Faculty for the Future fellowships are awarded to women from developing and emerging economies who are preparing for PhD or post-doctoral study in the physical sciences and related disciplines at top universities for their disciplines abroad.

Launched by the Schlumberger Foundation in 2004, the Faculty for the Future community now stands at 194 women from 54 countries, and grows steadily each year.

The long-term goal of the Faculty for the Future program is to generate conditions that result in more women pursuing scientific disciplines. Grant recipients are therefore selected as much for their leadership capabilities as for their scientific talents, and they are expected to return to their home countries to continue their academic careers and inspire other young women.

Faculty for the Future grants are based on the actual costs of studying and living in the chosen location, and are capped at USD 50,000 for PhDs and USD 40,000 for Post-doctoral study. Grants may be renewed through to completion of studies subject to performance, self-evaluation and recommendations from supervisors.

Over the past few years, Faculty for the Future has extended its mission to community building. An on-line forum (restricted access) provides a popular venue for daily interaction among the 194 Fellows.

In addition, as we believe nothing beats meeting face to face, approximately 40 fellows are brought together during biennial forums allowing them face to face to contact in an informal conference setting. These forums provide a unique opportunity to interact, share research and life experiences, advance on topics such as the relationships between gender, science and socio-economic development and, more importantly, they are events where friendships are built and moral support is mutually offered. In addition to these forums, several smaller informal gatherings are also organized.

Eligibility
Applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• Be a woman;
• Be a citizen of a developing country;
• Wish to pursue a PhD degree or Post-doctoral research in the physical sciences or related disciplines;
• Have applied to, have been admitted to, or are currently enrolled in a university abroad;
• Wish to return to their home country to continue their academic career upon completion of their studies;
• Be very committed to teaching and demonstrate active participation in faculty life and outreach work to encourage young women into the sciences;
• Hold an excellent academic record.

How to apply
Applications are only accepted through the on-line system www.fftf.slb.com
The next award session will open as of September 12, 2011 for the 2012-2013 Faculty for the Future fellowships.

General tips to help you

• Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and the application deadline;
• Plan ahead! Producing a good quality application takes time and final selection is based in part on the standard of your application and accompanying materials;
• Have a clear strategy. Make sure all parts of your application form an integrated whole. Your application should highlight aspects about you and your career that will give the reviewer a focused yet well-rounded view of your candidature;
• Read and follow the instructions carefully. The instructions are your guide to producing a comprehensive and and competitive application;
• Information regarding available funding from other sources (fellowships, scholarships, sponsorships…) should also be provided.

A successful application will have gone through four selection rounds, with the reviewers paying particular attention to the following criteria:

• Academic performance;
• Quality of references;
• Quality of host country university;
• Level of commitment to return to home country;
• Commitment to teaching;
• Relevance of research to home country;
• Commitment to inspiring young women into the sciences.

For more information, please visit official website: www.facultyforthefuture.net.

• Schlumberger Foundation 2010 Faculty for the Future Fellowships
• Vera R Campbell Foundation Fellowship for Women, School for Advanced Research, USA
• Schlumberger Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship, Darwin College, UK
• Master Scholarships in Economics, Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, Spain
• Mathematics Research Fellowships, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy
• The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF) Grants, USA & Canada
• Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program 2010
• Nestlé Scholarship for Women, IMD Business School, Switzerland
• International Fellowships, American Association of University Women (AAUW), USA
• Amelia Earhart Fellowship for Women in Aerospace Science, Zonta International, USA

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and correct. However, applicants should contact the appropriate administering body before making an application, as details do change frequently.