Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Women for Skills Building in Sustainability Science

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and TWAS are offering a postdoctoral fellowship program for early-career female researchers from 21 least developed member countries of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The fellowships will support research related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, providing recipients with high-level training in areas relevant to sustainability science.

Research Areas:

The Postdoctoral Fellowship program provides support for research projects in the following fields:

• Sustainable Agriculture
• Education
• Education for Sustainable Development 
• Climate Change
• Energy
• Sustainable cities
• Responsible growth
• Waste management
• Population growth
• Green chemistry
• Biodiversity
• Plastic pollution and Micro-plastics
• Water and hygiene

Host Center:

A host center should be identified by the candidate based on her particular area of research. In the latter case, TWAS and the scientific reviewers involved in the selection of awardees will make a decision on the suitability of the host institute proposed by the candidate. In all cases, the host center must be located in a developing country. An example of a valid host center is provided by the TWAS-CAS Centres of Excellence (https://twas.org/cas-twas-centres-excellence).

IsDB -TWAS Postdoctoral Fellowships are tenable for a minimum of three months to a maximum of six months.

Through the Fellowship, the selected scientist will be provided with a monthly allowance based on the cost of living in the host country to cover expenses such as accommodation, food, and health insurance.

The fellowship will offer an allowance for bench fee costs up to USD2,565 as a contribution towards laboratory expenses necessary for the awardee’s research.

The fellowship will cover the cost of a round-trip air ticket up to USD1,000. Any other travel expenses (e.g. airport transfers and local transportation) will be the awardee’s responsibility.

Information about living conditions (e.g. accommodation, transportation, and any other issues related to the candidate's stay in the host country) must be obtained directly from the host institution. Neither TWAS nor IsDB can provide this information.

Applicants for IsDB-TWAS Postdoctoral Fellowships must be women only and meet the following criteria:

• Hold a PhD degree in an area of science relevant to the research area of the Fellowship program.
• Be up to 45 years of age at the time of the application.
• Has preferably 5 years of experience in the field of research after the PhD.
• Host Institute must be in a developing country.
• Provide an official acceptance letter from the Host Institute.
• Be a national of and resident in an IsDB LDMC.
• Be employed at an institution in her home country.

Awarded female scholars must:

• Not take up other assignments during the period of their fellowship.
• Present a research plan agreed by their host supervisor.
• Be financially responsible for any accompanying family members.
• Be autonomous in regard to visa application, health insurance, and housing in the host country.

About TWAS:

The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) is a global science academy founded in 1983 in Italy by a distinguished group of scientists from the developing world, under the leadership of Abdus Salam, the Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate. They shared a belief that developing nations, by building strength in science and engineering, could build the knowledge and skill to address such challenges as hunger, disease, and poverty. From the start, the Academy had essential support from Italian scientists and political leaders. The academy works for the advancement of science in developing countries and supports sustainable prosperity through research, education, policy, and diplomacy.

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