Deadline: May 2, 2024
Applications for the Dorcas Muthoni PhD Fellowship 2024 are now open. The Dorcas Muthoni PhD Fellowship is a tribute to Doctor Honoris Causa Dorcas Muthoni. Dorcas Muthoni, a Kenyan engineer and entrepreneur, CEO and founder of the company Openworld, received Pompeu Fabra University’s highest recognition for her significant work in the promotion of engineering studies among young women in Africa, the mentoring of young people, and her social commitment in the fight against poverty.
The Dorcas Muthoni PhD scholarship is aligned with the Pompeu Fabra University institutional commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), it aims to contribute to quality education and gender equality, with a focus on African Women. The first edition of this PhD Fellowship was opened in 2018, and the second in 2020.
The main objectives of this fellowship are:
- To promote gender equality & contribute to reduce the gender gap in ICT; by facilitating more women pursuing scientific/technological/engineering careers and lowering the barriers women face when pursuing careers in STEM disciplines.
- To share excellent research with African female researchers during their PhD Studies. Their ICT department consists of more than 20 research groups who are very active in international research projects and nationally we are the only Engineering university department in Spain to have been awarded for a second time the Spanish research excellence seal Maria de Maeztu. The Maria de Maeztu Strategic Research Program is a 4-year research initiative funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness to promote artificial and natural intelligence for ICT and beyond within not only our Engineering ICT department, but our university.
- To contribute to future social impact in African countries. The applicants are expected to return to their African home country after completion of their PhD studies in order to pursue a career related to ICT there.
Fellowship
- They offer a predoctoral contract with a minimum gross monthly salary of €1,470.98 for the 1st and 2nd year, and a gross monthly salary of €1,576.05 for the 3rd year.
- PRC includes a teaching assistance load of 45 hours per academic year. These teaching hours are a compulsory pre-requisite to be able to enter the fellowship selection process.
- The fellowship will also include a startup/Landing Fund to facilitate the fellow’s initial expenditure. The fund will be for the amount of €2,500.
- The “Dorcas Muthoni” fellowships/PRC include the annual tutorship fees, but neither the administrative fees nor the fees for validations of degrees issued by a university outside the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) without homologation.
Eligibility
- This PhD fellowship seeks doctoral applications from talented African female students (only African nationality applicants will be considered) with strong research interests.
- Candidates for PhD positions must hold an M.Sc degree or equivalent.
Application
Applications to the Dorcas Muthoni Fellowship and to the UPF-ICT PhD programme are to be submitted by May 2, 2024 at 23:59 hours CET (Central European Time).
Below are the two applications + motivation letter + teaching subjects preferences form you need to complete when applying for this fellowship.
1. Application to the UPF ICT PhD programme (including support letter from potential DTIC @ UPF supervisor)
- Read carefully the Eligibility requirements in this link
- It is compulsory to submit in your application a support letter from your potential supervisor in DTIC.
- Complete this application to the ICT PhD programme at UPF
2. Application to the Dorcas Muthoni PhD Fellowship
- Complete this application form for the Dorcas Muthoni fellowship
3. Motivation letter
- The applicant should explain her motivation to apply to this fellowship and the expected impact after the end of her PhD studies in terms of the ICT gender equality and social impact in Africa.
4. Preferred Teaching subjects
- As the contract will include a teaching assistance load of 45 hours per academic year. Download and complete the form in this link and select the subjects you prefer to teach based on this list of subjects included at the end of the form. Once the completed, ensure the form is signed by your potential PhD Supervisor.
5. Digital copy of your Passport
Send all the documents listed in points 3, 4 and 5 to this email address: [email protected]
For more information, visit Dorcas Muthoni PhD Fellowship.
