2023 OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship Programme

The OWSD Early Career Fellowship which is administered by OWSD with funds provided by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada is a prestigious award worth about USD 50,000 offered to women who have completed their PhD degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and are employed at an academic or scientific research institute in one of the eligible Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs). Fellows are supported to establish environments at their institutions where they can maintain an international standard of research and attract scholars from all over the world to come together.

The fellowship programme aims to support early career women scientists to lead important research projects in those countries which have been identified as especially lacking in scientific and technological resources. Fellows will undertake their research projects in one of the eligible countries and must demonstrate that they have spent significant periods of time in that country for at least 5 years. Applicants must also have a guarantee of employment at the institution where they intend to carry out the research. During the 3 years fellowship, fellows will build on their leadership and management skills, develop connections with several public and private sector partners to potentially convert their research into marketable products or guarantee its impact on a broader scale. By improving their communication and outreach skills, fellows will also learn to effectively present their research to various audiences, thus attracting new collaborators and potential funders to ensure the sustainability of the research project.

Eligibility for the 2023 OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship Programme:

Applicants must have been resident in one of the eligible Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) for at least 5 years. The 5 years do not have to be consecutive.
Applicants can be from any country, provided that the above residence requirement is fulfilled.
Applicants must provide proof of being employed at the university or research institute where the research project will be carried out at the time of application. If employment has not yet commenced, a proof of employment offer and confirmation of acceptance is required.
Applicants must ensure the institution where the research project will be carried out is one of the listed STLCs.
Applicants must provide evidence that they will receive a salary from their university/research institute for the duration of the three years fellowship.
Applicants must be awarded a PhD not more than 10 years before application.

Eligible fields for the 2023 OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship Programme:

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

Benefits of the 2023 OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship Programme:

The Fellowship is for three years and provides up to USD 50,000.
The fellowship entails an initial advance payment, disbursements at regular intervals, reimbursements of expenses made with funds advanced by the Administering Institute, and also support for direct procurement done by the OWSD Secretariat on fellows’ behalf (only for purchases above USD 10,000).
The Fellowship provides two training workshops per fellowship on managing the grant, leadership, outreach and entrepreneurial skills.

Successful applicants will be notified by December 2022 and expected to attend a first online meeting shortly after that. The expected duration of the fellowship is three years from the date of contract signing (early 2023).

Application Deadline: September 19, 2022.

Kindly visit the official website for more information

2023 OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship Programme