Manama: Texas A&M University at Qatar has won six of the 13 grants awarded to PhD scientists to conduct research in alignment with the four pillars of the Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS).
Qatar University won five grants, while Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar were offered the other two grants.
The Postdoctoral Research Awards (PDRA) winners were selected out of 101 peer-reviewed research proposals submitted from research institutions across Qatar for the second cycle of the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).
QNRF programmes engage researchers with different levels of experience, from students to top-tier scientists.
PDRA targets outstanding early career researchers who are interested in pursuing their research in Qatar, regardless of availability of funding in their institutions. The programme aims to select candidates with the highest potential and to offer them fellowship awards and mentoring to ensure that they can achieve their highest potential in Qatar.
Proposals undergo rigorous scientific merit and programmatic reviews, with successful applicants awarded with up to two years of financial support, which may be extended by one additional year.
“Our goal with this programme is to attract top-notch postdoctoral scholars to work within research groups located in Qatar in areas considered as national priorities,”
Abdul Nasser Al Ansari, QNRF’s Deputy Executive Director, said, “We are confident that, by supporting their efforts, we will contribute in helping Qatar develop into a hub of research excellence and ensure Qatar’s competitiveness in the global economy.”
Riham Daher, Programme Manager-Capacity Building at QNRF, said she was impressed with the quality of the research proposals submitted.
“The winning proposals look into finding solutions for pressing environmental issues in Qatar, as well as creating innovative technology that will raise Qatar’s profile in the global research arena,” she said. “Through this programme, we are not only creating research opportunities but also highlighting the significant potential of early-career investigators.”
