Deadline: 24 August 2015
The World Academy of Sciences(TWAS) in conjunction with the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) in Brasilia, Brazil offers up to 50 (30 sandwich and 20 full-time) postgraduate fellowships to young scientists from developing countries (other than Brazil) to pursue research towards a PhD.
Areas of Interest
- Agrarian Sciences;
- Biological Sciences;
- Medical & Health Sciences;
- Chemical Sciences;
- Engineering Sciences;
- Mathematics & Probability and Statistics;
- Computer Science;
- Physics;
- Astronomy and Geosciences; and
- Oceanography
Benefits
The award covers the following:
- Refund of visa expenses – a lump sum of USD 200, where required up to the amount of USD 250 and is available with proof of receipts.
- Monthly stipends – (non-convertible into foreign currency).
- Bench fee (only PhD and Post-Doc fellows)
- Additional monthly amount for research-related expenses.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, the applicant must:
- Hold a university degree in the Natural Sciences (minimum Master’s degree).
- Have good command of Portuguese and/or Spanish and/or English
- Be a national of a developing country other than Brazil.
- Not hold a visa for permanent or temporary residency in Brazil or in a developed country.
- Be officially enrolled as a PhD student in the home country for at least 1 (one) year by the date of the application.
- Provide evidence that s/he will return to her/his home country on completion of the fellowship.
- Not take up other assignments during the period of her/his fellowship.
- Be financially responsible for any accompanying family members.
- Provide an official acceptance letter from the host institution and be willing to register for a PhD degree in the natural sciences at a participating CAPES-listed Brazilian institution
- Prove knowledge of Portuguese or provide a certificate of proficiency in Spanish or English (if these languages are not the candidate’s mother tongue).
- Present a detailed research plan agreed by her/his host supervisor.
For sandwich postgraduate fellowship applicants must:
- Be officially registered as a PhD student in her/his home country for at least 12 months before presenting her/his candidacy to the sandwich postgraduate fellowship.
- Have a letter of agreement of her/his supervisor in her/his home country.
How to Apply
- Applications containing all necessary documents in pdf format must be submitted exclusively Online, to CNPq through the online application platform.
- Completed application forms must include the following relevant documents:
- A copy of passport, even if expired. Only the page with personal details and validity (if separate) is required.
- Detailed description of the proposed doctoral study/research plan
- Curriculum Vitae and complete list of publications (do not send papers).
- University degree certificates and relevant university transcripts of advanced courses for all academic degrees.
- Official letter of acceptance of a HOST institution as per sample attached. The starting date on the acceptance letter must be the year following the application.
- Reference letters must be on letter-headed paper
- Supporting statement from the head/director of the applicant’s HOME institute on headed paper (for Sandwich PhD applicants ONLY).
- Certificate of proficiency in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- Signed Registration and No Objection Certificate, if applicable.
- Supporting letter of PhD supervisor, if registered in the home country.
For more information, please visit Twas Fellowships.
