Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowships 2018 (USD 50,000 Award)

Application Deadline: 31st August 2018.

The Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) fellowship is a prestigious award of up to USD 50,000 offered to women who have completed their PhDs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and are employed at an academic or scientific research institute in one of the listed Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs). ECWS fellows will be supported to continue their research at an international level while based at their home institutes and to build up research groups that will attract international visitors.

Purpose

The ECWS fellowships programme is administered by OWSD with funds generously provided by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.

The ECWS fellowship specific objectives are:

1. Empower ECWS fellows to lead important research projects with practical applications for low and middle income countries (LMICs), including through strengthening their collaboration with industry.

2. Build the leadership and business skills of ECWS fellows needed for the dissemination and uptake of research results, and for career advancement.

3. Consolidate a network of outstanding women scientists that provides mentorship for the next generation of women leaders in STEM.

These objectives will be combined with the overall long-term objectives of the OWSD programme in general, which are to:
1. Increase the relevance and implementation of scientific research projects developed by women in STLCs for the economic, social, health and research needs of their countries.

2. Increase the numbers of women scientists from STLCs staying in their home countries in order to continue their scientific/industrial careers, thereby contributing to research training and development.

3. Strengthen the research, resources and expertise of institutes in STLCs.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to apply for the ECWS fellowship applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Eligible countries

• Applicants must have been resident in one of the listed Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) for at least 5 years.
• The fellowship must be undertaken in one of the listed STLCs.
• The list of eligible countries is available here.

Please note this list may be subject to slight variation each year according to criteria established by our donor, IDRC, and in agreement with OWSD. Each year the list will be updated when the call for applications is opened.

2. Eligible STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

• 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

3. Eligible academic qualification

PhD in one of the above listed study fields.

• PhD awarded not more than 10 years prior to application.

4. Eligible employment

• At the time of application, applicants must be already employed at the university or research institute where the project will be carried out.
• The university or research institute must be based in one of the eligible countries.
• Applicants must provide evidence that they will receive a salary from the above institute for the duration of the two-year fellowship.

Fellowship Support

The ECWS fellowship is for two years and provides up to USD 50,000 to enable fellows to maintain an international level of research as well as initiate collaborations and partnerships with industry and the private sector.

Please note that the ECWS fellowship does not provide for the fellow’s salary which must be guaranteed by the fellow’s institute. However, the ECWS fellowship can be used to cover the costs of assistance to the fellow for teaching duties not directly related to the fellow’s research in order that the fellow can focus on carrying her own research forward to an international level.

The objective is to develop a center of specialist research recognised at national, regional or international level which can then attract internationally recognised researchers.

The eligible expenses are listed below.

a) Research-related costs

Equipment

• Necessary equipment to build up research units or set up a lab
• Training in use of equipment
• Maintenance of equipment

Consumables

• Expendable supplies that will be used up or replaced (e.g. glassware, solvents, feed, reagents)

Research visits, exchanges and programmes

• Support for travel to attend international scientific meetings
• Establish a visiting scholar programme
• Organization of scientific events at applicant’s institute (e.g. seminar series, international symposium, themed workshops, regional and international conferences)
• Organize exchange programmes with national/international scholars

Teaching and Assistance

• MSc, PhD, Post doctoral researchers’ costs
• Research assistants (e.g. to gather information and data)
• Teaching assistants
• Family care assistance (e.g. childcare costs in order for applicant to undertake research project, travel support for family members)
• Other assistant (based on applicant’s needs, e.g. casual labour)

Field work

• Transportation (e.g. car rental, public transport, airfare)
• Board and lodging
• Sample collection and analysis
• Hospitality fees (e.g. dinner with research partners in the field)

Publication costs  (e.g. in peer-reviewed journals, open source)

Information resources

• Subscriptions (e.g. journal, library)
• Literature (e.g. books, reprints, photocopies)
• Library resources

IT facilities

• Computer hardware
• Computer software
• Computer services (internet connections, technical support, database development)

Training

• Science communication (e.g. writing for publication, presentation skills)
• English language courses (for improved science communication)
• Specialist courses for team leader and project staff or group training sessions (e.g. long-distance learning)

Other

• Monitoring and evaluation costs (to measure the impact of the project)
• Rent paid for land or premises used in a research activity
• Any other research-related costs

Application Process:

Required documents for application

The documents listed below may take some weeks to prepare, especially when they require official signatures. We strongly encourage eligible applicants start gathering all requested documentation as soon as possible.

Applicants must submit:

1. Passport

• A scanned copy of the passport page containing personal details (photo, document number etc).
• Passport-size portrait photo

2. Proof of residence

• Official documentation that proves residency for the last 5 years in the listed STLC where the research will be undertaken (e.g. certificate of residency).

3. PhD certificate

• A scanned copy of the PhD certificate or proof of PhD issued by the University.

4. Proof of employment

• A letter from the employer (dean, vice-dean or equivalent head of the applicant’s institute) on headed paper confirming applicant’s position at the institute and that the applicant will receive a salary for at least two years starting from the year of application.

5. Curriculum Vitae

• Complete updated CV.

6.  Publications

• Complete list of publications.

7. Reference letters

• Applicants must submit two (2) reference letters; at least one must be from a senior scientist familiar with the applicant’s recent research.
• The letters must include contact details for follow up from Selection Committee.

8. Supporting statement of head of applicant’s institute

• A supporting statement of the head of the applicant’s institute signed by the dean, vice-dean or equivalent head of institute. The statement template can be downloaded here.

9. Additional documentation

• The applicant may wish to provide additional documents which provide evidence of skills, qualities or actions described in the research project (e.g. certificate of awards, memberships etc).

All documents must be uploaded through the online application system which will be activated by 30 June 2018. Do not email any document to OWSD.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) fellowship