ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme SAWBP Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026

The ICGEB-SAWBP Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme, in partnership with the  South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation  and the National Research Foundation  will support South African women researchers holding a PhD degree, in Biotechnology or a related discipline, having outstanding ability, and who will perform hypothesis-driven research.

The SAWBP programme promotes the interaction and mobility of South African women Biotechnology researchers and the ICGEB community, including mobility support to visit other ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India.
Proposed research projects must be innovative and fall within one of the ICGEB Cape Town Component macro areas of research, namely: Infectious Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Bioinformatics, Plant Systems Biology, Biopesticides and Virology.

The Fellowships comprise a very attractive package:

• Two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship at ICGEB Cape Town
• 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 environment

• Table of Content
• About International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)
• ICGEB Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of ICGEB Fellowship
• Requirements for ICGEB Fellowship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

ICGEB Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of ICGEB Fellowship

• Duration: 2 years
• Fellowship package:
• Non-taxable stipend: ZAR 320 000 per annum
• Research costs: ZAR 50 000 per annum

Additional mobility support to visit other ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India, will be provided.

Requirements for ICGEB Fellowship Qualification

• Female applicants only.
• Only South African citizens and South African Permanent Residents with a valid South African ID number may apply.
• Preference will be given to Black and disabled applicants.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• A letter of endorsement from the ICGEB Cape Town Group Leader must be submitted with the application. Please note that the written statement from the ICGEB Group Leader you have contacted and who is willing to support your project is mandatory to apply.
• The Principal Investigator/Group Leader at the chosen ICGEB Cape Town laboratory should be contacted in advance to discuss the proposed research project.
• ICGEB Cape Town group lists.
• Proposed research projects must be innovative and fall within one of the ICGEB Cape Town Component macro areas of research, namely: Infectious Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Bioinformatics, Biopesticides, Plant Systems Biology, and Virology.

Applicants interested in the ICGEB-SAWBP programme should apply under the NRF Postdoctoral Grants (indicating ‘ICGEB’ as the institution of choice).
In addition, further criteria and eligibility requirements are noted in the NRF Postdoctoral Fellowships Framework (accessible on the NRF website)

To apply: NRF Connect – Access the NRF online grants system at: https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za

ICGEB Contact:
Claudia Russo
SAWBP Programme
ICGEB Cape Town
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27 21 406 6335

NRF Contact:
Edith Shikumo
RIISA: Next Generation and Emerging Researchers
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27 012 481 4201

For more information, kindly visit ICGEB fellowship webpage.