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The OWSD - Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists in the Developing World

organization for women in science for the developing world (owsd)

PURPOSE

The OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists reward and encourage women working and living in developing countries who are in the early stages of their scientific careers, having often overcome great challenges to achieve research excellence. Awardees must have made a demonstrable impact on the research environment, both at a regional and international level, and must have received their PhD in STEM in the last ten years.

BACKGROUND

The awards programme grew out of a one-time award given in 2011 by OWSD, the Elsevier Foundation and TWAS, the World Academy of Sciences, which was given to 11 early career women from developing countries working in STEM subjects. In 2013, the awards programme was launched, with the number of awards reduced to 5 per year on a three-year rotation of award categories. The eligible scientific disciplines for each year were organized into general fields: Biological sciences; Engineering, innovation & technology; and Physical sciences.

After ten years of celebrating women in science, in 2021 we decided to re-focus the awards to respond to the call for action set forth by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The number of awards continue to be 5 per year (one for each of the 4 OWSD regions plus an additional award for an outstanding candidate from any of these regions.) for a period of five years (2022 – 2026).

The new awards cycle follows a five-year rotation, and applications are open for scientists working to advance knowledge in the following research areas:

2022 Awards: Climate action and the environment (SDG13, SDG14 or SDG15) - applications in 2021 (meet the 2022 winners here)
2023 Awards: Food security, agricultural productivity and sustainable food production (SDG2) - applications in 2022
2024 Awards: Water, sanitation and hygiene (SDG6) - applications in 2023
2025 Awards: Inclusive health (SDG3) - applications in 2024
2026 Awards: Sustainable, affordable and reliable energy (SDG7) - applications in 2025

SELECTION

The selection committee looks for excellent science of relevance to and with a demonstrable impact in the developing world. Innovative techniques or methodologies (especially with regard to sustainable development) will be favourably considered. Applications that demonstrate an awareness of the importance of sex and/or gender considerations in research methodology and content may be prioritised. Additionally, researchers are encouraged to demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration within the natural sciences, but also with the social sciences and humanities.

Assessment is based on the applicant’s achievements in her scientific field, with additional attention paid to evidence of leadership skills, initiative and innovation, as well as to the candidate’s involvement in capacity building, outreach and civic contribution.

PRIZE

Each winner will receive a cash prize of USD 5,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend a relevant international conference.

The OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards have an important impact on local research cultures. Previous winners say the awards have had a powerful effect, enhancing the visibility of their past work and creating new opportunities for the future. The awardees are also powerful role models for young women in science.

"Because of this Award and the international recognition, I am more confident, accountable and motivated to continue my research activities in order to achieve my goals. It will inspire many younger ladies in this region to achieve more in the advancement of sciences." - Dr. Tista Prasai Joshi (Nepal), 2019 awardee.

Find a list of all previous awardees here.

The call for applications for the OWSD-EF Awards usually launches between June-August and closes from September-October.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. 👩‍🎓 Program & Eligibility Fit

PhD Fellowship: Women from science‑and‑technology‑lagging countries (STLCs) pursuing a PhD at another developing-country institution

Early Career Fellowship (ECWS): Women with a PhD, working in a developing-country institution, aiming to build local research capacity (up to US $50 k) .

OWSD‑Elsevier Awards: Target early‑career female researchers (<10 years post‑PhD), actively working in one of 81 eligible developing countries .

✅ Tip: Confirm your country is eligible and your career stage matches the specific call.

2. 📚 Research & Career Impact

PhD Fellows: Your project should build capacity in your home country, contributing to local STEM development .

Early Career Fellows: Emphasize potential to lead research teams, secure international links, and establish a “centre of excellence” .

Elsevier Awardees: Demonstrated leadership, visible impact in your research area, and alignment with that year’s SDG theme .

📌 Tip: Tailor your goals to capacity building, leadership, and community-level outcomes.

3. 📄 Strong Proposal & Supporting Documents

Language & Format: Submit everything in English; include translations of local documents .

Detailed Attachments: Institutional support letters, proof of employment or PhD, and scoped budget are required .

