African universities.
Overview
The initiative will fund up to forty-two early-career researchers to conduct globally competitive research at the host and affiliated institutions of ARUA’s thirteen Centres of Excellence and the twenty-two Africa-Europe Clusters of Excellence. Each fellowship will have a duration of six months, to be undertaken between March 2026 and February 2027.
The program aims to enhance the capacity of early-career researchers at African universities by providing them with time away from teaching duties at their home institutions to collaborate with highly experienced and distinguished researchers at ARUA CoEs or the Africa-Europe CoREs.
The African Research Universities Alliance is a network of leading universities from different African countries with a common vision to make African researchers and institutions globally competitive while contributing significantly to the generation of knowledge for the socio-economic transformation of the continent.
Responsibilities
- The initiative will fund up to forty-two early-career researchers to conduct globally competitive research at the host and affiliated institutions of ARUA’s thirteen Centres of Excellence and the twenty-two Africa-Europe Clusters of Excellence
- Each fellowship will have a duration of six months, to be undertaken between March 2026 and February 2027
Eligibility
- Eligible candidates from non-ARUA Universities can apply
- At least 70% of the fellowships are reserved for female candidates, and applicants must be no older than 35 years at the time of application
Benefits
- Each fellowship includes a stipend of US$2,000, a modest payment for accommodation, and travel expenses
How to Apply
The deadline for application for option 1 is 22nd January 2026, and for option 2 is 15th July 2026. To apply,
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for application for option 1?
The deadline for application for option 1 is 22nd January 2026. The application deadline for option 2 is 15th July 2026. Both deadlines are important for prospective applicants to note.
How many early-career researchers will be funded under this program?
The program will fund up to forty-two early-career researchers. These researchers will conduct their research at the host and affiliated institutions of ARUA’s thirteen Centres of Excellence and the twenty-two Africa-Europe Clusters of Excellence.
What is the duration of each fellowship?
Each fellowship will have a duration of six months. The fellowship period will be undertaken between March 2026 and February 2027.
Where can I find more information and apply for the Early-Career Research Fellowship program?
More information and the application portal can be found at https://arua.org/early-career-research-fellowships/. This is the official website for applications.
What is the main aim of the Early-Career Research Fellowship program?
The program aims to enhance the capacity of early-career researchers at African universities. It provides them with time away from teaching duties to collaborate with experienced researchers at ARUA CoEs or the Africa-Europe CoREs.
Who supports the Early-Career Research Fellowship program?
The program is supported by the Mastercard Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. These organizations are contributing to the development of early-career researchers in Africa.