Grants for postgraduate researchers
AfIRI’s awards help students complete their theses and dissertations.
Postgraduate Research Award 2026
AfIRI's third call for Postgraduate Research Awards supported data collection, data analysis and the printing of dissertations and theses.
Who could apply
- Applicants must be Masters or PhD students at a tertiary institution in any African country.
- Applicants must hold a valid student ID.
- Applicants must be in their thesis writing year.
- The research must be interdisciplinary in nature.
- Deadline
- 15 April 2026
Recipients, in their own words
2026 grant winners
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Freda Okrah
I am sincerely grateful to the Africa Interdisciplinary Research Institute for awarding me the Graduate Thesis Grant. This grant will be instrumental in completing my thesis on the nutrition status and neurodevelopment of children in mining communities. It will support my fieldwork, including transportation to study sites, data collection, participant incentives, and access to research materials. This support will enable me to complete my work on time and produce findings relevant to child health in vulnerable communities.
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Pauline K. Muia
I deeply appreciate the Africa Interdisciplinary Research Institute for their generous support towards the completion of my doctoral thesis, which evaluates the effect of a training intervention on O-POCUS utilization among nurses working in the maternity unit at selected Mission Hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya. The grant will significantly facilitate data collection, the intervention delivery, data analysis, publication of the study findings in peer-reviewed journals, and the final preparation and printing of the thesis.
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Nicholas Appiagyei
The AfIRI grant will provide critical support towards the timely completion of my PhD research on integrating blood pressure and cholesterol control into HIV care in Ghana. The funding will strengthen key activities, including training research assistants, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings. This support will enable me to generate robust evidence on a scalable approach to reducing cardiovascular disease risk among people living with HIV. Ultimately, the grant will contribute to completing my thesis, publishing its findings, and informing the integration of cardiovascular risk management into HIV services in Ghana.
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Adebayo Omonofa Appiagyei
This grant from the Africa Interdisciplinary Research Institute comes at a pivotal stage in my M.Sc. research, which examines oxidative stress and biosequestration by enteric parasites in Nile tilapia from the Epe Lagoon. The funding will directly support my remaining fieldwork, sample analysis, and thesis printing costs, enabling me to complete this research to a high standard and within my expected timeline. Beyond the financial relief, this grant affirms the value of aquatic ecotoxicology research in addressing Africa’s environmental and water resource challenges, and motivates me to continue pursuing impactful, evidence-based research in this field.
Earlier recipients
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Hilda K. Koranteng
The AfIRI Dissertation Completion Grant will ease the financial burden of my thesis. This support will help me cover data collection and communication. Receiving this grant will give me the needed space to focus more deeply on producing high-quality analysis and completing my study on the topic “experiences of under 18 years psychiatric patients admitted to adult psychiatric wards at Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, Ghana.”
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Rabbi Boateng
This AfIRI Dissertation Completion Grant plays a crucial role in completing my PhD research on developing low-cost optical and machine-learning tools for improving rice seed selection in Ghana. With this support, I can complete data collection, finalize my experimental analysis, and prepare my dissertation for submission. The grant also assists with printing, logistics, and essential lab supplies. I deeply appreciate AfIRI’s commitment to supporting research development in Africa.
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Steve Auko
Buruli ulcer disease continues to be a significant public health challenge despite advancements in pharmacotherapy, prompting the rural populations across West Africa to continue relying on traditional medicine. My research focuses on the systematic validation of these traditional practices by identifying anti-Buruli ulcer phytoconstituents derived from medicinal plants commonly used in endemic regions.
With support from the AfIRI Dissertation Completion Grant, my dream of completing this study within the required timeline has just become a reality. These funds will be instrumental in facilitating the costs of characterizing the identified compounds, printing the final thesis document, and preparing conference posters to disseminate the findings.
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Waswala Brian
The AfIRI Dissertation Completion Grant will directly support the successful completion of my dissertation by covering essential laboratory materials and antimicrobial sensitivity testing required for data collection and analysis. It will also support the acquisition of protective and laboratory consumables necessary for safe and effective research work. In addition, the funding will enable presentation of my research findings at a relevant academic conference, facilitating scholarly feedback, and will cover final thesis binding to ensure timely submission and dissemination of the completed work.
Grant awardees and their research
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Development and Optimization of Gluten-Free Fonio Bread
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Nasopharyngeal carriage, antibacterial resistance patterns, and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae in diabetic patients of a diabetic clinic in a tertiary hospital in Ghana
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Food security and nutritional status of women shellfishers and the potential role of oysters as a source of dietary minerals and heavy metals in three estuarine sites in Ghana
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Impact of Higher Vertical Coordination Mechanisms on Maize Farmers' Postharvest Losses and Livelihood, in the Transition Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana