The prestigious OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists in the Developing World is now accepting applications. This award recognizes and supports women who have made notable contributions to science and are researching inclusive health. It specifically aims to honor early-career women scientists advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
Benefits of UNESCO/OWSD Residencies Programme
- Cash prize of USD 5,000.
- All-expenses-paid trip to attend a relevant international conference.
The 5 awards will be distributed as follows: one for each of the four regions of the developing world (Africa, Arab region, Asia & the Pacific and Latin America & the Caribbean), plus an additional ¨floating” award for an outstanding candidate from any of these regions.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a woman who has received a PhD in a scientific discipline within the last ten years.
- Conduct research in inclusive health and demonstrate how it advances knowledge in this area and contributes to SDG 3.
- Reside and worked for at least five of the last fifteen years in one of the 66 scientifically and technologically lagging countries (STLCs) listed by OWSD.
- Be engaged in a STEM field such as Agricultural Sciences, Astronomy, Biological Systems, Chemical Sciences, Computing and Information Technology, Engineering Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Physics, or Structural, Cell, and Molecular Biology.
Selection Process
The competition will be judged by a distinguished panel of specialists in the appropriate fields and who are aware of the challenges facing women scientists in developing countries.
Traditionally, the selection committee has met in person at the OWSD Secretariat based in Trieste, Italy and we have been able to draw on a broad range of expertise from this ‘City of Science’, including the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the University of Trieste, Elettra Sincrotrone, The International School for Advanced Sciences (SISSA) and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). Since 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impossibility of holding face-to-face meetings, we had the opportunity to draw on a broader pool of experts based also in the developing world. The Selection Panel is chaired by the OWSD Coordinator with full administrative support from the OWSD Secretariat.
Assessment will be based on the applicant’s achievements in her scientific field, with additional attention paid to evidence of leadership skills, initiative and innovation, as well as to the candidate’s involvement in capacity building, outreach and civic contribution. Research that demonstrates the use of innovative techniques or methodologies (especially with regard to sustainable development), an awareness of the importance of sex and/or gender considerations in research methodology and content and/or interdisciplinary collaboration may be prioritized.
Successful candidates will be informed of their selection no later than 31 December 2024.
Application Documents
Official documentation proving 5 years’ residency in an eligible STLC .
- Evidence on how your research contributes to advancing SDG3 (Good health and well-being).
- Motivational statement of no more than 2500 characters describing why you should be selected for this award, the excellent quality of your research, greatest achievements of your scientific career, impact of your work locally/regionally/internationally, and where relevant, any persona/professional challenges you have faced and overcome given your context (for ease, we recommend that you prepare this beforehand and copy-paste into the text box).
- PhD certificate
- Curriculum vitae
- Full list of publications
- At least 2 reference letters (reference letters must be prepared on official letterhead and should be written and signed by senior scientists familiar with your research).
How to Apply: Interested and qualified? Go to UNESCO on onlineforms.twas.org to apply
Application Deadline: September 16, 2024
