ICMAB Open Positions

Science by Women launches its 12th edition of research fellowships for African women scientists

Deadline: Jun 30, 2026

The Women for Africa Foundation announces the opening of the 12th edition of the Science by Women program, a pioneering initiative promoting African women’s leadership in scientific research through fellowships at Spanish centres of excellence.

Since the Women for Africa Foundation launched Science by Women in 2014, the programme has supported more than 190 researchers from 38 African countries during their research stays at internationally renowned institutions in Spain. Over the course of eleven editions, these scientists have worked in a wide range of strategic fields, including health, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, sustainability, renewable energy, and astrophysics.

The programme was created with a clear mission: to ensure that African women’s scientific talent is not lost due to a lack of opportunities. Not only has it fulfilled this purpose, but it has gone beyond it by building an international community — the NOWisAfrica network — that fosters collaboration and knowledge transfer far beyond the six months of each research stay.

ICMAB is participating one more year in the 12th edition of the Science by Women programme, led by the Fundación Mujeres por África, by offering a six‑month research fellowship for African women scientists in the field of materials science.

The Science by Women programme aims to strengthen women’s leadership in science and foster international cooperation by providing research stays at leading institutions in Spain. Since its launch in 2014, it has supported more than 190 researchers from 38 African countries. The selected fellow will carry out her research project at ICMAB, joining one of tthe research teams, accessing advanced scientific infrastructure, and building long‑term collaboration networks.

The institutions participating in the twelfth edition

The 12th edition of Science by Women includes the participation of six internationally renowned Spanish research institutions:

Institute of Neurosciences (IN – UMH/CSIC) — Neurosciences, Alicante
Barcelona Institute of Materials Science (ICMAB – CSIC) — Materials science, Barcelona
Canary Islands Oceanographic Platform (PLOCAN) — Oceanography and Marine Technologies, Gran Canaria
Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC) — Astrophysics, La Laguna (Tenerife)
University Institute for Biomedical and Health Research (iUIBS – ULPGC) — Biomedicine and Health, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

These institutions join a network that, over the course of eleven editions, has involved 33 Spanish research centres , demonstrating that the Spanish scientific system’s interest in attracting African women’s talent is not temporary, but rather a sustained strategic commitment over time.

ICMAB participation

ICMAB has actively participated in the Science by Women program since 2021, hosting fellows in materials science, nanotechnology, energy, and biomedical research. Through its involvement, the institute contributes to fostering international collaboration and empowering African women scientists to develop high-impact projects that benefit their communities and the global scientific ecosystem.

Muthumuni Managa (fellow of the 9th edition of the Science by Women programme at ICMAB) in the LMI group lab at ICMAB | ICMAB-CSIC

Application deadline

The call for applications for this fellowship is open until 30 June 2026. Further information on eligibility and the application process is available on the official Science by Women website.