2025 ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme SAWBP – PhD Fellowship

📖 About the Programme

The ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme (SAWBP) PhD Fellowship, in partnership with the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, supports South African women researchers pursuing a PhD in Biotechnology at the ICGEB Cape Town Component.

The programme promotes interaction and mobility between South African women researchers and the ICGEB community, including opportunities to visit other ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy, and New Delhi, India.

Research Areas

Proposed doctoral research projects must be innovative and fall within one of the following ICGEB Cape Town Component macro areas of research:

• Infectious Diseases
• Non-Communicable Diseases
• Bioinformatics
• Plant Systems Biology
• Virology

🎁 Benefits

The fellowship offers a comprehensive package, including:

• Three-year PhD Fellowship
• Tuition and stipend
• Access to the latest techniques and methodologies for research
• Opportunities for mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, and complementary skills development
• Immersion in a world-class international scientific research environment

Financial Support

• Duration: 3 years
• Tuition Fees: Covered at the University of Cape Town
• Stipend: ZAR 219,749.00 per year (remaining balance after tuition fees will be provided as a stipend)
• Mobility Support: Additional funding to visit ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy, and New Delhi, India

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Gender: Female applicants only
• Citizenship: South African citizens or South African Permanent Residents with a valid South African ID number
• Preference: Given to Black and disabled applicants

📝 Application Process

To apply, email icgeb.sawbp@icgeb.org with the following documents:

1. Copy of South African ID
2. CV
3. Detailed project proposal
4. Letter of endorsement from an ICGEB Cape Town Group Leader
5. Proof of MSc degree or a letter from the supervisor confirming the intention to submit the MSc thesis
   (Note: Proof of MSc degree is required before commencing the fellowship)

Important Notes:

• A letter of endorsement from the ICGEB Cape Town Group Leader is mandatory. Applicants must contact the Group Leader in advance to discuss the proposed research project.
• Proposed research projects must align with one of the ICGEB Cape Town Component macro areas of research.

For a list of ICGEB Cape Town Group Leaders, visit the ICGEB Cape Town Group Lists.

📅 Key Dates

• Date Published: May 26, 2025
• Application Deadline: June 17, 2025

🌐 Additional Information

For more details about the fellowship, visit the official ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme page.

This fellowship is a unique opportunity for South African women researchers to advance their careers in biotechnology while contributing to innovative research in a global scientific environment. Don't miss this chance to make an impact!

• Three-year PhD Fellowship
• Tuition and stipend
• Applying the latest techniques and methodologies to the applicant’s chosen research topic
• Opportunities for mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and complementary skills
• Immersion in a top class international scientific research environment
• Financial support: Duration: 3 years, Tuition fees at University of Cape Town & stipend: ZAR 219 749.00 per year