ast Global Changes (PAGES) African Mobility Fellowship for Early-Career Scientists(2025)

The program aims to give limited support for travel and subsistence to early-career researchers from African countries (PhD students and postdocs at African institutions), who are interested in gaining experience in another African country. The final goal is to contribute to the development of collaborative research and the promotion of paleoscience network within Africa.

The program is intended to support costs associated with international travel and living expenses while abroad, i.e. flight (economy class), visa, costs of laboratory consumables (up to max. 10% of the total budget), and accommodation (subsistence and housing) costs for the period of the exchange, for the fellow only. Insurance will not be covered by the grant. PAGES cannot be deemed responsible if the candidate cannot travel for any reason (such as flight cancellation).

Logistics

The fellowships will be awarded for a short duration, between two and four weeks. The fellowship must be used within 12 months (awardees will have up to 12 months to take up their fellowship once awarded).

Timeline

September to mid-/end of October: Review of applications by the Scientific Committee

Mid-/end of October: Final decision communicated to applicants

November–December: Financial and logistical process for allocating funds to selected applicants

Eligibility Criteria for PAGES African Mobility Fellowship 2025

We invite applications from outstanding early-career scientists from African countries.

The applicants must fulfill the following conditions:

- Be an early-career researcher either in the final stage of completing their PhD thesis/dissertation, or a postdoctoral researcher within five years of completing their PhD (including PhD holders who have not held a postdoc position).

- Be either a student or hold a paid position in their home country at the time of the application and during the fellowship period.

- Be a citizen of any African country and currently working or doing their PhD at an African institution.

- Already be working on a research topic within the scientific scope of PAGES.

- Be willing to conduct research in another African institution/country.

- Must secure the agreement of the host researcher/institution and provide a confirmation letter from the host researcher/institution as a pre-condition for the award of the fellowship.

- Demonstrate that fellowship will not last for less than two weeks or for more than four weeks within 12 months from the date of award.

Application process

Awardees are selected based on the merit and quality of their application, which must include:

a) Completed application form, including:

- Description of proposed research and travel (max. 1000 words). Indicate how the aims and objectives of the fellowship relate to PAGES scientific scope.

- Description of the impact of the fellowship on your professional capacity development and its significance to your home institution/country (max. 200 words).

- Project timeline and outcomes (up to one month duration).

- Detailed budget in USD.

b) Two letters of recommendation (one from the current academic supervisor at the home institution and one from the supervisor at the host institution).

c) CV outlining the major academic and professional achievements (max 2 pages).

After completing the fellowship, fellows must email a final report to PAGES (including a financial report, a scientific report and a short article to be published in the Past Global Changes Magazine in English. Detailed instructions will be shared with the awarded fellows.

Benefits of PAGES African Mobility Fellowship 2025

1. Financial support for international travel and living expenses
2. Exposure to new research environments and collaboration
3. Contribution to the development of paleoscience networks in Africa

How to Apply

1. The preferred language for applications is English; however, applications in French will be accepted.
2. Grantees will receive their grant money through bank transfer to a bank account provided by them.
3. After completing the fellowship, fellows must email a final report in English to PAGES. It should include a financial report, a scientific report and a short article (650 words and one figure) to be published in Past Global Changes Magazine.
4. Please submit your proposal via the application form.
5. Then send your completed application form to pages@pages.unibe.ch with the subject "Application PAGES African Mobility Fellowship".

Further information: Please email pages@pages.unibe.ch if you have any questions.

Application Link(s)

• Apply for PAGES African Mobility Fellowship 2025