1.Objectives

INTAS supports the consolidation of NIS science by setting up long-lasting scientific partnerships between scientists from the INTAS member states (1) and the NIS (2). As the number of young researchers working in NIS science has declined in recent years, INTAS seeks to provide incentives for them to remain in science by awarding fellowships and grants.

To date this opportunity has been restricted to those who have participated in INTAS projects. However, it is now open to all scientists below the age of 35 years in all fields of science to enable them to:

• advance their careers via international collaboration;
• stabilise their position and continue their research in the NIS;
• implement newly learned techniques and methods into research;
• give the opportunity to present their results on conferences and workshops;
• establish contacts with other INTAS and NIS research teams, enhancing their reputation and give opportunities to build up scientific contacts for future research.

2. Fellowships & Conference Grants

2.1 General Eligibility Criteria for Fellowships & Conference Grants

General eligibility criteria for all grants are:

• Applicant must be 35 years of age or less at the time the grant is awarded;
• Applicant must be a citizen and permanent resident of one of the NIS countries;
• Applicant must meet the qualification criteria required by the category of grant they are applying for;
• The application must respect the time limits set in the different schemes;
• The application must be complete as defined for each fellowship or grant, i.e. all required letters of reference and confirmations;
• Applicants may only receive one fellowship from INTAS, having done so they become ineligible to apply for further INTAS fellowships, irrespective of type.

2.2 Fellowships & Conference Grants for Young Scientists Involved in INTAS Projects

2.2.1 Project-Linked Fellowships

Specific Eligibility:Young Scientists actively involved in INTAS projects may apply to continue their research, particularly in pursuit of a research qualification that was started during an INTAS project.

Duration of fellowship: 6-12 months, which may include a training period of up to 3 months in the institute of a project participant from an INTAS member state.

Funding: Total fellowship support up to Euro 3500 for a year, including a monthly grant of Euro 150-200 whilst in the NIS,depending on the academic degree (diploma/PhD/experienced PhD). This may also include travel costs, 10% overheads for the NIS institute and a monthly allowance of up to Euro 1000 whilst working in an INTAS member state. The cheapest prices (APEX, PEX or excursion) must be used for all travel.

Applications: Applications must be submitted prior to one of the closing dates for fellowships during the 8 months before the termination of the current INTAS project (see Section 2.4). Applications should include:

• Form I completed by the Young Scientist: giving the Young Scientists curriculum vitae, list of publications, work programme, cost table including travel, subsistence and conferences
• Form II completed by the applicant's NIS team leader, assessing his/her capabilities and confirming their position in the institute Form III completed by the INTAS member state supervisor if a training period is being undertaken, which includes a declaration from the INTAS member institute that it is ready to host the student under defined conditions
• An optional recommendation from the INTAS project coordinator may be attached.

2.2.2 Conference Grants

Young scientists who have achieved excellent results within INTAS projects may apply to INTAS for a grant to attend an international conference in a NIS or an INTAS member state in order to present their results, and to enhance their international reputation. In addition, successful applicants may apply for a period of brief training in the same country.

Eligibility criteria for conference grants:

• The conference must be taking place in a NIS or INTAS member state
• Applicant must be involved in an active or recently completed INTAS project
• The applicant must present research results achieved within the INTAS project in a paper or a poster at a conference that has at least 50 international participants

Funding: Financial support of up to Euro 1000 can be requested to cover basic expenses, e.g. costs for travel, subsistence, conference fees. The cheapest prices (APEX, PEX or excursion) must be used for all travel.

Applications: will be prepared jointly by the NIS team leader and the Young Scientist using the Young Scientists Conference Grant Form. Letters of recommendation from the NIS team leader of the INTAS project and/or the project coordinator may be attached. Applications must be sent to INTAS at least 6 months before the conference is due to take place.

2.3 Fellowships for Young Scientists Not Involved in INTAS Projects

2.3.1 PhD Programme Fellowships (equivalent to studying for a candidate degree in the NIS)

Specific Eligibility: Young NIS scientists who are in the first year of a Ph.D programme in a NIS institution may apply for a fellowship for the second and third years of their PhD. The work programme must include a minimum of two visits each of two to three months at an INTAS Member States institute for the purpose of international collaborative research

Duration of fellowship: 2 years.

Funding: Total fellowship support is up to Euro 5000 per year. This may include a monthly grant of Euro 100 whilst in the NIS, travel costs, 10% overheads for the NIS institute and a monthly allowance of up to Euro 1000 whilst working in an INTAS member state. The cheapest prices (APEX, PEX or excursion) must be used for all travel.

Applications: Young Scientists may apply for a grant during their first year of PhD studies after their detailed work programme has been defined.

