Biological Invasions Bursaries for 2019

Bursaries are available to conduct research through the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Biological Invasions Directorate

Projects

Projects will be considered providing they are relevant to one of SANBI’s focus areas (status report and monitoring; incursion detection and response planning; eradication planning and co-ordination; taxonomy). For details of the types of projects that can be considered see Wilson et al. 2013 South African Journal of Science https://doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2013/20120111; and Wilson et al. 2017 Bothalia African Biodiversity and Conservation; https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v47i2.2207, both free to download. For specific projects see below. For other projects, please contact us before submitting an application.

Examples of potential projects

These are examples of some projects that could be funded, but we would welcome other project in line with our mandate.  Please contact us before submitting an application to check if your proposal is suitable.

Hons

• An assessment of the invasiveness of Alopecurus arundinaceus
• Assessment of invasive potential and management of Melaleuca rugulosa

Hons / MSc

• Assessing the invasiveness of Tithonia tubiformis: a precursor to cooperation across political boundaries

MSc / PhD

• Where are they now? Developing a protocol for declaring alien species as absent
• The use of herbicides in the control of biological invasions in South Africa

PhD

• Defining, determining, and reporting on the potential consequences of moving native biodiversity within South Africa in terms of biological invasions
• Impact of the polyphagous shot hole borer and its fungal symbiont on indigenous South African trees

Post-doc

• Modelling the performance of biological invasions indicators
• Monitoring tree health at sentinel sites: botanic gardens and arboreta

Bursary values

Bursaries are to cover living expenses and university fees

• Honours/4th year undergraduate: R 80,000 p.a. for 1 year
• Masters: R 120,000 p.a. for 2 years*
• Doctoral: R 150,000 p.a. for 3 years*
• Post-doctoral: R 300,000 p.a. for 2 years

*Applicants for Masters or Doctoral bursaries can be considered for a one-year project development internship should the applicant be unlikely to finish their studies within the prescribed period of time. In such cases, a candidate may be offered an internship interview.  A project development intern is expected to re-apply for a bursary the following year.

Requirements and Running costs

Candidates must be pro-active, enthusiastic, and interested in doing excellent research that will help improve our understanding and management of biological invasions. Student bursaries are only available to South African citizens and will be awarded in line with national equity targets. Unsuccessful and ineligible bursary applicants may be considered for support with project running costs if their projects are closely aligned to SANBI’s focus areas.  Post-doctoral research bursaries are open to anyone who has completed their PhD in the last five years.  Honours students need to apply to a university honours programme themselves and the bursary is conditional upon them securing their position in such a programme.  Project running expenses are covered separately to the bursaries and vary depending on the project.  Funds are only available to students and post-docs registered at universities in South Africa.

Application procedure

Each application is to be accompanied by a standard bursary application cover sheet (attached here). Applications must include a full CV; certified copies of ID and academic record; two letters of academic reference; an agreement from a prospective academic supervisor; a one-page project outline for Honours applications or a two-page project outline for Masters, Doctoral, and Post-doctoral applications; and two journal publications if applicable. Send all documents to students@sanbi.org.za with “SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary application” in the subject line.  E-mails must be <9MB.

Please do not apply online for this position. Please send your application to: students@sanbi.org.za 

Contact details

For academic queries: Prof John Wilson (jrwilson@sun.ac.za)

For questions about the application process: Ms René du Toit (r.dutoit@sanbi.org.za)

SANBI reserves the right not to fill these bursaries.

If no response has been received within 28 working days of the closing date, candidates may assume that their applications were unsuccessful.