VIB-IPBO 2023 Open Doors Fellowship Program for African Women Researchers for Master

Eligibility Criteria

• Women researchers in post-doc positions (for at least three years) and mid-career positions experiencing challenges to progress in their career path due to limited access to capacity-building opportunities and international networks.
• Women researchers can demonstrate that they are implementing their ongoing research in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania or South Africa.
• Women with an employment contract in an (inter)national research centre or university in any of the countries listed above for the fellowship’s time (2023-2025a).
• Women researchers with an active line of research in the following agricultural-related fields: agro-biotechnology, plant breeding, molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, chemical ecology, plant & soil health.
• Women researchers that are supervising MSc or PhD students and supporting staff.

Offered Benefits

• Through the Open Doors, women will enhance their leadership and communication skills and expand their network of colleagues and mentors in Africa and Belgium. Therefore, the Open Doors is a fellowship program where women will improve their competencies and benefit from the training opportunities to increase their chances of leading and participating in new projects, accessing better research resources, and increasing their publication success. 
• The VIB-IPBO team will organise the paperwork to travel to Belgium, purchase flight tickets, and find suitable accommodation for the fellows in Belgium.

Application Process

All these documents are compulsory for a valid application. Submissions shall be reviewed upon receipt of the documents via e-mail to  .

Required Documents:

Documents to fulfil the application process

• A duly filled application (Template for Modality A or B).
• A motivation letter from the candidate.
• A maximum 3-page CV. Please note that a CV with more than three pages will not be reviewed.
• Soft copies of the academic transcripts of the PhD and the diploma.
• A list of publications, including papers, book chapters, technical reviews in indexed journals and patents. Only articles in the Web of Science: Master Journal List will be considered valid publications[1].
• A signed letter from the applicant’s direct supervisor to indicate how she/he intends to support the fellow in completing her training program[2]
• An official signed letter from the Human Resources Office of the applicant’s institution to prove that the applicant has a valid contract in SSA for the duration of the fellowship. The letter also should inform on what support the fellow will receive during the training period. An HR focal point should commit to participating in the four webinars related to gender-equitable practices in the workplace during the 20 months of the fellowship.
• A signed letter from the research centre in Belgium supporting the applicant’s short research stay (only for Modality B applications).