The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is proud to announce that Dr Carina Venter, from the Department of Music, has been awarded the highly prestigious Iso Lomso Fellowship. Dr Venter, who previously held an Iso Lomso Visiting Scholar fellowship, has now transitioned into a fully-fledged three-year fellowship, reflecting her outstanding contributions to academia.
The Iso Lomso Fellowship, established in 2017, aims to bridge the gap between the completion of PhD training and the establishment of scholars in research institutions and universities. This three-year programme seeks to nurture a new generation of African scholars, providing them with the intellectual leadership skills necessary for the continent’s development.
During her current residency as an Iso Lomso Visiting Scholar, Dr Venter has demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievements. The Directorate and the Programme Committee of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) agreed that she deserves the award of a full fellowship.
The Fellowship will include a residency at STIAS as well as the possibility of a residency at one of the partner Institutes for Advanced Study or other prestigious scholarly environments. The residency period allows Fellows to focus on developing and pursuing long-term research projects. It provides an interdisciplinary space where Fellows can think, write, and receive valuable feedback on their research from fellow scholars in residence. Additionally, it offers an excellent opportunity to build relationships and networks with scholars from around the world who are also in residence at STIAS.
Between 2024 and 2026, Dr Venter will have the opportunity to spend a combined total of nine months in residence at STIAS in South Africa and possibly pursue a residency abroad at either a partner Institute for Advanced Study or other research-intensive institutions. This international exposure will further enrich the research and contribute to intellectual growth.
The Faculty expresses its gratitude for the support received in making it possible for Dr Carina Venter to embark on this exceptional opportunity. The university looks forward to witnessing the further growth and accomplishments of Dr Venter as she contributes to the intellectual leadership and development of the continent through her Iso Lomso Fellowship.
“STIAS’s commitment to the development of early career scholars through the Iso Lomso fellowships is exceptional. I owe a debt of gratitude to those mentors, friends and colleagues who have unstintingly supported my work and helped shape my thinking. I’m tremendously energised by this opportunity,” said Dr Venter.