Vavilov-Frankel Fellowships in Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Developing Country Scientists

Brief description:

The aim of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Fund is to encourage the conservation and use of plant genetic resources by enabling outstanding young scientists to carry out relevant, innovative research outside their own countries for a period of between three months and one year.

The Fellowships are supported by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., United States and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Australia.

Applicants must demonstrate the importance and benefit of their proposed research to their home country and indicate how it will be applied upon their return. In this way, the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Fund helps countries build the scientific capacity they need to address urgent issues relating to the management of plant genetic resources and to promote the contribution of those resources to development.

Host Institution(s):

Any Institution.

Field of study:

Research by the Fellows has covered a wide range of topics related to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources, such as new conservation technologies and strategies, socioeconomic, human and policy aspects of conservation and use, germplasm management, forest genetic resources conservation and use strategies, genetic erosion assessment and mitigation and conservation and use of specific crops.

Number of Awards:

Two Fellowship opportunities will be available for 2010 to carry out research on conservation and use of Plant Genetic Resources.  To date, fellowships have been awarded to 33 scientists from 22 countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kenya, India, Iran, Mauritius, Mexico, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Venezuela.

Target group:

Scientists from developing countries

Scholarship value/inclusions:

Support for Research on conservation and use of Plant Genetic Resources.  Inquire with the scholarship provider for more information.

Eligibility:

Applications are invited from nationals of developing countries, aged 35 or under, holding a masters degree (or equivalent) and/or doctorate in a relevant subject area. The list of eligible countries is available on the World Bank web site: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/CLASS.XLS (“Income group”: “low-income” and “lower-middle income” only).

Application instructions:

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

For a description of topics, criteria and application procedures please download “Announcement”, “Application form” and “Guidelines for preparation of research proposals” from the official website. Deadline for applications is around November of 2010.

Contact information:

Send your inquiries and request for application documents to Andie Dimitriadou.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/about_us/fellowships/vavilov_frankel_fellowship.html#c2386