owsd

Deadline for applications: 31 July 2013.

The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) offers postgraduate fellowships to female scientists from sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries.

The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) is seeking applications for its Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at Centres of Excellence in the South programme.

The OWSD fellowship is awarded to women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to pursue studies leading to a PhD at a centre of excellence in the South.

Applications are accepted from female scientists in all branches of the natural sciences, as well as engineering and information and communication technologies.

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 MSc degree (or equivalent), or an outstanding BSc honours degree, in the natural sciences, engineering or information technology disciplines.

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.

NB: APPLICANTS FROM LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (SEE LIST BELOW) ARE PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

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 PhD 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 natural, engineering and information technology sciences. Each fellowship will be offered for up to three years and will cover the following:

– Travel expenses to and from the host institute;
– A monthly allowance to cover accommodation and meals while in the host country, the amount of which will be determined in consultation with the host institution;
– Refund of visa costs;
– A contribution for medical insurance.

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 the OWSD office it is not obligatory that the applicant has either applied and/or obtained admission at the host institute.

Acceptance could be facilitated by selecting from one of the institutions that has an agreement of collaboration with OWSD:

• The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China. For a full list of CAS institutes see english.cas.ac.cn/CASI;
• The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS), China, www.gscaas.net.cn/vacancy/index.htm;
• Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia, www.upm.edu.my. Departments/schools of natural sciences are eligible;
• Rhodes University, South Africa, www.ru.ac.za. Departments/schools of natural sciences are eligible;
• University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, www.uct.ac.za.Departments/schools of natural sciences are eligible;
• i-Themba Labs, South Africa, www.tlabs.ac.za.

i-Themba Labs specialize in materials science, applied medical science, biotechnology, biophysics, radiobiology, radiophysics, radiopharmaceutics, accelerators based sciences, nuclear sciences and nanosciences.

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 OWSD.

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.

Applicants must also submit a research outline for their proposed PhD programme (see sample below). In the case of sandwich option applicants, the outline must make it clear which parts of the work will be carried out at the host institution.

Two reference 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 [email protected]. The subject line of the email must contain: OWSD/PG/candidate’s surname. Only signed reference letters can be accepted.

Applications must be clearly typewritten in English and completed in all parts; OWSD will not process incomplete and/or illegible applications. OWSD will inform the applicant as soon as the application is processed.

The application form is available as a MS Word document.
Application Form (MS Word version)
Sample research outline