Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship
The aim of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Fund is to encourage the conservation and use of plant genetic resources by enabling outstanding young scientists to carry out relevant, innovative research outside their own countries for a period of between three months and one year.
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Current Vavilov-Frankel Fellows
Mehraj Abbasov
Mehraj Abbasov of the Genetic Recourses Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan has been awarded the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship for 2007 to carry out a study entitled "Eco-geographic distribution of salinity tolerance in diploid wheats".
The work will be carried out at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Plant Industry, Australia, under the supervision of Dr Rana Munns. This Fellowship is made with the support of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Australia. Read the news article.
Adriana Arciniegas Leal
Ms Adriana Marcela Arciniegas Leal from Colombia, of the Biotechnology Laboratory of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Costa Rica, has been awarded the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship for 2007 to carry out a study entitled "Agronomic and molecular characterization of selected cacao germplasm accession groups for efficient conservation and utilization".
The work will be carried at CATIE, Costa Rica, under the supervision of Dr Wilbert Phillips-Mora and at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Plant Science Institute, Sustainable Perennial Crops Lab, USA, under the supervision of Dr Elizabeth Johnson. This Fellowship is made with the support of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
Read the news article.
To see the previous Vavilov-Frankel Fellows, visit the Fellows' Gallery.
A History of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship
Bioversity established the Fellowship Fund, in 1989, to commemorate the unique and pioneering contributions to plant science made by Academician Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov of Russia and Sir Otto Frankel of Australia. Vavilov was one of the first scientists to recognize the value of genetic diversity in domesticated crop plants and their wild relatives to crop improvement. Perhaps his most lasting contribution was the identification of eight geographic areas, known as 'centres of diversity', that contain a large proportion of this diversity. Frankel was an early advocate of the importance of landraces for plant breeding. He also played a major role in raising international awareness of the urgency of conserving plant genetic resources.
The aim of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Fund is to encourage the conservation and use of plant genetic resources by enabling outstanding young scientists to carry out relevant, innovative research outside their own countries for a period of between three months and one year. Applicants must demonstrate the importance and benefit of their proposed research to their home country and indicate how it will be applied upon their return. In this way, the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Fund helps countries build the scientific capacity they need to address urgent issues relating to the management of plant genetic resources and to promote the contribution of those resources to development.
To date, fellowships have been awarded to 27 scientists from 19 countries including Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kenya, India, Iran, Mauritius, Mexico, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Venezuela. Research by the Fellows has covered a wide range of topics related to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources, such as new conservation technologies and strategies, socioeconomic, human and policy aspects of conservation and use, germplasm management, forest genetic resources conservation and use strategies, genetic erosion assessment and mitigation and conservation and use of specific crops. Many studies have focused on crops and species of significant economic, nutritional and cultural importance to the Fellows' home countries; examples include wild and domesticated populations of cactus, ebony, pistachio, cacao, common vetch, peach, oat, wild potato, Grewia optiva, sorghum, fluted pumpkin, oriental beech, emmer wheat and barley.
Still other studies have focused on the socio-economic aspects of conservation and use; for example, institutional and policy changes for supporting farmer-led participatory crop improvement and conservation. The first two fellowships in 1993 examined the historical background of the plant genetic resources movement and resulted in two books: Scientists, Plants and Politics by Robin Pistorius of The Netherlands and Vavilov and his Institute by Igor Loskutov of Russia.
Since 1994, Fellowships have been awarded to scientists from developing countries. The experience gained by the Fellows enables them to contribute more effectively to plant genetic resources activities when they return to their home countries. Not only does the fellowship develop in-country capacity to research urgent problems identified by the Fellows' home countries, but it also stimulates scientific exchange between researchers in developed and developing countries and builds lasting linkages between the home and the host institutes and countries. Research results emerging from the fellowships are often presented at international conferences and documented in scientific journals. Equally important is the contribution of the Fellows to increasing the knowledge base on plant genetic resource science, crucial to human welfare, now and for the future.
2008 Call For Application
Two Fellowship opportunities will be available for 2008 to carry out research on conservation and use of Plant Genetic Resources. One of the Fellowships will be supported by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., United States. The second Fellowship is supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Australia.
Applications are invited from nationals of developing countries, aged 35 or under, holding a masters degree (or equivalent) and/or doctorate in a relevant subject area. The list of eligible countries is available on the World Bank web site: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/CLASS.XLS ("Income group": "low-income" and "lower-middle income" only).
Deadline for applications: 5 November 2007.
For a description of topics, criteria and application procedures, please download "Announcement", "Application form" and "Guidelines for preparation of research proposals" from here below or send a request to: e.rossetti(at)cgiar.org.
Announcement
Application form
Guidelines for preparation of research proposals
Appel à candidatures, 2008
En 2008, deux bourses de recherche seront attribuées pour effectuer des recherches sur les stratégies de conservation et sur l'utilisation des ressources phytogénétiques. L'une de ces bourses sera financée par L'entreprise Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., USA, la seconde par la Grains Research and Development Corporation, Australie.
Les ressortissants de pays en voie de développement, âgés de 35 ans maximum et titulaires d'une maîtrise (ou équivalent) et/ou d'un doctorat dans une discipline pertinente, sont encouragés à déposer un dossier de candidature. La liste des pays éligibles est disponible sur le site Internet de la Banque Mondiale: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/CLASS.XLS ("Income group": "low-income" and "lower-middle income" only).
Date limite de dépôt des candidatures: 5 Novembre 2007.
Pour plus d'informations sur les sujets, les critères de sélection et la procédure de candidature, vous pouvez télécharger "Annonce", "Formulaire de candidature" et "Instructions pour la préparation d'un projet de recherche" sur le lien ci-dessous. Vous pouvez également envoyer une demande à l'adresse suivante: e.rossetti(at)cgiar.org.
Annonce 
Formulaire Guide propositions de recherche
2008 Convocatoria de petición
Para el 2008, el Fondo otorgará dos oportunidades para realizar investigación en temas de conservación y uso de los recursos fitogenéticos. Una de las becas será apoyada por Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., United States y otra por la empresa australiana Grains Research and Development Corporation.
La presente convocatoria está dirigida a ciudadanos de países en desarrollo, de 35 años de edad máximo, que tengan una maestría (o un título equivalente) o un doctorado en un tema pertinente. La lista de países elegibles está disponible en el sitio web del Banco Mundial: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/CLASS.XLS ("Grupo de ingreso": "bajo ingreso" y "menos de medio ingreso" solamente).
Fecha límite de aplicación: 5 de noviembre del 2007.
Para una descripción de temas, criterios y procedimientos, por favor obtenga este sitio el "Anuncio", el "Formato de aplicación" y la "Quía para la elaboración de la propuesta de investigación" o solicitar a: e.rossetti(at)cgiar.org.
Anuncio Formulario Guia propuestas de investigación
