PAGES African Mobility Fellowship 2025: Funding for Early-Career Researchers in Paleoscience Across Africa

Application Deadline: 15 August 2025

The Past Global Changes (PAGES) initiative invites applications for the 2025 African Mobility Fellowship Program, a unique opportunity designed to support early-career researchers from Africa who are working in the field of past global changes, also known as paleoscience. This fellowship promotes academic exchange and cross-border collaboration within Africa by funding short research stays at institutions in other African countries.

Purpose and Vision

This fellowship program aims to strengthen scientific cooperation and knowledge transfer across the African continent by facilitating mobility for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. The objective is to enhance the skills and international exposure of young scientists while fostering the development of a robust pan-African paleoscience research network.

By enabling scholars to conduct research in a host institution outside their home country, the program supports the generation of new collaborative projects, encourages the sharing of technical expertise, and contributes to long-term scientific development across Africa.

Scope of Support

The African Mobility Fellowship provides limited financial support to cover:

• International travel (economy class air tickets)

• Visa costs

• Accommodation and living expenses during the research stay

• Laboratory consumables (up to 10% of the total budget)

⚠️ Note: Insurance and personal expenses are not covered. PAGES holds no responsibility for changes or cancellations to travel arrangements.

Fellowship Duration and Timeline

• Fellowship stays must be between 2 and 4 weeks in duration.

• The awarded fellowship must be utilized within 12 months of being granted.

• Suggested timeline:

  • 15 August 2025: Application deadline

  • September – October 2025: Review and selection by PAGES Scientific Committee

  • October 2025: Applicants are notified of decisions

  • November – December 2025: Financial/logistical arrangements finalized

  • January – December 2026: Fellowship activities to take place

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Research Focus: Currently conducting research related to past global changes, within the scope of PAGES.

2. Career Stage:

   • PhD candidates in the final phase of their doctoral research, or

   • Postdoctoral researchers within five years of completing their PhD (includes those not yet holding a postdoc position).

3. Institutional Affiliation:

   • Must be enrolled or employed at an academic institution based in Africa.

4. Citizenship:

   • Must be a citizen of an African country.

5. Mobility:

   • Willing and able to conduct research in another African country.

6. Host Institution:

   • Must secure a formal invitation/acceptance letter from the proposed host institution or researcher.

7. Fellowship Period:

   • Proposed visit must last at least 2 weeks but no more than 4 weeks.

   • Fellowship must take place within 12 months of the award date.

Application Requirements

To apply, candidates must submit a complete application package consisting of

1. Completed Application Form (available via PAGES website)

   • Description of the proposed research and travel plan (max. 1000 words), including how it aligns with PAGES’ scientific scope.

   • Statement on the expected impact of the fellowship on the applicant’s professional development and benefit to the home institution or country (max. 200 words).

   • Timeline and expected outcomes of the project.

   • A detailed budget breakdown (in USD).

2. Two Letters of Recommendation:

   • One from the applicant’s current supervisor at the home institution.

   • One from the proposed host researcher/institution confirming the willingness to host the applicant.

3. Curriculum Vitae (CV):

   • Maximum of 2 pages outlining academic background, publications, relevant research experience, and achievements.

How to Apply

• Applications should be submitted by email to: pages@pages.unibe.ch

• Email subject line: “Application PAGES African Mobility Fellowship”

• Preferred language for submission: English (French is also accepted)

• Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

📥 Download the Application Form

Post-Fellowship Requirements

All fellows must submit a final report to PAGES upon completion of their exchange. The report must include:

• A detailed financial report

• A scientific summary of the research conducted

• A 650-word article (including one figure) suitable for publication in the Past Global Changes Magazine

Host Institutions in Africa

The following African institutions have previously hosted fellows or expressed willingness to host new applicants:

• Botswana: Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)

• Cameroon: University of Dschang, Department of Plant Biology

• Egypt: Ain Shams University, Cairo

• Ivory Coast: Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, UFR STRM

• Mauritania: IMROP, Nouadhibou

• Morocco: Caddi Ayyad University, Marrakech

• South Africa:

  • University of Cape Town – Stable Light Isotope Laboratory

  • University of the Witwatersrand

  • Stellenbosch University – Central Analytical Facility

  • University of Mpumalanga

  • University of Johannesburg

  • University of the Free State

Note: Institutions listed reserve the right to accept or reject fellows. PAGES does not directly facilitate placement.

Contact for More Information

For queries or assistance with the application process, please contact

📧 Email: pages@pages.unibe.ch
🌐 Website: pastglobalchanges.org

This fellowship is a unique opportunity to gain valuable research experience, develop international collaborations, and strengthen the African paleoscience community. Apply now and help shape the scientific future of the continent.