Postdoctoral Fellowships @ TWAS- Subject: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics

Description:.Under this scheme, grants are awarded to individual researchers and research units in 80 science-and-technology-lagging countries (S&TLC) to enable them to purchase the research facilities they need to enhance their productivity.

The programme 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.

Please note that the TWAS Research Grants Programme supports research in the basic sciences. Proposals focusing on more applied research should be submitted to IFS. Thus, projects submitted to TWAS that relate 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 will be rejected.

Eligibility Individual applicants must be nationals of developing countries. They must hold a PhD, be at the beginning of their careers, but already have some research experience. They must hold a position at a university or research institution in one of the 80 S&TLCs. As a general rule, the grants are awarded to competent scientists under the age of 45 years.

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 must operate within a university or a research institution in one of the 80 S&TLCs and consist of a core number of research scientists, postgraduate students and technicians. There is no age limit for unit leaders.

Individual scientists and research unit leaders who submit a satisfactory final report on a previous grant may apply for a renewal.

Deadline: 31 August 2011

Link: For more details click here

NRF SA Biosystematics Initiative- Subject: Technology

Description: Funding aims to support the dissemination of research findings, and will give preference to projects that use technology, such as online electronic keys. Supported formats include:
* online annotated image rich dichotomous keys;
* online interactive dichotomous keys;
* online dynamic, matrix-based keys, such as those generated using Lucid or Delta.
Applicants must be full time or part-time employees at an NRF-recognised research institution in South Africa.
Funding is worth up to R50,000 over one year. Award amount maximum: R50,000

Deadline :31 Aug 2011
Link: For more details click here

Postdoctoral Fellowships for Visiting Scholars 2011 @ TWAS-CAS ,China- Subject:Natural sciences

Description: The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and TWAS offer up to fifteen fellowships per year to visiting scholars from developing countries (other than China) who wish to pursue advanced research in natural sciences.TWAS-CAS Visiting Scholar Fellowships in natural sciences are tenable for minimum period of one to a maximum of three months at the research institutions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Requirements: CAS institutions: More than 80 CAS institutes in China participate in this Fellowship programme.
* The language of instruction is English.
* International travel (return economy class by the shortest route) and visa expenses will be covered by TWAS.
* CAS will provide a standard monthly allowance which should be used to cover living costs, such as accommodation, food and health insurance. Only emergency medical aid will be available, if necessary. The monthly stipend will not be convertible into foreign currency.
* Applicants must be affiliated with a university or research centre in their home country.
* Applicants already on site in the host country are not eligible.
* Applicants must provide evidence that they will return to their home country upon completion of their Fellowships.
* Applicants must submit an official Acceptance Letter from the host institution to TWAS and CAS when applying, or by the deadline at the latest. A sample of this letter can be found in the application form downloadable from the link at the bottom of this page.
* The Fellowships do not include provisions for accompanying family members.
* Incomplete/unsigned applications will not be accepted. This also applies to submissions by fax and electronic mail, which must include all enclosures and be signed (either digitally or by including a scanned signature).
* Successful applicants must not take up other assignments during the period of their Fellowships.
* Applications will be acknowledged once they have been processed.
* Successful candidates will be notified by February of the year following the application.
* TWAS shall be entitled to a repayment of all or part of any funds paid to an applicant hereunder, in the event that the applicant intentionally or negligently fails to fulfil any or all of the present conditions. The applicant agrees to pay any reasonable legal and/or collection costs incurred by TWAS to obtain the repayment.
Eligibility:Applicants must : * be a maximum age of 55 years on 31 December of the application year;
* be nationals of a developing country (other than China);
* hold a PhD degree in a field of the natural sciences and a regular research assignment with at least five years of postdoctoral research experience;
* be accepted at a CAS-listed institution participating in the scheme and provide an official acceptance letter from the host institution (see sample Acceptance Letter, page 3) to this effect; and
* provide evidence of proficiency in English or Chinese.
Deadline: 31 August 2011
Link: For more details click here