Apply for the TWAS Research Professors in LDCs 2026/2027 - fully funded 1-year appointments with travel grants and honorarium by TWAS-UNESCO.
Applications are officially open for the prestigious TWAS Research Professors in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Programme 2026/2027. Administered by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) - a programme unit of UNESCO headquartered in Trieste, Italy - this flagship global initiative fosters high-level international scientific collaboration by funding distinguished TWAS Fellows, Young Affiliates, and Alumni to undertake visiting research professorships at host universities and scientific institutions located in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
The program aims to eliminate scientific isolation, stimulate high-level experimental research, and build institutional capacity across LDCs in the natural sciences. Appointed TWAS Research Professors receive a one-year professorship appointment, encompassing an on-site residency visit of two to four weeks at the host institution. TWAS provides round-trip economy international airfare, essential travel allowances, and a professional honorarium, while the host institution provides local lodging, meals, and institutional research facilities.
The application deadline for the 2026/2027 cycle is November 23, 2026. Applications must be initiated and submitted jointly by research groups or scientific departments based in eligible Least Developed Countries through the official TWAS KoboToolbox portal.
Quick Facts - TWAS Research Professors in LDCs 2026/2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Convening Organization | The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) - UNESCO Programme Unit |
| Headquarters & Landmark | Trieste, Italy 🇮🇹 (Historic Miramare Castle & UNESCO ICTP Science Campus) |
| Target Host Locations | Universities, R&D Centres & Institutes in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) |
| Program Format | 1-Year Appointment with an intensive 2 to 4-Week Visiting Professorship Residency |
| Funding Coverage | Fully Funded (TWAS international airfare + travel expenses + honorarium; Host covers accommodation & meals) |
| Eligible Visiting Scholars | Elected TWAS Fellows, TWAS Young Affiliates, and TWAS Alumni holding a PhD |
| Eligible Fields | Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Engineering) |
| Application Initiator | Department heads, research group leaders, or scientific institutions in LDCs |
| Age Limit | None (No age limit) |
| Application Fee | $0 (Completely Free to Apply) |
| Application Deadline | November 23, 2026 (23:59 UTC) |
| Official Application Gateway | ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/QWDwMZPc |
About The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) & UNESCO
Founded in 1983 in Trieste, Italy, under the visionary leadership of Pakistani Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) represents the pinnacle of scientific excellence in the developing world. As an autonomous programme unit within UNESCO, TWAS is dedicated to advancing science, technology, and engineering for sustainable development in the Global South.
The TWAS Research Professors in LDCs Programme was established to address the critical research capacity disparities faced by Least Developed Countries. By pairing LDC universities and laboratories with world-renowned scientists who are already inducted into the TWAS network, the program catalyzes joint research projects, introduces cutting-edge research methodologies, mentors doctoral researchers, and builds enduring international scientific corridors.
Program Structure & Key Responsibilities
During the one-year appointment, the appointed TWAS Research Professor undertakes a concentrated 2 to 4-week in-person residency at the LDC host institution. Core activities include:
- Collaborative Research Execution: Working directly in laboratory and field settings with host researchers to advance existing investigations or initiate novel research trajectories.
- Postgraduate Mentorship: Providing specialized technical guidance, methodology design, and thesis co-supervision to Master’s and PhD students at the host university.
- Topical Lecture Series & Seminars: Delivering high-level academic lectures, masterclasses, and specialized workshops on frontiers in the natural sciences.
- Institutional Capacity Building: Advising departmental leadership on laboratory modernizations, grant proposals, curriculum development, and peer-reviewed international publication strategies.
- Joint Scientific Reporting: Upon completion of the visit, both the TWAS Research Professor and the host institution submit a comprehensive joint report detailing tangible research outputs and future collaborative plans.
Financial Provisions & Comprehensive Benefits
- International Travel (TWAS): 100% round-trip economy class international airfare between the professor's home institution and the host country.
- Incidental Travel Allowances (TWAS): Reimbursable coverage for transit expenses, airport transfers, and visa processing costs.
- Professional Honorarium (TWAS): A generous monetary honorarium paid directly by TWAS to the visiting professor in recognition of their expert contributions.
- Local Hospitality (Host Institution): Comfortable local accommodation, daily board/meals, and local ground transportation provided by the LDC host centre for the duration of the 2 - 4 week residency.
- Research Infrastructure: Dedicated laboratory access, office facilities, internet, and research equipment supplied by the host institution.
- Prestige & Recognition: Formal designation as a TWAS Research Professor, accompanied by official certificates and integration into UNESCO-TWAS international science diplomacy forums.
Eligible Scientific Fields
The programme accepts collaborative proposals across all fundamental and applied branches of the Natural Sciences, including:
- Physical Sciences: Theoretical and experimental physics, condensed matter, quantum science, optics, and renewable energy technologies.
