The Department of State’s OES Office of Science and Technology Cooperation is offering a grant to advance the careers of early-career women in science.

With FY 2012 funding, OES is seeking to fund one grant that delivers professional development activities for a mostly female participant group to advance women who are early career scientists. Activities may be implemented in conjunction with technical training, but must focus on strengthening ?soft? skills, such as oral presentations, leadership, and networking. Proposals should emphasize institution-level capacity building that enables local organizations to sustain the outlined training and focus on women?s participation in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.

Applications should focus on participants in at least one of the following countries: Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, Turkey or Vietnam. The minimum number of participants is 25. Preference will be given to applications that reach a national or regional audience through 1) digital platforms, 2) exchange programs via university partnerships, or 3) other means that extend beyond physically attending the proposed activity. Applications should demonstrate an understanding and expertise of scientific education and research capacity in the proposed country(ies) of engagement and lay out defined methodologies and activities to address existing gaps and create sustainable change. Results from the event should be captured in a report or peer-reviewed manuscript.

If an application is focused on a given discipline within science and technology, participants from that discipline must be matched with mentors in that discipline (i.e. chemistry majors with chemists). Preference will be given to applications that target technical fields where women are underrepresented. Similarly, a majority of the instructors and presenters should be female scientists who can speak about their personal and professional experiences. If the activity takes place on the margins of a larger meeting, participants from this meeting should match the proposed activity?s participants for focal area of science and technology.
Eligibility is limited to not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) subject to section 501-(c)-(3) of the U.S. tax code, foreign not-for-profit organizations, educational and research institutions. Applicants must have significant experience working on science, technology, and innovation capacity building programs outside the United States. Applicants are encouraged to partner or engage with other institutions to amplify the long-term impact of the proposed activities and to leverage available cost sharing. Applications connecting U.S. and local institutions overseas are strongly encouraged. An on-the-ground partner is required where the proposed activity occurs. Applications should demonstrate creativity, substance, and relevance to OES?s goal of developing a global scientific workforce that is positioned to advance research that creates solutions to shared challenges and promotes economic development.

One grant, not to exceed 99,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2012 Economic Support Funds (ESF), will be awarded for training programs that build career enhancement capacity for young scientists in at least one of the following countries: Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, Turkey, or Vietnam. The initial period of performance will be for 18 months. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. All award decisions are contingent upon the availability of funding. Additional funding may be available to continue or expand selected activities funded in this cycle. Eligible, competitive applications not funded in this program cycle may be considered for future support, if additional funds become available.