Scientific Exchange Awards (2026 Cohort)
The SHARPER Consortium invites applications for the 2026 Scientific Exchange Awards. These prestigious mobility awards support early-career researchers, graduate students, and junior faculty to undertake focused research stays, specialized laboratory training, and collaborative scientific exchanges across African institutions.
Exchange Overview
The Scientific Exchange Awards (2026 Cohort) provide targeted funding to support South-South institutional mobility and skills transfer across the African continent. This scheme enables promising researchers to spend an intensive 6-week placement at a leading African host institution or specialized laboratory.
With an award package of $10,000 USD per recipient, the program covers travel, accommodation, living stipends, and host laboratory consumables. A total of 2 competitive awards are available in the 2026 cohort.
Grantees will master cutting-edge technical methodologies—including pathogen genomics, advanced outbreak modelling, diagnostics validation, or bioethics governance—and establish sustainable institutional partnerships that strengthen Africa's collective pandemic preparedness.
Eligibility Criteria
Target Applicant Profile
Be early-career researchers (students, junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, or research officers within 10 years of their last degree).
Home & Host Institution Commitments
Applicants must be affiliated with an African home institution that grants leave for the exchange, and must present a formal letter of invitation/acceptance from the prospective African host institution confirming bench space, supervision, and access to necessary facilities.
Eligible Technical & Research Focus
The scientific exchange placement must be structured around demonstrable skill acquisition in:
- Genomic sequencing & bioinformatics workflows
- Epidemiological modelling & real-time outbreak analytics
- Point-of-care diagnostics development & validation
- Bioethics & regulatory oversight in clinical trials
- One Health surveillance & environmental epidemiology
- Health economics & pandemic equity policy analysis
Exchange Timeline
Call for Exchange Proposals Opens
August 2026
Application Submission Deadline
30th September 2026 (23:59 GMT)
Technical Committee Selection
September 2026
Award Notification & Travel Clearance
October 1, 2026 (Placements commence Q4 2026)
Budget Guidance ($10,000 USD Cap)
All proposed expenses must directly support the 6-week placement. Applicants must submit an itemized budget using the official Excel budget template covering the allowable categories below.
| Expense Category | Allowable Costs | Guideline Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Travel & Logistics | Economy round-trip airfare, airport transfers, visa fees, travel medical insurance. | Up to 35% |
| Accommodation & Subsistence | 6-week guest house / apartment lodging, per diem living allowance. | Up to 40% |
| Host Bench Fees & Consumables | Laboratory reagents, software licenses, computational access at host lab. | Up to 25% |
Exchange Deliverables & Outputs
Exchange Completion Report
Detailed report summarizing technical competencies mastered and laboratory data collected.
Joint Research Protocol
Co-developed scientific protocol or manuscript draft between home and host institutions.
Home Department Seminar
Knowledge-sharing seminar or technical demonstration held at the fellow's home institution.
Institutional MoU Opportunity
Laying the groundwork for long-term inter-institutional research collaboration.
Need help with your scientific exchange application?
The SHARPER Secretariat and Grants Management Office are available to assist with inquiries regarding host institution matching, travel clearances, or proposal formatting.
Scientific Exchange Awards (2026 Cohort)
Be early-career researchers (students, junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, or research officers within 10 years of their last degree).
Required Documents
- Exchange Workplan & Proposal (PDF)
- Host Institution Official Acceptance Letter
- Home Institution Endorsement & Release
- Applicant Curriculum Vitae (Max 3 pages)
- Itemized Travel & Subsistence Budget (XLSX)
Application Templates
Common Questions
Who can apply for the exchange award? ↓
Early-career researchers, postgraduate students, junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and research officers within 10 years of their last degree.
Can the host institution be in the same country? ↓
Preference is given to international cross-border exchanges across Africa to promote regional integration, although national institutional exchanges for specialized technical facilities are also considered.
When must the 6-week placement take place? ↓
Placements should commence between October 2026 and March 2027 following visa and administrative clearance.
Have questions regarding scientific exchanges?
Our team can help verify host suitability, travel guidelines, or proposal requirements.
Contact Grants Desk →