TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world is an autonomous international organization founded in Trieste, Italy, in 1983. TWAS represents the best of science in the developing world. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the South. Since 1986, TWAS has been supporting scientists and institutions in developing countries through a wide range of programmes that focus on scientific capacity building largely through South-South cooperation.
The administration and financial operation of TWAS is undertaken by UNESCO in accordance with an agreement signed by the two organizations.Each year, the TWAS Fellowship Programme, which operates under agreements with governments and national organizations in developing countries – and particularly with partners in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico and Pakistan – offers a number of fellowships to young scientists from developing countries to carry out postgraduate research in countries other than their own.
These programme partners include:
National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil
The TWAS-CNPq Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than Brazil) who wish to obtain all or part (SANDWICH or FULL-TIME) of their PhD in the natural sciences in Brazil. Duration: up to 4 years.
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China
The TWAS-CAS Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than China) who wish to undertake the final year of their PhD research in China. Duration: 1 year.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India
The TWAS-CSIR Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than India) who wish to obtain all or part (SANDWICH or FULL-TIME) of their PhD in newly emerging areas in science and technology for which facilities are available in CSIR laboratories and institutes. Duration: up to 4 years.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, India
The TWAS-DBT Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than India) who wish to obtain all or part (SANDWICH or FULL-TIME) of their PhD in biotechnology at key biotechnology research institutions in India. Duration: up to 5 years.
S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, India
The TWAS-SN Bose Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than India) who wish to obtain all or part (SANDWICH or FULL-TIME) of their PhD in physical sciences. Duration: 4 years (plus possibility of one year extension).
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), India
The TWAS-IACS Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than India) who wish to obtain a PhD in certain fields of natural sciences, including biological chemistry, condensed matter physics, inorganic chemistry, materials science, non conventional energy, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer science, spectroscopy and theoretical physics. Duration: up to 4 years.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
The TWAS-USM Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than Malaysia) who wish to obtain a PhD in one of the fields of natural sciences. Duration: up to 3 years.
The National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT), Mexico
The TWAS-CONACYT Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than Mexico) who wish to obtain a PhD in one of the fields of natural sciences. Duration: up to 4 years.
National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), Pakistan
The TWAS-CEMB Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than Pakistan) who wish to obtain all or part (SANDWICH or FULL-TIME) of their PhD in molecular biology and molecular genetics. Duration: up to 4 years.
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Pakistan
The TWAS-ICCBS Fellowship Programme for Postgraduate Research offers fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than Pakistan) who wish to obtain all or part (SANDWICH or FULL-TIME) of their PhD in organic chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular medicine, pharmacology or physical chemistry. Duration: up to 4 years.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants already on site in the host country are not eligible.
Women scientists are especially encouraged to apply.
International travel (return economy class by the shortest route) and visa expenses will be covered by TWAS.
Programme partners will provide a stipend to cover living expenses, in some cases also including health insurance. If health insurance is not provided by the programme partner, obtaining suitable health insurance is the candidate’s own responsibility and will be at his/her own expense.
All specific obligations, regulations, stipends etc will be thoroughly explained to successful candidates in the award letter/contract.
Applicants must provide evidence that they will return to their home country upon completion of their Fellowships.
Applicants must submit an official Acceptance Letter from the host institution (see sample on page 5 to TWAS (in all cases) and to the relevant programme partner organization (except in the cases of DBT, S.N.Bose, India; CONACYT, Mexico and ICCBS, Pakistan) when applying, or by the deadline at the latest.
The Fellowships do not include provisions for accompanying family members.
Applications for part-time Fellowships will be considered ineligible.
Incomplete/unsigned applications will not be accepted. This also applies to submissions by fax and electronic mail, which must include all enclosures and be signed (either digitally or by including a scanned signature).
Successful applicants must not take up other assignments during the period of their Fellowships.
Applications will be acknowledged once they have been processed.
Successful candidates will be notified by February of the year following the application.
TWAS shall be entitled to a repayment of all or part any funds paid to an applicant hereunder, in the event that the applicant intentionally or negligently fails to fulfil any or all of the present conditions. The applicant agrees to pay any reasonable legal and/or collection costs incurred by TWAS to obtain the repayment.
Download following:
Contact Details: TWAS Fellowships Office
ICTP campus, Strada Costiera 11
34151 Trieste, Italy
Tel: +39 040 2240 314
Fax: +39 040 2240 689
E-mail: fellowships@twas.org
Moreinfo: http://twas.ictp.it/prog/exchange/fellowships-pg/pg-gen-info
