Research excellence acknowledged

The brightest of the bright: UCT awarded Research Associateships to 19 senior postgraduate students and their supervisors.

UCT recently celebrated partnerships between research associates (senior postgraduate students) and their supervisors by bestowing awards known as the UCT Research Associateships.

The 19 "brightest of the bright" research associates received certificates and an award which is shared with their supervisors. Doctoral candidates received R45 000 each, of which R15 000 is allocated to supervisors to cover research costs or to provide support for travel to a conference. Those at master's level received R30 000 each, with R10 000 going to the students' supervisors.

Vice-chancellor Dr Max Price said that in 2009 65 research associates were nominated but only 19 could be selected to receive awards, the number have been limited by the R700 000 budgeted for that purpose.

"There are many more research associates who deserve to receive this kind of recognition, but we can only make awards to a few as we have to keep the amount at a substantial level," he said.

Deputy vice-chancellor Professor Danie Visser, said that because supervisors are central to any research endeavour, they had decided to make awards to both students and to supervisors groups, "something that seldom happens".