Bench Notes | Opportunity Friday | 9 October 2026

Four research funding opportunities worth a closer look

9 October 2026

Four funding opportunities, deadlines from 16 October, and one quick tip before you apply.

This Friday, we have selected four funding opportunities for researchers at different career stages, from postgraduate students looking for research support to early-career investigators developing independent research programmes.

Two deadlines are approaching quickly. Here is what is worth a closer look.

Featured opportunities

ACCEPT-Africa Targeted Research AwardsUp to US$15,000 per project (3 awards) · Deadline: 16 October 2026, 5:00 PM EATPharmacokinetics, biomarkers and diagnostics, and social and behavioural research on epidemic clinical trials. Best for: Researchers who can use existing ACCEPT-Africa platforms, cohorts or laboratories, with letters from an ACCEPT-Africa site PI and a mentor.View opportunity →NEMA Student Research and Innovation GrantsUp to UGX 5 million (research) or UGX 7 million (innovation) · Deadline: 23 October 2026Environmental research and pilot-stage environmental innovations. Best for: Ugandan citizens at accredited Ugandan universities: master's students who have completed coursework (research), or students at any level piloting an innovation.View opportunity →Schlumberger Faculty for the FutureFellowship support; award amount varies · Deadline: 7 November 2026, 12:00 noon CSTWomen researchers in STEM. Best for: Women from eligible countries, including Uganda, seeking PhD or postdoctoral research at host institutions abroad. Reference letters are due 14 November.View fellowship →CHART-A Emerging Investigator AwardsUS$15,000 seed award (2 awards) · Deadline: 1 December 2026, 5:00 PM ESTTuberculosis, HIV and sepsis: clinical, epidemiologic, behavioural, implementation and translational research. Best for: Early-career investigators within five years of their terminal degree, based in Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia or South Africa.View opportunity →

ONE THING: Eligible does not always mean a good fit.Before spending days writing a grant application, ask three questions: 1. Does my project match the funder's priorities? 2. Can I demonstrate why my team is well-positioned to deliver it? 3. Is the potential funding worth the application effort? Being eligible gets you through the first door. A strong fit gives you a reason to proceed.

This week's action

Shortlist one opportunity today

Choose the call that best fits your project, open its official page, and list every document you need before the deadline.

Find your next research opportunity

Explore more research grants, fellowships and funding calls, with eligibility requirements, deadlines and links to official funder guidance.

Explore funding opportunities

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