TWAS-CNPq Postgraduate Fellowship Programme 2018

Programme Details

• TWAS-CNPq Postgraduate Fellowships are tenable at research institutions in Brazil for a period of up to 12 months (SANDWICH PhD) or up to four years (FULL-TIME PhD) and are awarded to students from developing countries (other than Brazil) to enable them to pursue part (SANDWICH PhD) or all (FULL-TIME PhD) of their research leading towards a PhD degree in the natural sciences.
• The academic year in Brazil usually begins on 1 March and the second semester in early August of each year. Candidates will enrol for their PhD at the host institution and must observe the academic calendar of the host institution, i.e. be ready to start their Fellowship on the first day of classes/courses (most likely in Portuguese).
• A list of research institutions in Brazil where TWAS-CNPq Fellowships are tenable (CAPES-Conceito 5 and above) is available below for download.
• CNPq will provide a standard monthly allowance which should be used to cover living costs, such as accommodation, food and health insurance. The monthly stipend will not be convertible into foreign currency.
• Information about living conditions, such as possibilities of accommodation, transportation, and any other issues related to the candidate’s stay in Brazil must be obtained locally, directly from the host institution. Neither TWAS nor CNPq can provide this information.
• In most institutions the language of instruction is Portuguese; in a few institutions it is English.

Eligibility

Applicants for these fellowships must meet the following criteria:

• There is no age limit for this programme.
• Hold a university degree in the Natural Sciences (minimum Master’s degree).
• Have good command of Portuguese and/or Spanish and/or English.
• Be a national of a developing country other than Brazil.
• Must not hold a visa for permanent or temporary residency in Brazil or in a developed country.
• Provide evidence that s/he will return to her/his home country on completion of the fellowship.
• Not take up other assignments during the period of her/his fellowship.
• Provide an official acceptance letter from the host institution (please refer to the sample that can be downloaded below or is available at http://www.cnpq.br/web/guest/chamadas-publicas?p_p_id=resultadosportlet_WAR_resultadoscnpqportlet_INSTANCE_0ZaM&filtro=abertas&detalha=chamadaDivulgada&idDivulgacao=8262)and be willing to carry out part of their PhD research (Sandwich option) or register for a full PhD degree (Full time option) in the natural sciences at a participating CAPES-listed Brazilian institution (see point 3 above).
• Prove knowledge of Portuguese or provide a certificate of proficiency in Spanish or English (if these languages are not the candidate’s mother tongue).
• Have an updated Curriculum Vitae on CNPq’s Lattes Platform (see guidelines on CV Lattes and online applications available for download below).
• Present a detailed research plan agreed by her/his host supervisor.
• Be financially responsible for any accompanying family members.
• For SANDWICH applucants only: Provide a declaration from the home institution, which states the candidate has been officially enrolled as a PhD Student in the home country for at least 1 (one) year by the date of the application.

Submitting your application

• Applications to the TWAS-CNPq Fellowships must be submitted online only (see guidelines on online applications available for download below).
• Information on the call for applications where you will find the programme details, eligibility criteria, required documents and certificates as well as the online application form are available in the documents below and at http://www.cnpq.br/web/guest/chamadas-publicas?p_p_id=resultadosportlet_WAR_resultadoscnpqportlet_INSTANCE_0ZaM&filtro=abertas&detalha=chamadaDivulgada&idDivulgacao=8262
• Firstly, the candidate must create a CV Lattes through the link: https://wwws.cnpq.br/cvlattesweb/pkg_cv_estr.inicio.
  Secondly, the candidate must submit the application via the Carlos Chagas Platform available at http://efomento.cnpq.br/efomento/autenticacao.jsp?idioma=EN&id=0. (See guidelines on CV Lattes and on online applications available for downlaod below).
• Applicants must be aware that CNPq and TWAS will not accept applications submitted by any other means except via the online application form.
• No applications will be accepted after the deadline. Therefore, it is recommended to submit your electronic application as early as possible.
• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants should submit the Acceptance Letter from a CAPES-listed institution to CNPq when applying. Without preliminary acceptance, the application will not be considered for selection.
• Queries concerning the submission of applications via the online portal of CNPq should be directed to [email protected]
• Applicants should be aware that they can apply for only one fellowship per year. With the exception of the Visiting Scientists programme, all other fellowship programmes offered by TWAS and OWSD are mutually exclusive.

Closing date: 14 September 2018

Apply here!