The Fellowship is offered to women scientists from science- and technology-lagging countries (STLCs) to undertake PhD research in the natural, engineering and information technology sciences at a host institute in another developing country in the Global South.
Please note that an applicant, at the time of application, must NOT have an active research grant or fellowship with The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) or have already submitted an application for a TWAS programme within the same given year. Only one application per year is possible across all TWAS and OWSD programmes. Applicants will not be eligible to visit another institution in that year under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes.
An exception is made only for the head of an institution who invites an external scholar to share his/her expertise under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes; she may still apply for another programme.
Fellowship support
Applicants can choose between two study schemes:
- A full-time fellowship (maximum 4 years funding), where the research is undertaken entirely at a host institute in another developing country in the South.
- A sandwich fellowship, where the candidate must be a registered PhD student in her home country and undertakes part of her studies at a host institute in another developing country. The sandwich fellowship is awarded for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 research visits at the host institute. The minimum duration of the first visit is 6 months. The total number of months spent at the host institute cannot exceed 20 months. The funding period cannot exceed 4 years.
OWSD particularly encourages candidates to consider the sandwich option, which allows them to earn the PhD in their home country while accessing specialist researchers and equipment abroad, at the host institute.
The fellowship support is only provided while the student is on site, at the host institute.
Eligibility Criteria
The OWSD PhD Fellowship is offered only to women applicants.
- Applicants must confirm that they intend to return to their home country as soon as possible after completion of the fellowship.
- Applicants must be from one of the eligible countries. The list of eligible countries is available here.
- Applicants could only apply to any of the below listed eligible scientific fields;
- Agricultural Sciences
- Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences
- Biological Systems and Organisms
- Chemical Sciences
- Computing and Information Technology
- Engineering Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Neurosciences
- Physics
- Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology
- Applicants must have the minimum qualification which is an MSc degree in one of the above listed study fields.
Required Documents
- PhD research proposal outline - Candidates must submit a PhD research proposal outline (max 2.000 words) which should be a summarized description of the PhD research proposal.
- Degree certificates and transcripts - Applicants must submit all university degree certificates and transcripts, indicating all courses and grades.
- Curriculum Vitae - Applicants must submit their complete CV (including a list of publications, if available).
- Preliminary acceptance letter - Applicants must submit a preliminary acceptance letter from at least one host institute.
- Letter of commitment - Applicants must submit a letter of commitment from the prospective host supervisor confirming that the host institute has the resources (e.g. bench fees, laboratory equipment) required to undertake the project.
- Reference letters - Applicants must submit two reference letters from senior scientists familiar with their work.
- Passport - Applicants must submit a scanned copy of the passport page, which contains personal details (photo, document number etc.).
- Registration and No objection certificate - Sandwich applicants must submit the Registration and No objection certificate prepared by the home institute confirming that the candidate is a PhD registered student and that there is no objection to her studying at the chosen host institute abroad. The certificate template can be downloaded here and must be completed and signed by the head/director of the home institute.
- Supporting statement from home supervisor - Sandwich applicants must submit a supporting statement, prepared and signed by the home supervisor on letter-headed paper. T
Fellowship Value
- A monthly allowance to cover basic living expenses such as accommodation and meals while in the host country
- A modest annual support allowance to be used at the student's discretion to support their research environment.
- A return ticket from the home country to the host institute for the agreed research period.
- Visa expenses.
- Annual medical insurance contribution.
- The opportunity to attend regional science communications workshops, on a competitive basis.
- Study fees (including tuition and registration fees) in agreement with the chosen host institute which is also expected to contribute.
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