A recent skills workshop for 28 early-career researchers from 16 African countries held in Nairobi, Kenya, took participants through sessions ranging from scientific writing and responsible AI to science communication, mentoring, transdisciplinary research – and even how to deal with imposter syndrome. 

Participants were beneficiaries of the Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) Programme, which has seen grants extended to 120 early-career researchers from the region, excluding South Africa, over the past three years, with each researcher receiving between US$60,000 and US$67,000 in grants.

Researchers represented the following countries: Benin, Cameroon, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 

Launched in 2021 by the World Academy of Sciences for the developing world (TWAS) with funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the SG-NAPI programme supports researchers returning to Africa after obtaining their PhDs abroad in fields such as agriculture, biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, engineering, ICT, mathematics, medical sciences, and physics. 

The programme supports grantees in carrying out impactful research and publishing in reputable scientific journals, according to TWAS Associate Programme Officer Payal Patel. 

“Our grants support open-access publishing, including in reputable journals such as Nature, which is expensive,” said Patel who spoke during the 2025 TWAS skill-building workshop held from 21-23 October. 

Investment in Africa 

Through the skills workshops, beneficiaries are trained in various aspects of scientific research including scientific research and writing, science communication, responsible use of AI in science, and in identifying predatory journals and conferences. “They are able to take the knowledge acquired to their students and build a generation of good scientists,” said Patel. 

Overall, she noted, TWAS grants in Africa over the past 30 years have had a big impact, adding that investing in African scientists has enabled them to grow and remain in Africa, the purpose of the investment in part being to help “tackle brain-drain” from the continent. 

One such a beneficiary is Djiboutian Abdirahman Elmi, a researcher at the Centre d’Étude et de Recherche de Djibouti (Djibouti Centre for Studies and Research) and PhD holder in phytochemistry whose expertise spans natural product chemistry, bioassays, drug formulation, and pharmacological evaluation. 

Elmi is the author of several publications and book chapters. He is also his country’s ambassador of the Next Einstein Forum and a recipient of several grants. He said that, by studying Djiboutian medicinal plants, his research aims to contribute to regional health by providing alternatives for sustainable, accessible treatments against microbial resistance and cancer. 

“This aligns with the growing need for climate-resilient and sustainable development in our region as we seek solutions that integrate local biodiversity with modern healthcare challenges,” he said. 

Another grantee, Emilia Inman, a senior researcher from the University of Namibia, is working with the Himba people in northern Namibia to tackle challenges of land degradation and climate change. Her work focuses on restoring rangelands, helping communities diversify their livelihoods, and promoting nature-based solutions that strengthen both the environment and the people who depend on it. 

“My research is about healing the land and the lives it sustains – restoring hope, resilience, and harmony between people and nature,” she said. “I am deeply grateful to TWAS for granting me an opportunity that has truly elevated my career. Through this support, I have gained greater visibility, built meaningful collaborations, accessed essential research equipment, and grown both personally and professionally,” she said. 

Without the opportunity, the milestones she has achieved over the past two years would not have been possible, she noted. 

Imposter syndrome 

Professor Catherine Ngila, interim executive director of the African Academy of Sciences, who delivered a keynote address at the workshop, said Africa must end its under-investment in African researchers and institutions which, at the moment, limits their continental and global recognition. 

Besides increasing investment in research and development, the investment must be complemented by actions that make a career in research in Africa more attractive, while enhancing the quality of research at the same time, she said. 

“Support for cutting-edge basic research should form the training ground for upcoming generations of African scientists and the next generation of scientific leaders,” said Ngila who is also a visiting professor in the Chemical Science Department at the University of Johannesburg, and executive director of the African Foundation for Women and Youth in Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.She urged early-career researchers to guard against ‘impostor syndrome’, a concept associated with doubting one’s own skills and successes. 

“This happens when you feel you’re not as talented or worthy as others believe, and you’re scared that, one day, people will realise that. You might have imposter syndrome if you find yourself constantly experiencing self-doubt, even in areas where you typically excel,” she warned. 

Other characteristics of the syndrome may include nervousness, accompanied by the belief that you’ll be “found out” and may also manifest as “negative self-talk”. “Imposter syndrome is the psychological experience of feeling like a fake or a phony, despite any genuine success that you have achieved. It can show up in the context of work, relationships, friendships, or just overall,” she said. “It's a very common and frustrating phenomenon because it holds us back from the self-confidence we’ve earned and deserve to feel,” she said. 

Women in science 

While the concept was thought to apply mostly to high-achieving women, it has been recognised as a more widely experienced phenomenon that can affect anyone, no matter their social status, work background, skills level, or degree of expertise, Ngila said. She encouraged women researchers and academics to put their names forward for positions without fear, noting that men contested for positions “even when they only met 30% of the required criteria”. 

“Women only put their names forward if they meet at least 90% of the criteria. Generally, as women, we have to stop beating ourselves up about not being qualified until another person says we are qualified and must apply,” Ngila, said. 

To overcome “negative inner voices”, women must form networks, enrol in mentorships, learn to “turn a deaf ear” to negative voices and stereotypes and, most importantly, get prepared to try and fail, and keep trying until they hit their target. 

Dr Beatrice Njeri Irungu of the Kenya Medical Research Institute, told the workshop that, while research funding opportunities abound, and fundable ideas are many and diverse, it was up to individual scientists to actively search for suitable funding opportunities, work on research ideas and respond accordingly. 

“It’s up to you to make an effort to understand the various requirements of each funding agency, how to apply and whether they align with your institution’s policies,” she counselled. A research idea should be novel, impactful, feasible and aligned with the funding agency’s mission, and since reviewers may use an abstract as a “screening tool”, applicants should make a great first impression and let the segment stand out, she said. 

To identify a research topic, one needs to have read recent articles, attended conferences and seminars, documented research ideas, and worked on research questions arising from a previous project, she added. 

Original article written by Maina Waruru and published in University World News.