Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists

Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from LDCs

Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centres of Excellence in the South is being offered. The Fellowship is offered to women scientists to pursue postgraduate research in the following fields of basic sciences: basic biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. NEW! Deadline for applications: 31 July of each year.

Programme Details

This fellowship programme is for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a doctorate degree at a centre of excellence in the South outside their own country.

Only women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and/or one of the Least Developed Countries can apply. Host institutions must be located in a developing country. Applications that are incomplete or illegible cannot be considered. Please make sure all the requested enclosures are submitted together with your application.

Purpose

The Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) with funds generously provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), has instituted a fellowship programme for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a Ph.D., at centres of excellence in the South (developing countries), outside their own country.

The general purpose of the scheme is to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in science and technology, and to promote their effective participation in the scientific and technological development of their countries.

The specific aims of the scheme are:

To improve access to educational and training opportunities in science and technology for young and talented women graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa and LDCs.
To increase the scientific productivity and creativity of women scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa and LDCs.
To empower a new generation of talented women to assume a leadership role in science and technology and their application to sustainable development.

Conditions

The scheme provides fellowships to young female students from Sub-Saharan African countries and/or LDCs, to enable them to pursue postgraduate studies leading to Ph.D., degrees, at centres of excellence (renowned research institutions/universities). The institute must be in a developing country other than the applicant<$#$>s home country. The fellowship is offered to carry out postgraduate research in the basic sciences, i.e. chemistry, mathematics, physics and basic biology. Research projects in applied sciences will not be accepted.

Each fellowship will be offered for three years and will cover travel expenses, a modest monthly living allowance, the amount of which will be determined in consultation with the host institution.
The applicant can enroll as a full-time research student at an institution outside her country, in this case the fellowship will provide support (travel, accommodation and living expenses) for 3 years.

Alternatively, an applicant who wishes to register as a PhD student at her home institute can choose a sandwich option, whereby part of the research programme is undertaken at a host institute in another developing country. In this case the fellowship provides support (travel, accommodation and living expenses) only while at the host institution. The minimum period abroad is six months. The fellowship does not provide support while the applicant is at the home institute.

The host institution will be expected to provide the necessary facilities such as tuition, training, supervision, laboratory supplies etc. Accompanying persons are not eligible for support.

Host Institution

Applicants should select renowned institutes in developing countries, from outside their own country, and are encouraged to apply for postgraduate admission in advance. When submitting the application to TWOWS, however, it is not obligatory that the applicant has either applied and/or obtained admission at the host institute.

In case of difficulty in selecting host institutes, TWOWS can provide a list of centres of excellence in the South, compiled by TWAS. This information will be provided if the applicant informs TWOWS of the precise field of proposed research (see next paragraph).

Eligibility

The fellowships are open to qualified young women science graduates (generally below 40 years of age) from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and/or LDCs.
The minimum qualification of applicants is an M.Sc. degree (or equivalent), or an outstanding B.Sc. honours degree, in the following fields of natural sciences:

basic biology
chemistry
mathematics
physics

Applicants already on site in the host country will not be considered eligible. The host institute where the applicant wishes to pursue her doctorate degree must be in a developing country other than her own. The applicant must be willing to return to her own country after completion of the fellowship.

List of Least Developed Countries (LDC)

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros Islands, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia. Note: Sub-Saharan African countries that are not in the list are eligible under the programme.

Selection

The fellowships are highly competitive, and the selection will be based on scientific competence and merit. The applications will be reviewed by a panel of eminent scientists, appointed by the Executive Board of TWOWS.

Application

Applicants should complete all parts of the application form, and enclose copies of all university degree certificates, and the university-issued transcripts, which should include grades, courses taken, etc. If the applicant has already gained admission at an institution of excellence in the South (i.e., in a developing country), a copy of the letter of acceptance from the institution must be enclosed.

If the applicant is registered for a doctorate degree at an institution in her home country, and wishes to pursue part of her research at another institution under a "sandwich programme", a letter of recommendation from the home institute supervisor must be enclosed.

Two referee letters from senior scientists familiar with the applicant's studies must be enclosed with the application in sealed envelopes OR must be sent by email to info@twows.org.
Applications must be clearly typewritten in English and completed in all parts; TWOWS will not process incomplete and/or illegible applications. TWOWS will inform the applicant as soon as the application is processed. The application form is available both as a MS Word document and as a PDF file.

Application Form (MS Word version)
Application Form (PDF version)
Sample research outline

Applications should reach the TWOWS secretariat by 31 July of each year.
The article published by sciencediv.

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Kicks off

Young scientists descend on Reno in hopes of winning scholarships and other prizes

More than 1,500 high school students are trying their luck in Reno, Nev., this week at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. While some students will hit the jackpot, they all have already won big — previously taking top prizes at 500 or so science fairs for ninth- through 12th-graders held across the country and globe. Now the young scientists will present their projects in Reno, competing for nearly $4 million in scholarships, tuition grants and scientific trips and equipment.

Some of the students have been working on their projects for months, others for years. Categories include energy and transportation, cellular and molecular biology, physics and astronomy, medicine and health, microbiology, engineering and mathematics. After a week of showcasing their projects, interviewing with judges and attending talks and events, three of the students will be awarded $50,000 scholarships.

Society for Science & the Public, publisher of Science News, partners with Intel, which — along with dozens of other corporate, academic, government and science-focused sponsors — provides support and awards for the Intel ISEF each year.

Tune in all week for updates from Reno, and visit the Intel ISEF site for more information: http://www.intelisef2009.org/

Credit: The article was produced by Rachel Ehrenberg for sciencenews.org

Research Grants for Young Scientists in OIC Member States

Organization of the Islamic Conference Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) in collaboration with the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) has announced joint research grants for the young scientists of the OIC member states.

COMSTECH-TWAS Joint Research Grants are awarded to high-level and promising research projects carried out by young individual scientists in OIC countries. A sum of US $ 200,000/- has been pledged by TWAS and COMSTECH for the research grants under this program.

For young scientists, up to the age of 40 years who are living in OIC countries and working in science and technology will compete to receive the grant of US $ 15000/- each to enable them to purchase the research facilities they need to enhance their productivity.

COMSTECH and TWAS have set August 31, 2009 as the deadlines for submitting applications to either COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad, Pakistan or to TWAS in Trieste, Italy.

The program aims at encouraging the pursuit of scientific excellence in OIC member states by identifying and supporting the best young scientists in these countries.

It focuses reinforcing and promoting scientific research and strengthening the endogenous capacity in science and technology. The program also aims at counteracting the brain drain and reducing the exodus of scientific talent from the OIC countries.

A grant of US $ 15000/- is normally provided for a period of 18 months and is renewable once. The grant may be used to purchase scientific equipment, consumables and specialized literature (textbooks and proceedings only). The grant, however, does not cover salaries of researchers and/or students, field expenses, travel expenses and/or participation in international conferences.

The program provides support for research projects in the fields of science and technology including earth sciences, engineering sciences, information technology & computer sciences, materials science including nanotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and renewable energy.

Application form and more information about eligibility conditions, requirements, and contact person’s phone numbers, email and postal addresses is available at http://www.comstech.org/ and http://www.twas.org/.

TWAS, The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World is an autonomous international organization founded in Trieste, Italy in 1983. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for science-based development in the South. COMSTECH, OIC Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation as founded in 1981 and based in Islamabad, Pakistan is striving to promote science, technology and research in the OIC member states.
By: (Ameen Amjad)