[Italy] Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship 2012 for Developing Countries

Overview
Bioversity International established the Fellowship Fund in 1989 to commemorate Academician Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov`s and Sir Otto Frankel`s unique contributions to plant science. To date, 37 outstanding young scientists from 24 developing countries have been supported.

This year`s Vavilov-Frankel Fellowships call focuses on the following themes:

• Gene discovery in crop wild relatives.
• Use of plant genetic resources for adaptation to progressive climate change.
• Facilitating better use of genebank materials.
• Researching neglected and underutilized species for food and nutrition security.
• Policy research in support of the implementation of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
• Applying economics to agrobiodiversity conservation, sustainable use and policy analysis.
• Farmer, trader and market strategies for adding value to crop diversity.
• Management of plant diseases through a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions and co-evolution.

Study Subjects: Biophysical, economic and social themes, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, Social Sciences, Geotechnical Engineering, Mineral Survey, etc.

Eligibility

• Applicants should be nationals of low income and lower-middle income countries, according to the Human and Income Poverty Index.
• Applicants should be no more than 35 years of age.
• Applicants should hold at least a Master`s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.

Conditions
All applications must address one of the Research Themes:

• Gene discovery in crop wild relatives.
• Use of plant genetic resources for adaptation to progressive climate change .
• Facilitating better use of genebank materials.
• Researching neglected and underutilized species for food and nutrition security .
• Policy research in support of implementation of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture .
• Applying economics to agrobiodiversity conservation, sustainable use and policy analysis.
• Management of plant diseases through a better understanding of specific host-pathogen interactions and co- evolution.
• Farmer, trader and market strategies for adding value to crop diversity.

For more information about Research Themes.

Fellowship
Bioversity International announces two Fellowships, for up to US$ 20,000 each, which will be available for 2012 to carry out research, from 3 to 12 months, on a wide range of biophysical, economic and social themes related to the conservation and use of of genetic resources in developing countries. Multi-disciplinary research is particularly encouraged. The fellowships are intended to cover travel, stipend for living expenses, bench fees, materials, insurance, conference participation and publications.

They can be held concurrently with other sources of support. If applying to the Pioneer-supported Fellowship, research work proposed may be carried out in any country outside the applicant`s home country. If applying to the GRDC-supported Fellowship, research must be carried out at an Australian research institute or at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center – CIMMYT or at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas – ICARDA (International Agricultural Research Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, CGIAR).

How to apply
You must send:

• Cover letter
• Completed application form
• Full curriculum vitae (with a list of publications)
• Research proposal prepared following the Guidelines
• Letter of acceptance from the proposed host institute
• Letter of support from an institute in a developing country (preferably the home institute) which should specify why the research is important to the institute and should also identify the support that will be provided to the applicant upon return.

Applications should be submitted in English, French or Spanish by 6 November 2011.

Applications should be sent to:
Vavilov-Frankel
Fellowships
Bioversity International
Via dei Tre Denari 472/A
00057 Maccarese, Rome
ITALY
Fax: +(39) 0661979661
E-mail: VFF-2012@cgiar.org