TWAS Research Grants in Basic Sciences (Groups), 2020

Deadline for applications: 15 Apr 2020

 

The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences aims to:

  • Reinforce and promote scientific research in basic sciences in developing countries;
  • Strengthen developing countries' endogenous capacity in science;
  • Reduce the exodus of scientific talents from the South;
  • Build and sustain units of scientific excellence in S&TLC over a longer period to help them achieve a critical mass of highly qualified and innovative scientists capable of addressing real-life problems facing their countries.

 

The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences complements that of the International Foundation for Science (IFS). The two organizations maintain close contact to ensure the complementarity of the two schemes and to avoid duplication. The TWAS Research Grants Programme supports research in the basic sciences only; proposals focusing on more applied research should therefore be submitted to IFS. TWAS cannot accept projects relating to applications in agriculture or medicine or that use existing techniques to screen, for example, medicinal plants for bioactive substances or to monitor an environment for pollutants; TWAS will have to reject such proposals.

The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences is generously supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Italian government. The Sida contribution is mainly intended to support research proposals from S&TLCs in dire need of basic research tools.

 

Programme Details

  • TWAS Research Grants are awarded to high-level promising research projects in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics carried out by research units in the S&T-lagging countries  (S&TLC) identified by TWAS.
  • Research Grants to research units amount to a maximum of USD 30,000.
  • The grants, which are normally provided for a period of 24 months, may be used to purchase scientific equipment, consumables and specialized literature (textbooks and proceedings only). They do not cover salaries of researchers and/or students, field expenses, or travel expenses. In addition, the purchase of laptops, tablets and laboratory animals is not supported.
  • Awarded research units must also support atleast one MSc student as part of the project (full details will be provided to successful candidates).

Eligibility

  • Applying research units must be led by a renowned researcher who is a national of a developing country, who holds a PhD and who has good research experience. The research unit should operate within a university or a research institution in one of the S&TLCs and should include a minimum of the Principle Investigator (group leader), plus at least two PhD-qualified researchers and a number of PhD and MSc students, technicians, etc. There is no age limit for unit leaders.
  • Applicant must at the time of application NOT have an active research grant with TWAS or OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship.
  • Each applicant must have at least one MSc student under his/her supervision.
  • Applications from women scientists and those working in Least Developed Countries are especially encouraged.
  • You must submit a strong Research Proposal, you may find further information on how to wrtire a strong proposal by visiting AuthorAID.
  • Research unit leaders who submit a satisfactory final report on a previous grant may apply for a renewal.
  • Please be advised that applicants may apply for only one programme per calendar year in the TWAS and OWSD portfolio. Applicants will not be eligible to visit another institution in that year under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes. One exception: The head of an institution who invites an external scholar to share his/her expertise under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes may still apply for another programme.

 

For more information, or to apply, visit the call webpage.

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