Introduction to the Fellowship Program
The Marc and Nora Van Montagu Fund offers a remarkable opportunity for post-doctoral and mid-career women researchers in Africa through its Open Doors Fellowship Program (ODFP). This initiative specifically targets those conducting impactful research in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, paving the way for women to excel in these crucial fields.
Support and Benefits for Researchers under Open Doors Fellowship Program
The fellowship provides substantial financial incentives, enhancing both the scientific visibility of the fellows and their research endeavors. Recipients of the fellowship enjoy a rewarding research stay in Belgium, where they can collaborate with international peers, access advanced resources, and further their scientific journey.
Eligibility and Relevant Fields of Research
To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must focus on specific research fields, including plant breeding, agrobiotechnology, molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, and chemical ecology. This targeted approach ensures that the most relevant and impactful research is prioritized.
Application Deadlines and Process
Interested candidates should take note of the application deadlines which is 31 January 2026. It is crucial to prepare and submit all required documents on time to avoid missing the chance to participate in this enriching program. For detailed information on how to apply, visit the official website of the Marc and Nora Van Montagu Fund.
By investing in talented women researchers through the ODFP, the Marc and Nora Van Montagu Fund contributes to a brighter future for agriculture and related sciences in Africa. This initiative not only empowers individuals but also fosters innovation that benefits communities and economies as a whole.
Why is the Open Doors Program unique in its kind
The Open Doors Fellowship Program targets post-doctoral and mid-career women researchers conducting agricultural research in African (inter)national research centres. Our program aims to contribute to the consolidation of mid-career researchers and avoid them leaking from the scientific pipeline. Therefore, through its unique conceptualization and implementation, the program is tailored to our participants’ training needs to provide a fulfilling, nurturing and empowering learning experience.
Two-Phase Curriculum that includes a research stage in Belgium
The program is structured in two phases. In Phase 1 (1-4 months), our fellows expand their research horizons and scientific network in Belgium through a fully-funded short research stage of three months. This stage occurs in a laboratory where fellows can use equipment not accessible in Africa and learn new techniques and skills relevant to fast-track their research.
Yet, our program pursues to actively connect the Belgian laboratories with the existing African research to generate long-term and mutual learning for enriching collaborations. To this end, the continuous North-South and South-South collaborations between the labs are fostered after this phase through diverse projects managed by IPBO.
Fellows chose what to learn and when
While in Belgium, the fellows receive courses on cross-cultural communication, public presentation skills, and how to submit competitive project proposals under the EU Horizon funding scheme, together with their Belgian counterparts.
In Phase 2, upon returning to Africa, our fellows can tailor their training curriculum over16 months by accessing six courses from the VIB training online portfolio on soft, hard skills and coaching courses during this period. Beyond these, the training package includes Negotiation Skills, Project Management and Self-Leadership modules to help our beneficiaries navigate their careers more confidently.
Fellows receive financial incentives to enhance their scientific visibility
The program supports our fellows’ scientific and public visibility because if research outputs are not visible, our fellows aren’t either. To this end, participants receive training on scientific communication and financial incentives to attend congresses and open-access publication fees.
For further details visit its official website