Applications should include:

• Form I completed by the Young Scientist: giving the Young Scientists curriculum vitae, list of publications, work programme, cost table including travel, subsistence and conferences
• Form II completed by the applicant's NIS supervisor, assessing his/her capabilities, confirming their position in the institute and that the applicant is qualified to study for a PhD (including the background of study with years)
• Form III completed by the INTAS member state supervisor which includes a declaration from the INTAS member institute that it is ready to host the fellow under defined conditions. Wherever possible the institute is asked to offer co-funding of expenses such as subsistence, travel and accommodation but in any case must waive all fees.
• A copy of the original highest obtained diploma and an English translation

2.3.2 Newly Qualified Postdoctoral Fellowships

Specific Eligibility: Newly Qualified Postdoctoral Scholars established (3) in a NIS scientific institute of high standing may apply for a fellowship to continue their research according to a work programme of scientific excellence. The fellowship must start within 3 years after completion of the PhD and must include one visit to an INTAS member state scientific institute for one to two months in order to build a network of contacts.

Duration of fellowship: One year.

Funding: Total fellowship support up to Euro 5500 per year. This may include a monthly grant of Euro 150 whilst in the NIS, travel costs, 10% overheads for the NIS institute and a monthly allowance of up to Euro 1000 whilst working in an INTAS member state. The cheapest prices (APEX, PEX or excursion) must be used for all travel.

Applications: Applications should include:

• Form I completed by the Young Scientist: giving the Young Scientists curriculum vitae, list of publications, work programme, cost table including travel, subsistence
• Two Form IIs completed by two different scientists in the NIS, one of whom is the director/head of the young scientist's institute, assessing his/her capabilities and confirming their position in the institute
• Form III completed by the INTAS member state supervisor which includes a declaration from the INTAS member institute that it is ready to host the fellow under defined conditions. Wherever possible the institute is asked to offer co-funding of expenses such as subsistence, travel and accommodation but in any case must waive all fees.
• A copy of the original highest obtained diploma and an English translation

2.3.3 Experienced Postdoctoral Fellowships

Specific Eligibility: Experienced Postdoctoral Scientists, established (3) in a NIS scientific institute of high scientific standing who have held a PhD for at least 3 years at the time of their application and have published at least 3 scientific publications in internationally acknowledged journals, may apply for a fellowship to carry out research according to a work programme. The programme must include at least one visit of 2 to 3 months to an INTAS member scientific institute for the performance of collaborative research and attendance at one international conference where the fellow presents the results of his/her research.

Duration of fellowship: One year, renewable for a further year, subject to good performance.

Funding: Total fellowship support up to Euro 6000 per year. This may include a monthly grant of Euro 175 whilst in the NIS, travel costs, 10% overheads for the NIS institute and a monthly allowance of up to Euro 1000 whilst working in an INTAS member state. The cheapest prices (APEX, PEX or excursion) must be used for all travel.

Applications: Applications should include:

• Form I completed by the Young Scientist: giving the Young Scientists curriculum vitae, list of publications, work programme, cost table including travel, subsistence and the conference
• Form II completed by the head of the NIS institute where the applicant is based, assessing his/her capabilities and confirming their position in the institute
• Form III completed by the INTAS member state supervisor which includes a declaration from the INTAS member institute that it is ready to host the fellow under defined conditions. Wherever possible the institute is asked to offer co-funding of expenses such as subsistence, travel and accommodation but in any case must waive all fees.
• A copy of the original highest obtained diploma and an English translation
• Copies of at least 3 relevant publications in international journals

2.4 Submission

Applications must be prepared using the forms provided by INTAS. Application forms are available herebelow or can be requested by email (intas@intas.be), mail or fax. Keywords describing your field of study must be filled in referring to the annexed list of "Keywords 2000-2001 for project identification". Applications and any annexes must be written in English and must be sent in duplicate by mail, including original signatures. They must be addressed to

Young Scientists /Conference Grants
INTAS
58/8 av. des Arts
1000 Brussels, Belgium.

Please specify on the envelope to which field your fellowship most accurately applies: Physics; Mathematics and Information Technology; Chemistry; Life Sciences; Earth Sciences & Environment, Energy; Space, Aeronautics & Engineering; Human Sciences.

Applications can also be found on-line at http://www.intas.be

Submission for Fellowships

Applicants wishing to start their fellowship on 1st March 2001 (exceptionally), must submit their applications to INTAS by 31st August 2000 at 12.00 Brussels time.

Applicants wishing to start their fellowship on 1st September 2001 must submit their applications to INTAS by 15th March 2001 at 12.00 Brussels time.

Project-Linked Fellowships: Those in INTAS projects must submit their application to the closing date which occurs during the last 8 months before the termination of their project.

Submission for Conference Grants for the Young Scientists already in INTAS Funded Projects

Applications for conference grants must be submitted before the quarterly closing dates of 15th January, 15th April, 15th July, 15th October.

*CONTACT INFORMATION*

For further information, application forms, keywords, please visit their website at: http://www.intas.be

Attention: INTAS provides 1 Million Euro per year for the special support of young scientists, therefore the number of fellowships in all categories can not exceed 200. INTAS will twice a year select by peer review the best candidates to be supported. Only applications which meet all eligibility criteria will be included in the evaluation. Moreover, each candidate can submit only one application for a particular type of fellowship. Further applications from the same person will automatically be ineligible.

Note: (1) Members of INTAS are: The European Union, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The United Kingdom.

(2) The New Independent States of the former Soviet Union are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

(3) A fellow is established in a scientific institute when he is its employee at the time of application with a working contract lasting at least 3 years.