Journal of the International AIDS Society Blog

With the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the International AIDS Society (IAS) has established a research fellowship programme focusing on HIV and drug use, with the goal of contributing to advances in the scientific understanding of drug use and HIV, while fostering multinational research on HIV and drug use. 

This fellowship programme consists of two awards: US$75,000 to be awarded to a junior scientist for 18-months post-doctoral training and US$75,000 to be awarded to a well-established HIV researcher for eight-months long professional development training, both at leading institutes excelling in research in the HIV-related drug use field.

The two initial fellowships will be awarded at the IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2009), which will take place in Cape Town, South Africa on 19-22 July 2009. 

While applications from across the globe are welcomed, scientists from Eastern Europe and Central Asia are strongly encouraged to submit their applications.
 
Eligible Candidates 

• Junior investigators with a doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D., M.D.) in the field of biological sciences, behavioural and social sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medicine, physics, or public health.
• Well-established HIV scientists not currently active in the field of HIV-related drug use research, with a minimum of seven years’ experience beyond post-doctoral level, and with a documented scientific record that includes peer-reviewed publications. 

 Application Process

Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective fellow through the online application that will be available on the IAS website in early March, 2009. Applicants must present documentation that verifies their qualifications. The applicant will be asked to articulate their fellowship goals, provide a brief project proposal abstract, and write a five-page research plan for conducting HIV research related to drug use.

Applicants must have an appropriate mentor who holds an established post for the duration of the fellowship and has a track record in research and training in HIV and drug use. Applicants must confirm that the host institute and the mentor can guarantee that space and facilities will be made available for the prospective fellow should he/she be successful in obtaining the fellowship.

After the applicant submits his/her application, the mentor must then complete their portion of the application which will articulate, in a two-page letter, the support he/she will provide the applicant, and assess the impact the fellowship will have on the applicant’s future.

All applications will be peer-reviewed through a robust assessment process, which will focus on the maximum impact each fellowship would bring to the treatment and/or prevention of HIV/AIDS and drug use, as well as to collective capacity building in the recipient’s home country.