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FAPESP and UNESCO-TWAS to support research collaborations Versão em português
New call will award up to 20 postdoctoral fellowships to researchers to develop projects at higher education and research institutions in the state of São Paulo.
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) announces the launch of a new Call for Proposals in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), through its programme unit, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).
The initiative will offer up to 20 FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowships to researchers from developing countries to conduct research at higher education and research institutions in the state of São Paulo. The fellowships will last 12 months.
The Call is open to all areas of natural, applied and social sciences. Supported projects must be linked to ongoing FAPESP Research Grants and contribute to the research activities supported by the Foundation. Fellowship supervision must be carried out by Responsible Investigators or Principal Investigators of eligible projects.
Eligible supervisors include Responsible Investigators of ongoing FAPESP Research Grants in the following modalities: Regular (except mobility projects), Thematic Project, Young Investigator, Research, Innovation and Diffusion Centers (CEPIDs), Engineering Research Centers/Applied Research Centers (CPEs/CPAs), Science for Development Center (CCD), Public Education Programme, and Public Policy Research Programme (PPP). Principal Investigators of ongoing Thematic Projects, CEPIDs, CCDs, CPEs and CPAs are also eligible to submit proposals.
Candidates for the fellowships must be native and permanent residents of one of the countries classified by TWAS as developing countries, with the exception of Brazil. Candidates who are already in Brazil or who hold a temporary or permanent residence visa in Brazil or in any developed country are not eligible.
Candidates must also hold a doctorate in an area of natural, applied or social sciences and apply for the fellowship within seven years of obtaining their doctorate. They must have official acceptance from a supervisor at a Host Institution in the state of São Paulo and demonstrate oral and written proficiency in English sufficient to carry out the activities outlined in the research project.
Researchers and postdoctoral fellows awarded under the previous 2023 Call are not eligible for this new opportunity. Each candidate may submit a proposal to only one programme in the TWAS portfolio per calendar year.
Expression of Interest
The first stage is intended for researchers interested in acting as supervisors. They must complete an Expression of Interest Form, providing their personal information, the number and duration of the FAPESP Research Grant to which the fellowship will be linked, and an abstract in English of the research project to be developed by the fellowship recipient, specifying its contribution to the ongoing Research Grant.
At this stage, it is not necessary to provide the name of the fellowship candidate or a budget. Supervisors deemed eligible will be included in a list with their contact details and project abstracts, which will be disseminated by FAPESP and UNESCO-TWAS to facilitate contact with potential candidates in developing countries.
The deadline for submitting the Expression of Interest Form is November 1, 2026. The list of potential supervisors will be published on December 1, 2026.
After a supervisor and candidate have established a match, the full proposal must be submitted by the supervisor to FAPESP through SAGe, under the Postdoctoral Fellowship modality. The submission deadline is April 1, 2027. Results will be announced from August 2027 onward, and approved projects may also start from that date.
Support for fellowship recipients
FAPESP will be responsible for monthly stipends, the Moving Cost Allowance and, in accordance with the Call, the fellow's travel expenses. UNESCO-TWAS will cover visa-related expenses, in accordance with its regulations and subject to budget availability.
The fellowship requires full-time dedication to the project and exclusive activity in the state of São Paulo. At the end of the 12-month period, the fellowship recipient must return to their country of origin, in line with the programme's mission of strengthening scientific capacity in developing countries.
A new feature of this edition is the requirement for greater institutional support for foreign researchers during their arrival and settling-in period. Host Institutions must designate a focal point to assist fellowship recipients with initial administrative procedures, including matters related to visas, documentation and opening a bank account.
The selection will be conducted by FAPESP through a competitive process, taking into consideration the merit and relevance of the proposal, the candidate's profile, the supervisor and the relationship between the project and the ongoing FAPESP Research Grant. Candidates shortlisted by FAPESP will be submitted for approval by UNESCO-TWAS, and the final decision will be made jointly by the institutions through a Steering Committee. Gender balance will be considered in the selection process, in line with UNESCO's global priority.
The Call for Proposals, including submission instructions, is available at: fapesp.br/18367.
Photo: G.Ortonali / TWAS