Application Deadline: 30 July 2018 23:59 CAT
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS NEI) invites early career African academics of postdoctoral standing to apply for the AIMS Small Research Grants in Climate Change Science.
From energy exploitation and agriculture, to urbanization, transportation and the construction of infrastructure, African countries have a unique opportunity to establish ‘Climate Smart’ economies by applying research-based concepts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating economic value. This requires a deeper understanding of the casual factors of climate change and how best to apply the increasing volume of climate change-related information to mitigate, beneficially exploit, and/or adapt to the impacts of climate change on humans, the environment, and the economy. African scientists are hereby called upon to apply for Small Research Grants to support projects that would address these and other related issues, and contribute to the development of ‘greener’ and ‘smarter’ economies in Africa.
These Grants will support projects that are at the upper limit of the research-innovation value chain — i.e. projects that are likely to make a tangible impact. Such projects could be industry-led, community-driven, or policy-led, among other possibilities. These projects should make substantive use of mathematical concepts to provide solutions to climate change issues in Africa. Projects will be supported for a period of 6 to 12 months at a non-recurring maximum cost of USD 10 000 per Grantee.
Requirements
- Applicants should be of African descent but could be residing anywhere in the world.
- Applicants must hold a doctorate in a quantitative discipline including, but not limited to, applied mathematics, climatology, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistical ecology, or engineering.
- Applicants not based in Africa must be able to hold the grant in an institution on the continent.
- Applicants should demonstrate evidence of research in either climate change science with applications of mathematical concepts or in mathematical sciences with practical applications to climate change adaptation, mitigation or resilience.
- Applicants should demonstrate expertise or ability to (co-)supervise Master’s and/or PhD students if intending to establish a research group/team. Such a research group/team could be established in collaboration with a senior project advisor. The Grantee must have a recognized (co-)supervisory role in the project.
- Applicants should demonstrate an ability to translate climate change science research concepts to applicable solutions or recommendations. This is particularly important for proof-of-concept, pilot, industry-led, policy-, and community-driven projects.
- Applicants must be willing to hold an affiliation at an AIMS Centre of their choice and spend a portion of their grant time in that Centre as a visiting researcher should the need arise.
- Applicants should be willing to actively participate in a conference that will be organized as part of the Mathematical Sciences for Climate Change Resilience program.
- Applicants must be willing to contribute to a non-technical publication/bulletin which will highlight their work.
- Applicants should be able to take up the grant within four months of receiving the grant award letter.
How to apply
Email the following documents in a single attachment to
ms4cr-smallgrants@nexteinstein.org (with the subject line “MS4CR small grants – first and last name of applicant”) by 23:59 CAT on 30 July 2018:
- a completed personal details form;
- a completed project proposal form;
- a curriculum vitae;
- a letter of motivation;
- an electronic copy of three significant representative publications in climate change science.
Three referees should email confidential letters of support directly to ms4cr-smallgrants@nexteinstein.org (with the subject line “MS4CR small grant application support letter – first and last name of applicant”) on or before the application deadline. Applicants should provide their referees with a copy of the Terms of Reference for the Small Research Grants and the Instructions for Referees.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the AIMS 2018 Small Research Grants in Climate Change Science