- Chemical Sciences: Organic and inorganic chemistry, green chemistry, materials synthesis, pharmacology, and catalysis.
- Biological & Life Sciences: Molecular biology, biotechnology, genomics, infectious disease epidemiology, and microbiology.
- Mathematical Sciences: Pure and applied mathematics, statistics, mathematical modeling, and computational algorithms.
- Earth, Ocean & Environmental Sciences: Climate dynamics, oceanography, hydrology, environmental geology, and meteorology.
- Engineering & Technology: Applied engineering sciences relevant to sustainable industrial development in LDCs.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the 2026/2027 TWAS Research Professors in LDCs programme, applications must satisfy the following conditions:
- Visiting Scholar Status: The proposed visiting scientist must be an officially recognized TWAS Fellow (Member), TWAS Young Affiliate, or TWAS Alumnus.
- Academic Credentials: The visiting scientist must hold an earned doctorate (PhD) in the natural sciences or engineering, with a sustained record of international peer-reviewed publications.
- Host Institution Location: The host institution must be a legally established university, research institute, or scientific laboratory located in an officially designated Least Developed Country (LDC).
- Submission Origin: The application must be submitted by the host research group or scientific department in the LDC, demonstrating clear institutional commitment.
- One Programme Policy: In accordance with TWAS regulations, candidates may participate in only one TWAS/OWSD visiting professorship programme per calendar year (exceptions apply for institutional heads inviting external scholars).
- Age Limit: There is no age restriction for either the visiting professor or the host collaborators.
Eligible Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
Institutions situated in the 45 UN-recognized Least Developed Countries are eligible to submit requests, including:
- Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia.
- Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Yemen.
- Pacific & Americas: Haiti, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu.
Required Application Documents
Host institutions must compile and upload the following materials via the online application form:
- Completed Online Application Form: Submitted through the official TWAS KoboToolbox portal.
- Detailed Collaborative Work Plan: Comprehensive outline of the proposed research, lecture schedule, student mentoring sessions, and expected joint publications.
- Visiting Professor's Curriculum Vitae: Full academic CV including educational milestones, current affiliation, list of publications, and TWAS membership status.
- Official Invitation Letter from Host Institution: Formal letter signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Dean, or Director of the LDC host institution confirming the provision of local accommodation, meals, and research facilities.
- Institutional Profile: Brief description of the host department's existing laboratory equipment, researchers, and graduate student enrollment.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Establish Contact: An LDC research group or university department connects with an eligible TWAS Fellow, Young Affiliate, or Alumnus whose research expertise matches institutional needs.
- Draft Joint Work Plan: Together, formulate a targeted 2 to 4-week visiting program detailing specific scientific objectives, laboratory experiments, and seminars.
- Secure Institutional Backing: Obtain the official letter of invitation and accommodation guarantee signed by the leadership of the LDC host institution.
- Submit Online: The host institution accesses the official application link at ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/QWDwMZPc and submits all required documentation before November 23, 2026.
- Selection & Travel Arrangements: Successful applicants will be notified by TWAS, following which travel itineraries, visa documentation, and honorarium schedules will be arranged.
Official Links & Application Gateway
Apply Now - TWAS Research Professors in LDCs 2026/2027 (KoboToolbox Portal)
Official Programme Guidelines (The World Academy of Sciences - TWAS.org)
Related Opportunities on Opportunity Station
- United Nations University (UNU) Junior Fellows Internship 2027
- APDD Individual Research Fellowships 2027 (up to $12,000 USD Grants)
- CMU-Africa Certificate in Artificial Intelligence for Africa 2027 (Free Online Program)
- Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme 2027-2028
- Allianz x Social Shifters MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge 2026 ($90,000 in Funding)
- United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Africa 2027
- Global Leadership Dialogue 2027
- Browse all research fellowships & international academic grants
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - TWAS Research Professors in LDCs
What is the deadline for applications?
The official application deadline is November 23, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered by the TWAS scientific committee.
Who submits the application?
The application must be submitted by the host research group or scientific institution located in the Least Developed Country (LDC), in agreement with the invited TWAS Research Professor.
Who is eligible to be invited as a TWAS Research Professor?
Only elected TWAS Fellows (Members), TWAS Young Affiliates, and TWAS Alumni who hold a PhD in the natural sciences are eligible for appointment.
How long is the visiting stay?
The overall appointment is for one year, during which the professor undertakes an on-site visiting residency of between two (2) and four (4) weeks at the host institution.
What expenses are covered?
TWAS provides round-trip economy airfare, incidental travel allowances, and an expert honorarium. The host institution provides local accommodation, meals, and domestic transport.
Is there an age limit?
No. There is no age limit for applicants or invited professors under this programme.
