Arturo Falaschi PhD Fellowships at ICGEB 2026

ICGEB offers postgraduate studies with the aim of obtaining the “Doctor Philosophiae” (PhD) degree in the life sciences. Thanks to the contribution of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) within the framework of the BIOTECHNET II initiative, dedicated resources are available for candidates from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda applying to the ICGEB Call for PhD Fellowships. 

Thanks to specific agreements, the title can be awarded through a number of academic institutions of international standing,  which include the Open University (UK), the University of Nova Gorica (Slovenia), the University of Trieste (Italy), the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi (India) and the University of Cape Town(South Africa). 

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMarch 31, 2026
• ValueFully Funded
• Study LevelPostdoctoral Fellowships
• SponsorInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)
• City to studyLondon
• School to studyThe Open University
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Monthly stipend: Trieste (Italy): Euro 1,500, New Delhi (India): US$ 1,122, Cape Town (South Africa): ZAR 16,500.
• Duration: 3 years PhD course with the possibility of 1-year extension.
• Travel: the fellowship includes provision for travel expenses from the student’s home country to the ICGEB lab at the beginning of the fellowship and a return travel provision upon completion of the fellowship.
• Medical health insurance coverage is provided for the duration of the fellowship.
• University tuition fee is covered for the entire PhD registration period.
• Visa/permit of stay application and renewal costs are reimbursed.
• Support for participation in external meetings, courses and events is generally provided by the Group Leader / PI.

ICGEB makes no financial provision, nor can it provide administrative support for family members of participants in the programme.

Requirements

• Applicants must be nationals of an ICGEB Member State in order to apply.
• Degree requirements: applicants for ICGEB Trieste should hold a BSc (Honours) degree; applicants for ICGEB Cape Town and New Delhi should hold an MSc degree.
• Candidates must have a good working knowledge of the English language, supported by a proficiency certificate (TOEFL, Cambridge Certificate, or equivalent). This document is not required when English was the medium of instruction; however, the university must provide an official certificate attesting to this.
• There is no age limit for applications.

Selection Process

• All submitted applications will be transmitted to the respective ICGEB Liaison Officer in the country of which you are a national for endorsement. Endorsement is a fundamental requirement for the Fellowship to be awarded. The ICGEB Fellowships Selection Committee will evaluate complete and endorsed applications received by the closing date. 
• The main criteria for selection include scientific excellence of the project, the qualities of the candidate’s CV and potential benefit for the home country. Both successful and unsuccessful candidates will be notified of the outcome by e-mail only. Please note that the selection might take several weeks according to the amount of applications received. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback to all applicants at the end of the selection process.

Application Documents

Please note that you will be requested to upload the following documents (pdf files):

• Your full CV.
• Academic records (diploma certificates and transcripts giving detailed information on all courses/final examinations completed, credit value or hours per course and grades received). Please note that all academic documents must be issued by the degree-granting University and bear the official seals and signatures and should be submitted in the original language accompanied by an official English translation of each document.
• Written Statement from the ICGEB Group Leader.
• A valid identification document (passport or identity card). Recommended passport validity should be 12 months at least.
• English Certificate (TOEFL, Cambridge or similar). This document is not required when English was the medium of instruction; however, the university must provide an official certificate attesting to this.

Check also:
Free Ongoing Fully Funded Scholarships Guide 2026 (Download Now)

Application Deadline

March 31, 2026

How To Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) on isg.icgeb.org to apply

• Applicants should contact the ICGEB Group Leader/PI of their choice with a motivation letter, to determine availability of laboratory space and to define the research project proposal that will form an integral part of the application.
• Please note that the written statement from the ICGEB Group Leader you have contacted and who is willing to support your project is mandatory to apply.

For more details, visit ICGEB fellowship webpage.