Structured Content: Proposals must clearly outline research aims, methods, capacity-building strategy, and how it aligns to OWSD mandates.

✔️ Tip: Use clear, concise language; include an institutional letter confirming support and salary structure.

4. 🌍 Alignment with SDGs & Thematic Call

Elsevier Awards rotate annually between SDGs (e.g., 2025: Inclusive Health – SDG3) 

ECWS and PhD fellowships should address local challenges relevant to global development and gender-sensitive science.

🎯 Tip: Connect your research to the relevant SDG theme or national development goals.

5. 🎖 Proven Excellence & Leadership

Early Career: Show a strong publication record, previous awards, or leadership roles (e.g., chapter leadership) .

Elsevier Awards favour nominees who have made an impact in their region and on an international level .

🧩 Tip: Highlight mentoring, community engagement, and concrete research outcomes.

6. 👩‍🔬 Institutional & Network Support

OWSD values contributions to networking – national chapters, mentoring, science diplomacy .

Secure robust institutional backing – your university must commit to your continued employment and research development .

🔑 Tip: Include signed letters of support and describe your role in OWSD or national network.

7. 🕒 Complete, Timely Submission

Pay close attention to application deadlines, portals, and single submission rules.

Incomplete or incorrectly formatted applications are normally disqualified .

✅ Tip: Start early, check formatting, and confirm all supporting documents (e.g., passports, degree certificates, references) are uploaded.

📋 Summary Table

Success Predictor	What You Need to Do
Program fit	Apply to the correct award (PhD, ECWS, Elsevier Awards) based on stage and location
Development impact	Demonstrate contribution to home country’s STEM capacity or local/global goals
Proposal strength & docs	Write clearly in English; attach employment proof, supervisor letters, budgets
SDG alignment	Tie research goals to theme (e.g., Inclusive Health for 2025 awards)
Track record & leadership	Highlight publications, outreach, mentoring, and regional influence
Networking & institutional support	Show active OWSD engagement, chapter activities, and institutional commitment
Submission quality	Ensure complete, formatted, on-time application with all required documents

🛠️ Pro Tips to Elevate Your Application

Verify eligibility: Confirm your country and career stage qualify.

Engage your institution early for commitments and documentation.

Align research with capacity-building – show how it lifts your local scientific community.

Reflect SDG themes in your objectives and expected outcomes.

Document leadership and visibility – publications, events, mentoring roles.

Follow language guidelines – submit everything in English, and include translations.

Network actively: leverage OWSD chapters and national meetings.

Cross-check completeness before deadlines; missing a doc risks disqualification.

Specialties

Data Science

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible countries

Applicants must have lived and worked for at least 5 of the last 15 years in one of the following science- and technology-lagging countries (STLCs):

Africa

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Kingdom of), Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Arab region

Djibouti, Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip), Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen

Asia & the Pacific

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Lao People’s Dem Rep., Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Latin America & the Caribbean

Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay

Eligible scientific fields

The awards seek applications from women researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)- and how they intersect with the aforementioned SDGs.

Applications from candidates in the Social sciences, Humanities, Arts, or other are NOT eligible.

The eligible STEM fields are as follows:

Agricultural Sciences
Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences
Biological Systems and Organisms
Chemical Sciences
Computing and Information Technology
Engineering Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences (including Neurosciences)
Physics
Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Any combination of these fields (i.e. interdisciplinarity) is acceptable.

*Please note that an applicant, at the time of application, must NOT have an active research grant or fellowship with The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) or have already submitted an application for a TWAS programme within the same given year. Only one application per year is possible across all TWAS and OWSD programmes, with the exception that applicants to the Early Career fellowship may also apply for the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation awards in the same year. If you are awarded an Early Career fellowship, you will no longer be eligible for the Award. Applicants will not be eligible to visit another institution in that year under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes. An exception is made only for the head of an institution who invites an external scholar to share his/her expertise under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes; she may still apply for another programme.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: organization for women in science for the developing world (owsd)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: ICTP Campus • 34151 Trieste • Italy

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