Open Competition to support PALOP Researchers consolidating Scientific Careers

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has been, over several decades, a partner in development of Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP) – Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. In recent years, the Foundation has supported health research in these countries, given its impact on improving health conditions of populations and the consolidation of scientific systems.

Existing scientific systems in partner countries still face numerous challenges particularly at the level of leadership of its scientific agenda, international partnerships that they are part of and in attracting international financing. Strengthening capabilities research and strengthening local leadership of research units, are some of the ways designed to overcome the challenges.

Object

• The main objective of contribute to supporting young PALOP researchers to consolidate their careers scientific studies in the countries.
• The Competition consists of two phases, with the first round being:
  • The first phase is intended to support the completion of post-doctoral internships in Portuguese scientific institutions for the development of research projects in health;
  • The second phase is intended to support the carrying out of health research projects, selected within the scope of the first phase, in reception institutions in the PALOP.

Typology of Available Support and Amounts

• In the first phase of the competition, the support to be granted consists of the award of a scholarship that will include the monthly amount of 1700 Euros to the selected candidate to carry out a 6-month scientific internship at one of the internship host institutions and to which will be added the payment for the round-trip air travel between the country of origin and location of the internship, in an amount varying between 900 (Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau) and 1200 Euros (Angola, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe), if applicable, as well as insurance travel and personal accidents.
• During the internship period, it may also be assigned to the researcher, if requested and justified, an additional amount to pay for a trip with a maximum value of 1 000 Euros, for travel to other international research center(s), namely for the purposes of instructing the application for the second phase of the competition.
• During the internship period, researchers will have to attend training courses, short duration, mostly online, promoted specifically for this initiative by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
• In the second phase of the competition, the support to be granted consists of the award of a subsidy with the maximum amount of 165 thousand Euros per selected application, to be awarded within a period 3 years. The grant will be awarded to the researcher’s host institution and will have to be applied to the selected health research project.

Eligibility Conditions

• PALOP researchers aged less than or equal to 40 years who have completed their doctorate in the area of ​​Health Sciences less than five years ago and who wish to start or continue a scientific career in those countries are eligible.
• Applications from researchers who are in the process of completing their doctorate may be accepted, as long as the final thesis is submitted by June 30, 2024 (providing proof signed by the thesis supervisor).
• Applications from researchers who are studying or living abroad and who wish to return to their country of origin will be particularly valued.

For more information, visit Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.