A comprehensive and dynamic leadership fellowship to support careers of women researchers from academic and research institutions to help seal the leaky pipeline of women in science
The Open Doors Fellowship Program (ODFP) for women researchers in Africa is now receiving applications from early to mid-career women researchers working at research and academic institutions in Africa interested in receiving the necessary scientific and leadership skills to help them advance their research careers.
While almost the same number of men and women study scientific subjects at bachelor’s and master’s levels, fewer women advance to PhD and leadership levels as many drop out due to family responsibilities among others, thus thwarting efforts to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is referred to as the “leaky pipeline” of women in science.
“ODFP seeks to increase the proportion of African women in senior and leadership positions in scientific academic and research institutions to help build more gender-inclusive and diverse research and academic institutions for current and future generations,” says Laura Cortada-Gonzalez, Senior Scientific Officer at VIB-International Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO).
The program targets women scientists working at national and international research centers and universities in agriculture-related fields in agro-biotechnology, plant breeding, molecular biology & genetics, microbiology, chemical ecology, plant & soil health. The fellowship is strictly for post-doctoral researchers who must have completed their studies in the last three years.