About this opportunity
Building research leadership inside Africa often comes down to one thing: giving an excellent early-career researcher two uninterrupted years and a real budget. That is exactly what the SOFAR Postdoctoral Fellowship offers. SOFAR, the Southern Africa Research Capacity Network, is a research capacity building programme hosted at The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe (THRU Zim) within the Biomedical Research and Training Institute, working alongside Zambart in Zambia and the Instituto Nacional de Saúde in Mozambique. The programme is funded by EDCTP and delivered in partnership with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
This round recruits a postdoctoral fellow in Zimbabwe, employed by THRU Zim for 24 months. The aim is to help an excellent postdoctoral researcher advance their career, publish papers, possibly conduct a small research project, and move toward independent research funding while contributing to a positive and inclusive research culture. Fellows are supported by two mentors who detail their support in letters, and each fellowship comes with a research budget of 50,000 euros, a conference and placement budget of 6,000 euros and a training budget of 4,000 euros. Fellows also attend monthly training sessions through the Digital Global Health Academy and take part in leadership and supervision of MSc and PhD students.
Eligibility
is clear and broad at the same time. Applicants must be African nationals who are eligible to work in Zimbabwe and must have received their PhD, or submitted their thesis, by the time of application. The programme looks for a track record of academic excellence, a strong upward career trajectory and clear potential to become a research leader. Applications are written in English, and if English is not your first language you say so in your letter of motivation.
The
Application timeline
for this round, as published on the official SOFAR application page, is 23 October 2026 at 17:00 CAT. Full details of the fellowship, the application form and the assessment process are on the official application page linked below.
What you receive
- A 24 month postdoctoral position employed by THRU Zim in Harare, Zimbabwe
- Research budget of 50,000 euros
- Conference and placement budget of 6,000 euros
- Training budget of 4,000 euros
- Support from two mentors plus up to six listed collaborators
- Monthly training sessions in essential skills through the Digital Global Health Academy
- Experience supervising and mentoring MSc and PhD students
- A structured path toward securing independent research funding
Who can apply
- You are an African national
- You are eligible to work in Zimbabwe
- You have received your PhD, or submitted your thesis, by the time of application
- You show a track record of academic excellence with a strong upward career trajectory
- You have clear potential to become a research leader
- Your application is written in English
Who should not apply
- Applicants who are not African nationals or cannot work in Zimbabwe cannot be considered
- Applicants without a completed or submitted PhD at the time of application are not eligible
Documents to prepare
- Completed application form with sections on career history, research achievements, a research plan, a draft training plan, an outputs plan of up to 300 words, a grant or fellowship application plan of up to 500 words, a contribution to research culture statement of up to 300 words and a detailed budget with justification
- Letter of motivation of maximum one page, written on a letterhead in font size 11 or larger
- Two letters of support, one from each of your two mentors, each of one to two pages in size 11 font
- A statement in the letter of motivation if English is not your first language
How to apply
- Review the full application guidance and the application form on the official SOFAR application page
- Identify your two mentors and give them ample time to write their letters of support, the guidance treats this as the piece to start first
- Complete the application form, including your research plan, training plan, outputs plan, grant application plan, research culture statement and budget justification
- Write your one page letter of motivation on a letterhead explaining why this fellowship fits your career stage and what you will contribute to THRU Zim
- Email the completed application form, the letter of motivation and both mentor support letters to sofarprogramme@gmail.com
- Submit before the deadline of 23 October 2026 at 17:00 CAT
Selection process
- The written application is assessed on your career history, your research achievements to date and your two year plan covering research, training, outputs, grant applications, culture contribution and budget
- Shortlisting uses the application form, motivation letter and mentor support letters to identify applicants with outstanding academic potential who are scientifically curious, highly motivated, hard working, professional and excellent team players
- Interviews are conducted online or in person and include a short presentation of your proposal for your two year postdoc
- Interview panels draw members from THRU Zim, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and SOFAR collaborators
- Applicants are informed of the outcome after interview, and the start date of the postdoc is flexible
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- PAIE Scholars Program 2026, J-PAL Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
J-PAL's Project AI Evidence is recruiting resident scholars in low- and middle-income countries to train in evaluating AI-enabled interventions, with competitive pilot funding.
- AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant 2026
A mobility grant of up to EUR 3,000 that lets junior doctoral researchers from sub-Saharan Africa spend time collaborating with an experienced researcher at another institution in the region, with applications closing on 16 October 2026.
- AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants 2026 for Junior Researchers (Up to EUR 3,000)
AGNES is opening two Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for junior researchers. Doctoral candidates from sub-Saharan Africa can spend one to two months at a host institution in another sub-Saharan African country, with travel, subsistence and a research allowance of up to EUR 3,000.
- MAXMINDS 2.0 Mentoring Program for Researchers at Risk
One on one research mentoring from current or former Max Planck Institute researchers, open to scholars who face displacement, regardless of nationality.
Questions applicants ask
Who can apply for this fellowship?
African nationals who are eligible to work in Zimbabwe and who have received their PhD, or submitted their thesis, by the time of application.
What does the fellowship cover financially?
A postdoc salary for 24 months plus a research budget of 50,000 euros, a conference and placement budget of 6,000 euros and a training budget of 4,000 euros.
How many mentors do I need?
Two mentors, each writing a one to two page letter of support. You may also list up to six collaborators who support different aspects of your research or training.
How do I submit my application?
By email to sofarprogramme@gmail.com with the completed application form, your letter of motivation and both mentor support letters, before 23 October 2026 at 17:00 CAT.
Where is the fellowship based?
At The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe (THRU Zim) within the Biomedical Research and Training Institute in Harare, as part of the SOFAR network spanning Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
