Description

Calling all brilliant women scientists in developing countries! Do you have a passion for making a positive impact on global health? Are you dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field of inclusive health? If so, then the prestigious OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists might be the perfect opportunity for you.

This scholarship program recognizes and empowers exceptional women researchers who are shaping the future of healthcare in developing nations. It's a fantastic opportunity to gain visibility for your groundbreaking work, receive financial support, and connect with a global network of accomplished scientists.

Why you should consider applying for the 2024 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards:

• Championing Inclusive Health: The program specifically focuses on research aligned with SDG3: Good Health and Well-being. If your work tackles critical issues like maternal and child mortality, infectious diseases, mental health, or access to healthcare, this award is a chance to showcase your contribution to achieving these vital goals.
• Financial Support and Recognition: Five outstanding women scientists will be selected, each receiving a cash prize of USD 5,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to a relevant international conference. This financial boost can significantly support your ongoing research endeavors, while the international conference provides a valuable platform to present your work, network with leading researchers, and gain valuable insights.
• Boosting Your Career Trajectory: Being recognized by the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards carries significant weight in the scientific community. It adds a prestigious credential to your resume, potentially opening doors to future research collaborations, funding opportunities, and career advancements.

Degree Level

UNESCO OWSD - Elsevier Foundation Scholarships 2025 is available to undertake PhD level programs at .

Available Subjects

• 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 (including Neurosciences)
• Physics
• Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Benefits

Prize: 

• A USD $5,000 cash award and an all-expenses-paid trip to an international conference. 
• Five awards will be granted: one for each of Africa, the Arab region, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, plus one additional award open to any region.
  

Eligible Nationalities

The applicant must have lived and worked for at least 5 of the last 15 years* in one of the 66 scientifically and technologically lagging countries (STLCs) listed here: 

• Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dem. Rep. Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Arab Region: Djibouti, Palestine (West Bank & Gaza Strip), Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen.
• Asia & Pacific: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
• Latin America & Caribbean: Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay.

Note:

• The 5 years of residence in the eligible country do not have to be consecutive.
• Applicants can be citizens of any country, provided that they fulfil the above residence requirement.
• Preference will be given to those candidates not currently (or within the last three years) in receipt of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) or OWSD awards, fellowships or grants. Please note that OWSD Early Career Fellows and Alumnae are not eligible for these Awards.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for an OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award, applicants must:

1. Be a woman who has earned a PhD in a STEM discipline within the past ten years.
2. Conduct current scientific research aligned with the field of inclusive health.
3. Demonstrate how their research contributes to advancing knowledge in inclusive health and achieving SDG3: Good Health and Well-being.
4. Align their research with at least one of the following SDG3 target areas:

• Reducing maternal and child mortality
• Combating infectious and non-communicable diseases
• Improving mental health and substance abuse prevention
• Enhancing road safety
• Ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare
• Achieving universal health coverage
• Addressing environmental health risks
• Strengthening tobacco control
• Promoting vaccine and medicine development for developing countries
• Increasing health financing and workforce capacity
• Improving early warning, risk reduction, and management of health crises

Note: Applicants must clearly articulate how their research specifically contributes to one or more of the listed SDG3 target areas.

Ineligible: Applicants whose primary research focus is in the social sciences, humanities, or arts.

Application Procedure

Who can apply?

OWSD is looking for exceptional women scientists who are making a difference in the field of inclusive health. Your research should be directly connected to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) - Good health and well-being. Additionally, you must have lived and worked in a designated Science and Technology Lagging Country (STLC) for at least 5 years.

How to Apply:

• Proof of Residency: Documents that clearly show you've resided in an eligible STLC for 5 years. Acceptable options include a statement from local authorities, a rental agreement, utility bills, or an employment contract. This list is not exhaustive, and we welcome alternative documentation. If you're unsure if your documents qualify, contact us at [email address removed].
• Contribution to SDG3: Provide evidence demonstrating how your research helps achieve the goal of Good Health and Well-being.
• Why You Deserve This Award: Write a compelling statement (maximum 2500 characters) explaining why you're the ideal candidate. Highlight the quality of your research, career achievements, the impact of your work, and any challenges you've overcome in your scientific journey.
• Supporting Documents: Include your PhD certificate, CV, a complete list of publications, and at least two reference letters written by senior scientists familiar with your work (on official letterhead).

Don't miss out! The deadline for submitting your application for the 2025 awards is September 16, 2024.

Get started now! Application guidelines and a sample application form are available here.