HIV and Drug Use Research Fellowship, Switzerland

With support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the International AIDS Society (IAS) has established the fellowship research program focuses on HIV and drug use, with the aim of contributing to advances in scientific understanding of drug use and HIV, while encouraging an international collaborative research about HIV and drug use.

The scholarship program is administered as a stipend of U.S. $ 75,000 in two categories: for a junior scientist for the 18-month post-doctoral training, or for a well-established HIV researcher for the training development of an eight-month-long professional in leading host institution excels in research HIV-related drug use.

In 2011, three scholarships have been awarded. The partners and their mentors have been invited to attend the IAS Conference on HIV 6, Pathogenesis Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2011) in Rome, Italy, on 17 to 20 July 2011, where the award ceremony takes place.

Requirements
Post-doctoral training: Junior researcher with a doctorate (eg PhD, MD) obtained no more than six years before the time of application in the field of behavioral sciences and the social, biological sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medicine, physics, or health community (other disciplines may also be considered) are eligible. Applicants must hold a doctorate or equivalent before starting the fellowship, but not necessarily when applying. Medical doctor who earned his MD no more than eight years ago and who have no extended research experience can be allowed to apply to post-doctoral fellowship. They should contact ResearchPromotion@iasociety.org to check their eligibility.

Training of professional development: the alliance directed HIV or drug use well-established scientists who are not active in the field of drug use HIV-related research, with a minimum experience of seven years' beyond the level of post-doctoral, and with documented scientific record that includes peer-reviewed publications.

* Applications are encouraged from any country, but preference will be given to applicants from low-income countries and middle. Because there are many opportunities for research in the U.S. national training, applications from U.S. citizens and permanent residents for scholarships in the U.S. will not be accepted.
* All applicants must select a mentor in a different institution from their current institution.
* Applicants must be able to begin their scholarship prior to June 1, 2013.
* Applications must be completed in English.

Application
Applications for the 2012 program must be submitted by fellow candidates via the online application form that will be available on the IAS website from December 8, 2011 until February 10, 2012 (midnight CET). Please read the application guidelines before applying online. Applicants will be asked to detail their research goals, giving them an abstract of the proposed project, and write a research plan during their fellowship. The research project should be related to HIV and drug use, for example, narcotics and alcohol.

Applicants must choose an appropriate mentor who holds a post which was established for the duration of the fellowship and have a track record in research and training in HIV and drug use. Applicants must confirm that the host institution and mentor to ensure that space and facilities will be made available to fellow candidate if he / she managed to obtain a fellowship.

After petitioner filed his / her request, a mentor and must complete his / her role application, specify the support he / she will provide to the applicant, and assess the impact of the fellowship will have on the applicant's future career.

Selection
Applications screened by the IAS to ensure that they are complete and eligible. All eligible applications will be assessed by at least two independent external experts.

Once the application has been reviewed, based on the assessment of the reviewers' colleagues will be selected. Selection is based on grades, reviewers comments', and the maximum impact each fellowship would bring and treatment / or prevention of HIV / AIDS and drugs, as well as building collective capacity in recipient countries of origin.

Selection results will be announced around 10 weeks after the closing date. Fellows will be notified via email. The scholarship must begin anytime between August 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013.

Condition
Length: Scholarships should be served continuously for the duration of the award. Fellows must begin their studies before June 1, 2013.

Conditions: The award of U.S. $ 75,000 will be made available to the host institution, which will give salary to others in accordance with the usual regulatory procedures. Wages may only cover living expenses, personal expenses (eg, health and accident insurance) and one trip back to the country of origin during the fellowship. Allowance can not be coupled with funding from NIH or other U.S. federal agency or another community, regardless of the source. Peer can receive additional support from other sources, providing that the funds do not impose additional service and does not exceed a maximum of U.S. $ 10,000 per year.

Work permit: The mentor and the host institution is responsible for supporting one another in obtaining the necessary visas and work permits, insurance and ethical approval to perform his / her research in accordance with national requirements and procedures of the host institution rules.

Reporting: Fellows and mentors should provide a progress report to intermediaries IAS every six months during the fellowship, based on a template they will receive, as well as fellowship final report, including the cost report.

Mentor List
All associates are asked to choose a mentor at different institutions from their current institution, which holds an established post for the duration of the fellowship and have a track record in research and training in HIV and drug use. In order to facilitate the application process and to encourage international candidates, IAS and NIDA provides for the first time a list of potential mentors. This list will serve as an orientation of a fellow candidate, who will select and approach a mentor who is available in their field to discuss the possibility of a mentor for a specific research project.

All questions can be directed to ResearchPromotion@iasociety.org.

For more information, please visit the official site: www.iasociety.org