Imhotep Mentorship & Training Programme

Our Foundation

Why Imhotep?

Imhotep — physician, architect, and philosopher of ancient Kemet — is one of Africa's earliest and greatest polymaths. His legacy of knowledge, healing, and mentorship across generations makes him the perfect emblem for a programme dedicated to nurturing African scientific talent.

Fungal infections cause enormous mortality and morbidity globally, yet research capacity within Africa — the continent with the highest burden of fungal diseases — remains relatively low. The Imhotep Programme is here to change that.

Building on the strong foundations laid by initiatives such as the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award for Medical Mycology, our programme provides structured mentorship, training, and networking for African graduate and postgraduate students in medical mycology.

The programme is anchored at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM) and the University of Cape Town (UCT), with a vision to expand across all South African provinces and ultimately the entire African continent.

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Imhotep

"The one who comes in peace"

Kemetic polymath
Physician · Architect · Philosopher

Hosted by

MRC Centre for Medical Mycology
University of Cape Town · Africa Unit

Founder: Dr. Ivy Dambuza

Programme Design

Our Objectives

Two interconnected objectives drive the Imhotep Programme, working together to build capacity, awareness, and community in African medical mycology.

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Objective 1

Raising Awareness & Network Building

Casting a wide net to inform talented African graduate students about the opportunity to pursue fungal research, and connecting them with established researchers through outreach, events, and digital engagement.

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Objective 2

Nurturing Career Progression Through Mentorship

Pairing mentees with established Principal Investigators in a structured one-to-one programme. Mentees choose their mentor based on the skills they most want to learn, with a signed agreement and regular check-ins.

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Training Portfolio

Skills & Scientific Training

Online lectures, recorded webinars on scientific rigour, grant writing, scientific communication, ethical research, and personal development — ensuring every mentee has a strong baseline of transferable skills.

What We Offer

Programme Activities

An online comprehensive suite of learning experiences designed to equip early-career African researchers for success.

🔬 Scientific Training

Online lectures on fungal biology, biochemistry, and immunology
Recorded sessions uploaded to website and social media
Access to MYCO-TALKS and MRC CMM seminar library
Webinar on the 3R's: Rigour, Reproducibility, Responsibility
Scientific communication and presentation skills workshop

✍🏿 Career Development

Personalised career planning and mentorship roadmap
Grant writing workshops
Scientific ethics and legal framework training
Oral and written communication workshops
Signed mentor–mentee agreements with defined goals

🌐 Networking & Exposure

Monthly Café All Things Fungi virtual meet-ups
One-to-one mentorship with global PIs (Africa, EU, UK, USA)
Engagement with SA and Pan-African mycology networks
Access to reference mycology laboratories in South Africa
Future travel grants for laboratory visits within Africa

🏛️ Institutional Reach

Outreach to all 9 South African provinces
Engagement with Faculties of Science & Health Sciences
University libraries and social media campaigns
Collaboration with national and continental mycology bodies
Future expansion to other African institutions

Monthly Event

Café All Things Fungi

A monthly virtual gathering that brings together students, clinicians, researchers, and world-leaders in fungal biology for an intimate, inspiring conversation over (virtual) coffee.

Each session features a lead scientist who shares a paper from their group, discusses the path to their findings, and offers a personal reflection on life as a scientist — the hurdles and the joys.

Join the Café

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Intimate Sessions

Limited to 20–30 participants per session — 10 programme mentees plus invited guests — ensuring genuine interaction.

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Paper of the Month

A world-leading scientist presents and discusses a recent paper from their lab in an informal, accessible way.

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Inspire African Minds

Personal journeys in science — challenges, triumphs, and what it means to be an African scientist on the global stage.

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Convened by Experts

Led by our programme coordinators, with rotating guest leaders from across the globe.

Who Can Join

Mentors & Mentees

The programme pairs passionate early-career African researchers with established Principal Investigators who share their knowledge, time, and guidance.

For Mentors

For Mentees

Principal Investigators

Graduate & Postgraduate Students

We welcome established PIs in medical mycology — ideally African researchers, and also PIs from the EU, UK, and USA who are passionate about developing the next generation of African fungal scientists.

South African Honours, MSc, and PhD students in Medical Mycology or related fields are invited to apply. Students from other African institutions with computer access are also welcome.

Share knowledge, expertise, and educational resources

Choose your own mentor from our list of PIs

Host one-to-one sessions using the PLDworks platform

Benefit from structured one-to-one guidance

Guide career planning and set measurable goals

Access workshops, webinars, and skills training

Suggest lab visits or collaboration opportunities

Connect with the global medical mycology community

Submit a biography and letter of motivation to apply

Submit your CV and a letter of motivation to apply

Apply as Mentor

Apply as Mentee

Useful Links

Resources & Networks

Key organisations, lecture series, and reference materials for medical mycology research in Africa and beyond.

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MRC Centre for Medical Mycology

The UK's leading centre for fungal infection research, hosted at the University of Exeter.

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Africa Unit

The MRC CMM's Africa Unit, based at UCT — our institutional home and partner for capacity building across the continent.

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LATAM Mycology Unit

The MRC CMM's Latin America Unit, based at the University of São Paulo — tackling endemic fungal infections across Latin America.

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GAFFI

Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections — the leading advocacy and awareness body for fungal disease worldwide.

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WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List

The WHO's first global list of 19 priority fungal pathogens, guiding research, policy, and public health action.

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MYCO-TALKS

Monthly online lectures by leading fungal researchers, hosted by MRC CMM. Recordings freely available to all.

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MycoClinics

Quarterly virtual clinical mycology case discussions — practical learning for clinicians and researchers managing fungal infections.

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Get Involved

Ready to Shape the Future of African Fungal Research?

Whether you're an early-career researcher seeking guidance, an established PI who wants to give back, or simply passionate about fungi — there is a place for you in the Imhotep Programme.