Training and Research in Italian Laboratories Programme

The aim of the programme is to promote, through direct contacts and side-by-side high-level research, collaborations between the Italian scientific community and individuals, groups and institutions in developing countries. This programme thus addresses an important aspect of the mission of ICTP, namely to help form and strengthen a permanent scientific expertise in developing countries, cognisant of local needs and resources and of the frontiers of science and technology, and to provide support towards a sustainable capacity in basic and applied research that can help their nations’ progress.

Fields of Research

• High energy physics
  • Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
• Physics and energy
  • Nuclear Physics
  • Plasma Physics and Nuclear Fusion
  • Non-Conventional Energy (Solar, Wind and others)
• Physics of condensed matter
  • Solid State Physics
  • Atomic, Molecular Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Statistical Mechanics
  • Computational Physics
  • Fluid Dynamics
• Science, technology, and innovation
  • Advanced Scientific Instrumentation
  • Ionospheric Physics, Ionospheric Modelling, Space Weather
  • Digital Fabrication and Science Dissemination
  • Wireless ICT and Internet of Things
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Optics
• Physics of the living state
  • Biophysics
  • Medical Physics
• Physics and environment
  • Geophysics and Oceanography
  • Soil Physics
  • Climatology and Meteorology
  • Physics of the Atmosphere, Troposphere, Magnetosphere, Aeronomy

Funding Information

• Fellows receive a monthly grant in Euro to cover their living costs, such as lodging, meals, local travel and incidentals while on the fellowship, as follows:
  • Euro 1,300 for students pursuing a Ph.D. (or its equivalent)
  • Euro 1,500 for scientists with a Ph.D. degree less than 5 years
  • Euro 1,600 for scientists with a Ph.D. degree more than 5 years
• The maximum duration of a fellowship is 24 months. This includes the original fellowship period and extensions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals wishing to be considered for a fellowship award must ensure that they meet all the following criteria:
  • Be a national of a developing country;
  • Be in possession of at least a university Master’s Degree;
  • Be proficient in reading and writing English. Applicants may be requested to present an English proficiency certificate or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) certificate;
  • Reside in a developing country (studying or working) at the time of selection.
• Individuals from developed countries are not eligible to apply to the TRIL Programme.
• Applications from young talented scientists who have already acquired a certain degree of research experience, with published papers to their credit, will be given preference. Priority attention will be given to female candidates and to applicants from least developed countries (LDCs). Applications from senior scientists are also welcome.
• Former TRIL fellows may apply again, only if the total length of the previous award (plus any extensions) did not exceed 24 months. Should the previous award exceed this limit, an application will be considered after a 24-month break.
• Individuals wishing to prolong their visit in Italy, which initiated from other organizations, institutes or laboratories, are discouraged from applying to the TRIL Programme.
• Applications that do not meet all the eligible requirements will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

• Fellows are selected through a selection procedure that normally takes place once or twice a year. There is not a set number of fellowships selected. The number of fellowships awarded each year is determined by the availability of funds for the programme.
• A period of 6 to 12 months is usually necessary between the submission of the application and the date of selection.
• All applications are examined by the TRIL Consultant to ensure that they are complete and meet the programme’s eligible criteria. If an application does not meet all of the criteria, it will not be considered. All eligible applications are then sent to the related Fellowship Committee or Laboratory for further consideration and final decision.
• Each application received is carefully considered on an individual basis and the selection of a TRIL Fellow is based on the following criteria:
  • Applicant’s qualifications and his/her expertise;
  • List of publications;
  • Proposed training/research activity he/she is interested in carrying out during the fellowship;
  • Benefit of the research/training activity to his/her home country;
  • Interest of the host laboratory towards the applicant;
  • Letter of recommendation.
• In addition to the merit criteria and the interest of the host laboratory, other factors are also taken into consideration such as geographical diversity, gender balance and availability of funds. Priority attention will be given to applications from females and from least developed countries.
• Applications are submitted to the host laboratories for final decision on all fellowships.
• Only successful applicants are contacted.
• The TRIL Secretariat does not respond to individual requests for selection information.

Application Requirements

• Applications and supporting documentation are accepted only via the ICTP online application system. Applications, supporting documents and additional information arriving by other means (such as email or regular post) will not be considered.
• Applications will be kept on the system for a maximum of two years from submission of the complete form (including referee letters) and evaluated in the event that fellowships become available.
• Before filling in the TRIL online application form, applicants should:
  • Prepare their Curriculum Vitae in .pdf format;
  • Prepare a complete list of publications (including books and articles) in anti-chronological order in .pdf format. The title of papers should be listed and the journal where they are published. Two separate lists should be included in the file: one for peer reviewed (ISI) journals and one for non-ISI journals. Unpublished works may be mentioned under a different heading.

For more information, visit ICTP.