+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

Biotechnet Short-term Advanced Fellowships – September 2026

International Centre for Gentic Engineering and Biotechnology

Thanks to the contribution of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) within the framework of the BIOTECHNET II initiative, dedicated resources are available for candidates from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

ICGEB offers Short-term fellowships for Advanced studies in ICGEB Component laboratories to fund ongoing collaborative research between scientists from East Africa and research groups at ICGEB laboratories in Trieste (Italy), New Delhi (India) and Cape Town (South Africa), to facilitate access to the latest research techniques and to strengthen capacity building.

Application Deadlines:
14 August 2026, 23:59 CET – FELLOWSHIP EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
30 September 2026, 23:59 CET – FELLOWSHIP FULL APPLICATION

To Apply – NEW PROCEDURE

A new procedure has been introduced for submitting your application for an ICGEB fellowship. We therefore recommend that you carefully read the instructions provided on this webpage, as well as the related guidelines.

1 July – 14 August 2026
FELLOWSHIP EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The first stage is the submission of the Fellowship Expression of Interest through the ICGEB Service Gateway. In this phase, the candidate selects the ICGEB laboratory and the prospective supervisor and completes the online form with basic information.
Please refer to the guidelines: “Fellowship Expression of Interest – Online Submission Guidelines”.

It is very important to submit your Expression of Interest by the indicated deadline in order to proceed to the next stage. This will be followed by a review phase by the Principal Investigators.

16 – 30 September 2026
FELLOWSHIP FULL APPLICATION
If you are selected by your prospective supervisor, you will receive a notification confirming that you can proceed with the submission of your full application through the ICGEB Service Gateway by the deadline of 30 September 2026.

Financial support

Duration: 1-6 months
Monthly stipend: Trieste (Italy): Euro 2,300, New Delhi (India): USD 1,749, Cape Town (South Africa): ZAR 27,500.

Travel: the fellowship includes provision for travel expenses from the home country to the ICGEB lab at the beginning of the fellowship and a return travel provision upon completion of the fellowship.

Medical health insurance coverage is provided for the duration of the fellowship.

Visa/permit of stay application and renewal costs are reimbursed.

Support for participation in external meetings, courses and events is generally provided by the Group Leader / PI.

ICGEB makes no financial provision, nor can it provide administrative support for family members of participants in the programme.

Selection

The ICGEB Fellowships Selection Committee will evaluate complete applications received by the closing date. Both successful and unsuccessful candidates will be notified of the outcome by e-mail only. The main criteria for selection include the scientific excellence of the project, the qualities of the candidate’s CV and the potential benefit for the home country.

Please note that the selection might take several weeks, depending on the number of applications received. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback to all applicants at the end of the selection process.

Accommodation

ICGEB Trieste: ICGEB Trieste has no housing service or accommodation facilities. However, fellows will be provided with a list of possible contacts that offer housing options in Trieste.

ICGEB New Delhi: A Guest House is run on campus, on a twin-share basis, for a nominal rate.

ICGEB Cape Town: Accommodation support is provided to fellows. Arrangements are agreed upon before arrival.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Scientific relevance to life sciences and biotechnology (highest predictor)

This is the primary requirement.

Competitive proposals should address important questions in:

Molecular biology
Genetic engineering
Biotechnology
Human health
Infectious diseases
Non-communicable diseases
Agricultural biotechnology
Plant biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology
Bioenergy
Basic life sciences

Projects outside these areas are generally not competitive.

2. Original, hypothesis-driven research (very high predictor)

ICGEB explicitly states that successful proposals should:

Address a clear scientific question
Present a well-defined hypothesis
Be original and novel
Avoid purely descriptive studies

Projects should advance knowledge rather than simply generate observational data.

3. Relevance to the host country and regional priorities (very high and distinctive predictor)

One of the most distinctive features of the CRP is its emphasis on local and regional impact.

Competitive proposals address scientific problems of:

Particular importance to the host country
Regional public health priorities
Regional agriculture
Food security
Biotechnology development
Sustainable development

Applications demonstrating direct benefit to the applicant's country or region receive special consideration.

4. Strong international collaboration (very high predictor)

International collaboration is an essential feature of all ICGEB Research Grants.

Competitive proposals should include:

Collaborators from different countries
Clearly defined roles for each partner
Integrated research activities
Shared expertise
Joint implementation of the project

ICGEB emphasizes that collaboration should be substantive and fully integrated—not merely an exchange of reagents or occasional advice. Collaboration with ICGEB laboratories (Trieste, New Delhi, or Cape Town) is encouraged but not mandatory.

5. Scientific excellence and innovation (very high predictor)

Competitive proposals demonstrate:

High scientific quality
Innovative methodology
Novel concepts
Significant expected impact
Strong rationale

Incremental or poorly justified studies are less competitive.

6. Feasibility and realistic project design (very high predictor)

ICGEB explicitly states that projects should:

Have achievable objectives
Be feasible within the project period (up to 36 months for CRP grants)
Include realistic milestones
Present appropriate methodology
Demonstrate practical implementation

Unrealistic objectives or overly ambitious timelines are common reasons for rejection.

7. Training and capacity building (very high and distinctive predictor)

Training young scientists is a core objective of the ICGEB CRP.

Strong applications clearly describe:

Training plans
Student involvement
Capacity development
Technology transfer
Skills development
Long-term strengthening of local research capability

Applications that build sustainable scientific capacity are particularly well aligned with ICGEB's mission.

8. Strong investigator and institutional capability (high predictor)

Applicants should demonstrate:

Appropriate expertise
Publication record
Institutional support
Laboratory infrastructure
Experience managing research projects

Principal Investigators must hold positions at universities or research institutes in ICGEB Member States.

9. Clear milestones and measurable outcomes (high predictor)

Competitive proposals include:

Clearly defined aims
Measurable deliverables
Logical work packages
Well-structured timelines
Expected scientific outputs

Projects should explain how success will be evaluated throughout the grant period.

10. Appropriate budget and efficient use of funds (high predictor)

ICGEB Research Grants provide up to €25,000 per year for a maximum of 36 months.

Competitive budgets focus on eligible expenses such as:

Consumables
Small laboratory equipment
Scientific literature
Training
Travel directly related to the project

Funds cannot be used for PI salaries, institutional overheads, or major infrastructure. A realistic, well-justified budget strengthens the application.

Specialties

Genetics & Genomics

Technology Development

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be nationals of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya or Uganda in order to apply. Displaced researchers currently working in any of the four countries are considered nationals of these countries.

Degree requirements: applicants should hold a recent PhD in Life Sciences or have at least 3 years research experience.

Candidates must have a good working knowledge of the English language, supported by a proficiency certificate (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, or equivalent). This document is not required when English was the medium of instruction; however, the university must provide an official certificate attesting to this.

There is no age limit for applications.

Eligible Countries:

Djibouti

Ethiopia

Kenya

Uganda

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: International Centre for Gentic Engineering and Biotechnology

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: AREA Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity