The paper documents challenges faced by emerging researchers in rural universities, through exploring the lived experiences of these emerging researchers. The paper argues that research creates new knowledge, benefits the education institutions, and impacts national development and transformation. This explains why Higher Education institutions across the globe strive to increase their research output. The research component is so valued that the clich� �publish or perish� aptly defines the academic�s career prospects. In a bid to achieve research excellence and boost research output, South African universities, especially the emerging rural universities, went on a massive recruitment drive for Research Fellows, doctors and professors. Some generously accorded monetary incentives to publishing academics. No sooner does an emerging researcher get appointed at the university than they are expected to contribute to the institution�s publication profile. This necessitated the establishment of the challenges emerging researchers encountered in such institutions. The paper was informed by Constructivist theory. The study employed the qualitative approach and a case study design in order to achieve the aim. Purposive sampling techniques were used to identify three emerging rural institutions and fifteen (15) emerging researchers. Collection of data was through in-depth one-on-one interviews. Thematic frames were used to present and analyse data. The study revealed that, key among the myriad challenges the constraining emerging researchers� publication included heavy workloads and lack of research technical skills. The recommendation is that management in emerging rural universities should come up with capacity development workshops in various research aspects, to empower the emerging researchers. \r\nKeywords: Capacity building, Challenges, Emerging Researcher, Higher Education Infrastructure, Institutions, Transformation

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