Revamped Awards Designed to Drive Excellence and Enhance Qatar’s Human Capacity

Qatar’s new generation of scientists and researchers are encouraged to embark on their careers and create an impact through two revamped programmes launched by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).

QNRF’s Graduate Sponsorship Research Award (GSRA) and Post-Doctoral Research Award (PDRA) – the latest cycles of which are now open for submission of proposals – have been embedded into its unique Qatar Research Leadership Program (QRLP). QRLP aims to identify and nurture Qatar’s finest homegrown science and research talent by providing high-quality training and practical experience, in collaboration with prestigious universities and research institutions around the world.

Led by the capacity building team of QNRF, part of Qatar Foundation’s Research and Development (QF R&D), the two tracks – QRLP-GSRA and QRLP-PDRA – are collectively designed to support candidates from graduate level through post-doctoral studies, and up to their early careers, enabling them to play leading roles in advancing Qatar’s ambitious research agenda. The alignment of these tracks with QRLP – from which 52 young scientists and researchers have graduated in the eight years since its establishment – is designed to produce human capital equipped to underpin and sustain the nation’s research and innovation ecosystem.

“Cultivating a constantly-renewing homegrown pool of science and research talent is vital for Qatar’s goal of becoming a hub of world-class research and innovation, and integral to QNRF’s mission,” said Dr Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, QNRF Executive Director.

By aligning these awards with QRLP, we are streamlining and adding synergy to the process which leads aspiring scientists and researchers become key players in the advancement of Qatar’s research and development sector. ‘

Through the competitive scholarships offered by QRLP-GSRA, outstanding graduate students will be supported to undertake research-based studies towards Masteral and Doctoral degrees at approved institutions within and beyond Qatar. By promoting such studies, talented Qatar-based students will be able to pursue careers in research and provide them with high-quality training that intertwines with, and supports, the work of Qatar’s research and academic community.

QRLP-PDRA is designed to attract Qatar’s top PhD graduates and encourage independence in the early stage of their research careers. It offers highly-competitive fellowship awards, benefits, and expert mentoring, as it supports post-doctoral scholars to work within research groups focused on Qatar’s national priorities while providing Qatar’s research institutions with a pipeline of skilled staff and new ideas.

The online proposal submission process for QRLP-GSRA is now open until 6 May. Awards will be announced in June.

For more information about QRLP-GSRA and QRLP-PDRA please visit qnrf.org.