Iso Lomso Fellowship

Iso Lomso fellowships provide a three-year attachment to NIAS-partner STIAS. They enable fellows to develop and conduct a long-term research programme of their preference. The aim is to facilitate and support them towards becoming established scholars in their fields. Iso Lomso Fellows have the chance to combine a residency at Stellenbosch with a subsequent residency at a sister Institute for Advanced Study or relevant research institution in North America, Europe or elsewhere. NIAS is one of those sister Institutes.

Iso Lomso for intellectual leadership
An important priority for STIAS is to strengthen a culture of research on the continent. It is especially important to nurture a new generation of African scholars to provide the intellectual leadership needed for future development. For this purpose, STIAS has established an early career research fellowship programme called Iso Lomso. The translation of the isiXhosa words ‘iso lomso’ is ‘the eye of tomorrow’ and connotes seeing into the future, working towards the future, preparing for the future, and laying foundations for tomorrow. Iso Lomso aims to address the gap that exists between completion of the Ph.D. and becoming an established scholar in Africa. While there is increasing support for doctoral study and for post-doctoral fellowships, it is during the extended post-doctoral period that the greatest loss of talent occurs.

Cross-fertilization of minds
Iso Lomso takes its cue from the ethos and objectives of STIAS. It does not offer an alternative programme to the regular fellows’ programme, but complements and builds on the proven and successful model of the Institute. It aims at enhancing the existing cross-fertilization of minds by broadening its scope through the inclusion of a younger generation. Moreover, the programme will be guided by the Institute’s emphasis on interdisciplinary research and its goal of creating research networks within and beyond Africa.

More about the Iso Lomso Fellowship