earth sciences | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans - Part 5

AU-TWAS Young Scientists National Awards for Applicants from African Countries: Life and Earth Sciences, Technology

TWAS, the African Union (AU) and national ministries of science and technology are entering into partnership with national science academies, scientific research councils and high-level research organizations in Africa to institute ‘AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Awards’.

The awards are designed to recognize scientific excellence in their countries. In each participating country, two US$5,000-prizes will be awarded each year in the categories of:

* ‘Life and earth sciences’, and
* ‘Basic sciences, technology and innovation’.

For African countries, this programme replaces the TWAS Prizes for Young Scientists in Developing Countries award scheme.

Procedure

* African organizations intending to award AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Awards in their respective countries are required to sign an agreement of collaboration with TWAS, the AU and their national ministry of science and technology that outlines the rules and regulations governing the scheme.The scheme is then managed by the participating organization while TWAS and the AU provide the prize money.
* Candidates eligible for the prizes should be no older than forty years of age at the time of winning the prize; hold at least a Master’s degree; have a good record of research publications in internationally recognized journals; be living and working in the country of the awarding organization for at least the previous three years.
* Nominations of women scientists are particularly encouraged.

* A committee of eminent scientists in the country — including TWAS members, where applicable — should be formed for selecting the prize winners. Names of committee members should be sent to TWAS for information.
* The awarding organizations should send a complete profile of the selected nominees to TWAS, providing details on their achievements together with curriculum vitae and list of publications. Approval of TWAS and the AU is required before announcing the names of the winners.
* The prize should be presented to the awardees by a high-ranking public figure (e.g., head of state/government, minister of science and technology) at a special ceremony held each year on 9 September: Africa Union Day.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 30 June 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application

TWAS-COMSTECH Joint Research Grants: Earth Sciences, Engineering

The programme aims at encouraging the pursuit of scientific excellence in OIC countries by identifying and supporting the best young scientists in these countries; reinforcing and promoting scientific research and strengthening the endogenous capacity in science and technology; and counteracting the brain drain and reducing the exodus of scientific talent from the OIC countries.

* COMSTECH-TWAS Joint Research Grants are awarded to high-level and promising research projects carried out by young individual scientists in OIC countries.
* A Research Grant amounts to a maximum of US$15,000.
* A grant is normally provided for a period of 18 months and is renewable once.
* A grant may be used to purchase scientific equipment, consumables and specialized literature (textbooks and proceedings only). The grant does not cover salaries of researchers and/or students, field expenses, travel expenses and/or participation in international conferences.

Subject Areas

The programme provides support for research projects in the following fields of science and technology: earth sciences, engineering sciences, information technology and computer sciences, materials science including nanotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and renewable energy.

Eligibility of Applicants

* Individual applicants must be nationals of OIC Member States, with a PhD and some research experience, but at the beginning of their careers. They should hold positions at universities or research institutions in one of the OIC countries. As a general rule, the grants are awarded to competent scientists under the age of 40 years.
* Scientists who submit a satisfactory final report on a previous grant may apply for a renewal.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 31 August 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application

PhD Fellowship in Isotope Geochemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

This project will form an important pillar in the ongoing efforts of some of the group´s researchers to develop a new non-traditional stable isotope system – based on the element chromium – aiming at its potential use as a redox-sensitive tracer system to monitor past climatic changes on Earth through time. Recent advances achieved by our group showed promising in tracking the isotopic composition of chromium in limestones and to correlate fluctuations with those of carbon isotopes and strontium isotopes, two other important paleoclimatic tracers that have become routine in the investigations of climate change over time. The project is two-folded: 1) an experimental part devoted to the study of the mechanisms by which dissolved chromium can enter the calcite structure during precipitation processes, including potential isotopic effects, and 2) an applied part in which the system is tested across some important glaciomarine profiles that are associated with important atmospheric oxygenation events on Earth.

Qualifications:
Based on the projects structure, the potential candidate should be equally interested in laboratory and field work, and should have a devoted interest in deciphering geochemical processes and to design, set-up and conduct own experiments. We seek a motivated individual with a recent Master´s Degree or a corresponding degree in Earth Sciences and/or Chemistry.

Scholarship Application Deadline
:31-01-2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application