Training - Fellowships

START Fellowships/Visiting Scientists

The objective of this programme is to increase the number of developing country scientists who will be active partners in global change research in START regional networks and in projects of IGBP, WCRP and HDP, and contribute to related aspects of sustainable development.

START fellowships may be offered at the dissertation and post-dissertation levels, although initially preference will be given to post-doctoral fellows. They will allow fellows within developing country regions to work under senior members in leading laboratories or institutions in any part of the world where research is conducted on relevant regional aspects of global change, and to learn and use techniques, approaches not accessible in their own countries. One outcome, in addition to enhanced research capacity, should be joint publication between the fellow and his/her mentor and potential longer-term collaboration between the individuals and institution involved. The duration of these fellowships would ordinarily be a minimum of one semester.

A parallel activity will allow more senior developing country scientists to undertake short-term visits (one-month minimum) to major international laboratories to become acquainted with recent advances in research and possible policy applications. As with the fellowships, it is intended that this activity would lead to development of longer-term programmatic linkages between the individuals and institutions involved. Both the fellowships and visiting scientist programmes will provide economy round trip air fare and a modest monthly subsistence allowance.

START Visiting Lectureships

The objective of this programme is to provide scientists and institutions in developing countries of START regional networks with an opportunity of establishing long-term links with leaders in global change research. Lecturers will be based at START regional Centres or research sites and they would be expected to interact closely with the staff at the host institution and within the region by providing lectures, tutorials and advice, with the aim of strengthening existing global change activities and also assisting in establishing new lines of policy-related global change research. In the pilot phase preference will be given to placement of visiting lecturers at designated START regional Centres, e.g., the University of Ghana at Legon. Priority will be given to scientists willing to develop long-term links between their own and the host institution (twinning arrangements) and personally willing to commit to an extended relationship with the host institution. Lectureships require a minimum stay of one week. For short-term visitors, travel (round-trip economy) and subsistence expenses will be provided. For longer-term visitors (one month or longer), an honorarium may also be awarded.