Scientific
Support
Unit

Strengthening CERI’s research ecosystem through training, capacity building, academic support, and monitoring and evaluation — enabling high-quality scientific output across all teams.

Researcher Development Index
Postgraduate Support
94%
Technical Training
88%
Monitoring & Evaluation
91%
Collaboration Index
96%
Research Alignment
89%
500+
Researchers Supported
120+
Workshops Delivered
80+
Postgrad Students
15+
Training Programmes

What the Unit
Provides

FUNC · 01
Training & Workshops

Organising and delivering technical workshops, short courses, and training sessions that build research capacity across CERI's teams and partners.

Short Courses Lab Training Bioinformatics
FUNC · 02
Postgraduate Support

Providing academic guidance, mentorship, and institutional support to MSc and PhD students navigating their research journeys at CERI.

MSc PhD Mentorship
FUNC · 03
Monitoring & Evaluation

Tracking research progress, evaluating scientific outputs, and ensuring that activities align with CERI's strategic and operational goals.

M&E Frameworks KPIs Reporting
FUNC · 04
Capacity Building

Designing and implementing structured programmes that develop essential research, analytical, and scientific communication skills across the organisation.

Skills Development Programmes Fellowships
FUNC · 05
Cross-Team Coordination

Acting as a bridge between research teams to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and shared learning across CERI's multidisciplinary units.

Coordination Communication Integration
FUNC · 06
Research Alignment

Ensuring that all research activities meet scientific quality standards and align with CERI's institutional, funder, and regulatory requirements.

Quality Assurance Standards Compliance

Supporting Every
Unit at CERI

Bioinformatics Unit

Supporting pipeline training, computational workshops, and technical skill development for bioinformatics teams.

Data Science Unit

Aligning M&E frameworks with data science outputs and supporting analytical capacity development.

Grants & Contracts

Ensuring research activities meet funder requirements and supporting reporting and compliance processes.

Social Science Unit

Coordinating interdisciplinary training and supporting qualitative research capacity across teams.

Get in Touch

Research Takes
Support.

Connect with the Scientific Support Unit for training programmes, postgraduate guidance, and research capacity building at CERI.

Scientific Support Team

Prof. Cheryl Baxter
Prof. Cheryl Baxter

Head: Scientific Support and Training

Maambele Ambie Khosa
Maambele Ambie Khosa

Head: Communications, Media and Marketing

Katrine Anker-Nilssen
Katrine Anker-Nilssen

Editor, Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant

Dr Bethlehem Tefera
Dr Bethlehem Tefera

Leadership Development Facilitator | MBA Candidate

Yajna Ramphal
Yajna Ramphal

CLIMADE Project Manager