Next Eistein Forum (NEF) Fellowship 2017/2018 for Africa’s best Young Scientists and Technologists

Application Deadline Extended: February 14th 2017

The Next Einstein Forum (NEF)– Africa’s global forum for science in Africa – today launches its second call for applications for its NEF Fellows Programme. The new class will join 15 of Africa’s top young scientists, the NEF’s first Fellows Class, and will present their research and innovations at the NEF Global Gathering 2018, to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, in March 2018.

The NEF, an African Institute for Mathematical Science (AIMS) initiative in partnership with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, is a global platform that connects science, society and policy in Africa and the rest of the world – with the goal to leverage science for human development globally. In March of this year, the NEF, in partnership with the Government of Senegal, hosted the NEF Global Gathering 2016, the first global forum for science on African soil with more than 1000 participants from research, academia, government, the private sector and civil society fields to discuss how science and technology can solve global challenges.

The NEF has four main programmatic pillars: NEF Global Gatherings, NEF Communities
of Scientists, NEF Policy Work, and the NEF Platform. Within the NEF Communities of Scientists, the NEF Fellows Programme is the main anchor.

The NEF Fellows programme consists of Africa’s most brilliant young scientists that
the NEF showcases on the global stage. The NEF Fellows programme provides these brilliant young minds with the opportunity to present their research and draw upon the
vast networks of NEF members and participants for support, connections and advice to
advance their work.

Requirements

• Applications to the NEF Fellows programme are open to Africans from around the world
  -including those who currently reside in the Diaspora – in all fields of science, including the social sciences and technology.
• Each class of NEF Fellows is a unique and diverse group that is representative of
  a wide range of research interests, experiences and perspectives but united in their
  extraordinary achievements and dedication to a global understanding of science.

NEF Fellowship benefits

• Attend the prestigious, invitation- only  NEF Global Gathering 2018 in Kigali,
Rwanda, in  March 2018 alongside: Nobel Prize winners; experienced and emerging scientists; Heads of State ; and representatives from  leading  global corporations
and civil society organisations .
• Research and innovations will be showcased as an example of the potential of  young, exceptional scientific talent from Africa
• Collaborate with, receive mentoring from and partner with leading scientists, policy-makers, industry representatives and civil-society leaders, as well as other  exceptional young African scientists
• Contribute to the establishment of a positive global view of science in Africa
• Application and programme participation are completely  free

Eligibility
• Be 42 years of age or less as of 31.12.2017 (born after 1 January 1975),
• hold a passport from an African country,
• hold a  PhD in cience, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or in a field of the
social sciences and humanities
• have a demonstrated track record of research/findings that have global impact,
• Are passionate about raising Africa’s profile in the life of natural sciences, engineering,
the social sciences or the humanities, and
• Are able to clearly present their work to an audience in English or French.

Criteria for Selection
. (30%): Outstanding academic qualifications as measured by the standards of  their
particular academic discipline. Examples of notable achievements include:
. Publication  record
. Prizes and other awards, such as distinguished fellowships or  memberships in prestigious academic circles (for example, in high-ranking committees, bodies, academies, etc.)
. Independently raised funding from outside sources in a competitive  process
. Number of patents
. The type and number of invited talks at international conferences
. (30%): Academic maturity and clear evidence of scientific potential and a  distinct
research profile and direction. Examples of this include being  a leader  of an  independent research group
. (20%):Relevance and impact
–demonstrated commitment to advancing  science and/or improving and impacting society, notably in Africa
. (10%):
Communication  skills as demonstrated in the video submission
. (10%):  Other distinctive  characteristics

Application Instructions

• All applications are to be submitted by email to  [email protected]
  in English or French. Please download the form at nef.org/fellows.
• The application form will request the following information from you:. Contact information
  . CV, uploaded as PDF
  . Photograph (face and shoulders only & must be high-resolution)
  . A 2
  – 3 minute recorded video responding to the three points below. The video
  does not have to be professionally done (it can be taken with a camera or phone,
  for example) but the picture and sound should be clear.
  Please note that a clear and well
  – presented video will positively impact your application. Your video  must be uploaded to YouTube and the  (public)  link placed on the application.
  You must respond to the following:
  . Tell us about yourself
  . Tell us about your previous research  clearly demonstrating impact
  – both locally and globally
  . Why you should you be a NEF Fellow (“I believe I am a NEF Fellow …”)
  . Very brief answers to the following questions (250 words max for each)
  on the  application form:
  . If selected as a NEF Fellow, how would you use this opportunity?
  . What three (3) research questions do you want to know the answers to?
  Alternatively, please give  brief details of a major breakthrough or innovation
  in your field that you have led or are  in the process of finalizing.

. Which  three (3) leaders in your field, or thought leaders in general would you
want to bring on stage with you at the NEF Global Gathering 2018 and why?
. Name and contact information of two referees who can speak to your
professional experience, character and potential.

N.B: Please provide CV and application in PDF format named in the following way: Last
name, first name
–country.

Timeline
• Applications open – 15 November 2016
• Applications close – 27 January 2017
• Pre-selection  – February 2017
• Final Selection  by  SPC – March 2017
• Publication of results – 15 June 2017

For More Information:

On the NEF Fellows Programme: [email protected]
For media inquiries: [email protected]

Visit the Official Webpage of the Next Eistein Forum (NEF) Fellowship 2017/2018