OWSD Early Career Fellowship Grant

Funder: Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)

The OWSD Early Career Fellowship supports women in STEM who have completed their PhDs and work in Science and Technology Lagging Countries. With funding up to USD 50,000, this prestigious award aims to empower fellows to lead impactful research projects, enhance their leadership skills, and build a supportive network of women scientists. It encourages collaboration with industry and fosters research excellence, benefiting both the fellows and their home countries.

NOTE: There will be no Call for Applications in 2025
The OWSD Early Career Fellowship is a prestigious award of up to USD 50,000 offered to women who have completed their PhDs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and are employed at an academic or scientific research institute in one of the listed Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs). The OWSD Early Career 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 collaborate.
Purpose
The ECWS fellowships programme is administered by OWSD with funds generously provided by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
The ECWS fellowship specific objectives are:
Empower ECWS fellows to lead important research projects with practical applications for low and middle income countries (LMICs), including through strengthening their collaboration with industry.Build the leadership and business skills of ECWS fellows needed for the dissemination and uptake of research results, and for career advancement. Consolidate a network of outstanding women scientists that provides mentorship for the next generation of women leaders in STEM.
These objectives will be combined with the overall long-term objectives of the OWSD programme in general, which are to:
Increase the relevance and implementation of scientific research projects developed by women in STLCs for the economic, social, health and research needs of their countries.Increase the number of women scientists from STLCs staying in their home countries in order to continue their scientific/industrial careers, thereby contributing to research training and development.Strengthen the research, resources and expertise of institutes in STLCs.
Fellowship Support
The ECWS fellowship is for two years and provides up to USD 50,000 to enable fellows to maintain an international standard of research as well as initiate collaborations and partnerships with industry and the private sector.
The ECWS fellowship can be used to cover the costs of assistance to the fellow for teaching duties not directly related to the fellow’s research in order for the fellow to focus on carrying her own research forward to an international standard.
The objective is to develop a center of specialist research recognized at national, regional or international level which can then attract internationally recognized researchers.

Eligibility

View eligible expenses here.To be eligible to apply for the ECWS fellowship applicants must meet the following criteria:Eligible countries:Applicants must have been resident in one of the listed Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) for at least 5 years.At the time of application, applicants must be already employed at the university or research institute where the project will be carried out.This university/institute where the project will be carried out must be in one of the listed STLCs.Eligible STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics):Agricultural SciencesAstronomy, Space and Earth SciencesBiological Systems and OrganismsChemical SciencesComputing and Information TechnologyEngineering SciencesMathematical SciencesMedical and Health SciencesNeurosciencesPhysicsStructural, Cell and Molecular BiologyEligible academic qualification:PhD in one of the above listed study fields.PhD awarded not more than 10 years prior to application. Eligible employment:At the time of application, applicants must be already employed at the university or research institute where the project will be carried out.The university or research institute must be based in one of the eligible countries.Applicants must provide evidence that they will receive a salary from the above institute for the duration of the two-year fellowship.

Ineligibility

Please note that the ECWS fellowship does not provide for the fellow’s salary which must be guaranteed by the fellow’s institute.