Deadline: December 22, 2017
The International Support Network for African Development (ISNAD-Africa) is inviting applications from qualified and interested students (postgraduate and undergraduate) in African universities for the first cycle of its Mentoring for Research Programme (MRP). This is pursuit of its mission to promote, support and improve the quality of education and research programmes on sustainable energy, environment and climate change in Africa.
The Mentoring for Research Programme is aimed at supporting doctoral, master’s and undergraduate students in various disciplines (physical sciences, social sciences, biological sciences, engineering, arts, law, health sciences, among others) who are or will be conducting their research on sustainable energy, environment and climate change topics in their various fields. The mentoring programme will help students (mentees) complement the supervisory support they will receive from their institution-based supervisors.
Successful applicants will be opportune to undergo one-to-one structured mentoring programme with experienced researchers and professionals from world-class institutions and organisations such as World Bank, Harvard University, Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Chatham House, Chatham House and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) among others. In addition to the widely-established research areas like energy access and energy policy, the mentoring programme also covers new and emerging research areas topics such as environmental and climate change photography, environmental journalism, among others.
All shortlisted applicants will be opportune to attend a 6-week online training to be hosted by the Clean Energy Solutions Center, Colorado, United States. Upon completion of the training, submitted applications and performances at the online training (of shortlisted applicants) will be assessed and used for final selection of mentees for the programme.
Benefits to Mentees
- Participate in a 6-week online multidisciplinary training on Sustainable Energy, Environment and Climate Change (including soft skills), to be hosted by the Clean Energy Solutions Center, Colorado, United States.
- Be admitted for a one-year one-to-one mentoring relationship with an experienced researcher or professional (with expertise in your area of research) from world-class organisations such as the World Bank, Harvard University, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Chatham House, and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) among others
- Be supported by mentors to structure your research to be innovative, problem-solving, industry-relevant, and carried out to meet global standards
- Be supported by ISNAD-Africa to communicate your research findings to relevant stakeholders in the global community, hence, creating visibility for your work and career opportunities
Eligibility
- Applicants should be registered students in a university in Africa
- Postgraduate Students:
- Doctoral students
- Master’s students should have made a minimum of Second Class (upper Division) from their undergraduate programmes
- Undergraduate Students should have outstanding academic records and possess Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) or grades equivalent to a First Class. Applicants with CGPA equivalent to a Second Class (Upper Division) will be accepted if they have demonstrated commitment to sustainable development
- Postgraduate Students:
- Successful applicants will be those who possess excellent research ideas aimed at solving a problem or an innovative approach on sustainable energy, environment or climate change
- Applicants should be carrying out their research in 2018. (Please note that the research may be a new or ongoing research, however, priority will be given to research projects that are at their early stages)
- Students from any disciplines (Technology, Sciences, Arts, Law, Social Sciences, Environmental Design and Management, Agriculture, Health Sciences, ICT, among others) provided they will be conducting research on sustainable energy, environment or climate change topics in 2018.
Apart from the conventional research topics (such as energy access, renewable energy policy), innovative and non-conventional research topics such climate photography, environmental journalism, among others, will be of special interest.
Selection Process:
- Stage 1- Applications will be evaluated and shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a Six (6)-session online training with the Clean Energy Solution Center, an Initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial operated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory(NREL), United States.
- Stage 2 –Based on the quality of applications and performances at the online training, final selection will be made and successful applicants will be admitted into the one-year mentorship programme.
Application
- Qualified and interested applicants are invited to download the Application form.
- Completed application forms and the required attachments (as stated in the application form) should be sent as a single PDF document via email ([email protected] , copy: [email protected]) with applicant’s last name _MRP2018 on the subject line (example: Kappiah_MRP2018) on or before December 22, 2017.
For inquiries, please contact us via: [email protected] (copy: [email protected])
For more information, visit ISNAD-Africa.
