Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship 2012 for Developing Countries

Overview

Bioversity International established the Fellowship Fund in 1989, to commemorate the unique contributions to plant science of Academician Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov and Sir Otto Frankel. To

date, 37 scientists from 24 developing countries have received awards to carry out innovative research related to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources, outside of their home countries for a period of three months to one year.

Bioversity International announces two Fellowships, for up to US$ 20,000 each, which will be available for 2012 to carry out research, from 3 to 12 months, on a wide range of biophysical, economic and social themes related to the conservation and use of of genetic resources in developing countries. Multi-disciplinary research is particularly encouraged. These opportunities are available thanks to support from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., United States and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Australia. The fellowships are intended to cover travel, stipend for living expenses, bench fees, materials, insurance, conference participation and publications. They can be held concurrently with other sources of support.

Applications should be sent to:

Vavilov-Frankel Fellowships

Bioversity International

Via dei Tre Denari 472/A

00057 Maccarese, Rome

ITALY

Fax: +(39) 0661979661

E-mail: VFF-2012@cgiar.org

Deadline for application: 6 November 2011

How to apply?

Applications should be submitted in English, French or Spanish by 6 November 2011. The

Application form and Guidelines can be downloaded from :

http://www.bioversityinternational.org/training/research_fellowships.html.

They may also be requested by email from VFF-2012@cgiar.org The successful applicants

will be informed by 30 April 2012 and are required to take up their Fellowships before 31

December 2012.

Who can apply?

Eligibility for this call is determined on the basis of applicants meeting a number of general

criteria and additional criteria for the GRDC-supported fellowship noted on page 2.

Location where research project will be conducted

If applying to the Pioneer-supported Fellowship, research work proposed may be carried

out in any country outside the applicant’s home country. If applying to the GRDC-supported

Fellowship, research must be carried out at an Australian research institute or at the

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center - CIMMYT or at the International Center

for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas - ICARDA (International Agricultural Research

Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, CGIAR).

Applications must include:

• Cover letter

• Completed application form

• Full curriculum vitae (with a list of publications)

• Research proposal prepared following the Guidelines

• Letter of acceptance from the proposed host institute (should follow the Guidelines)

• Letter of support from an institute in a developing country (preferably the home institute) which should specify why the research is important to the institute and should also identify the support that will be provided to the applicant upon return.

Deadline for application: 6 November 2011

General criteria for all applicants

Nationality

Applicants should be nationals of low and medium income countries, according to the

Human Development Index (http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/countries)

Age

Applicants should be no more than 35 years of age.

Degree

Applicants should hold at least a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.

Topic of research

All applications must address one of the Research Themes described on pages 3-4.

Additional requirements (for the GRDC-supported fellowship only)

Applicants for the GRDC-supported fellowship must also meet one of the four thematic

criteria below, in addition to meeting the Location requirement :

• Target a species that is a priority for both Australia and the home country.

• Target an alternative, neglected or underutilized species with either environmental or economic potential for Australia.

• Work on any of the following specific crops: wheat, barley, oats, sorghum, cereal rye, triticale, maize, canary seed, millets/panicum, canola, linseed, safflower, soybeans, sunflowers, chickpeas, cowpeas, fababeans, field peas, lentils, lupins, mung beans, navy beans, peanuts, pigeon peas and vetch.

• Use biotechnology in support of efficient use of plant genetic resources.