TWAS Research Professors in LDCs 2026/2027 flyer, deadline 23 November 2026

The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) is accepting applications for the TWAS Research Professors in LDCs 2026/2027 programme. It lets universities and research groups in the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) invite a leading scientist from the TWAS network to visit them, work with their researchers and help build lasting research links. TWAS pays the visiting professor’s travel and an honorarium. The deadline is 23 November 2026.

This one works differently from most opportunities we share. The applicant is the host institution or research group in an LDC, not the visiting scientist. If you lead a lab, department or research centre in an eligible country, this is a low-cost way to bring top expertise to your campus.

Key Details

Organiser: TWAS – The World Academy of Sciences (Trieste, Italy)
Who applies: research groups and scientific institutions in Least Developed Countries
Who visits: TWAS Members (Fellows), TWAS Young Affiliates or TWAS Young Affiliate alumni
Field: natural sciences
Appointment: one year, including an on-site visit of 2–4 weeks
Minimum degree (visitor): PhD; no age limit
Deadline: 23 November 2026

What the Programme Covers

Paid by TWAS: round-trip economy air travel for the Research Professor, any extra travel costs, and an honorarium.
Paid by the host: local costs during the visit, such as accommodation, meals and local transport.

Hosts should plan for those local costs before applying.

What the Visiting Professor Does

During the visit the Research Professor works closely with the host’s staff and students to:

strengthen ongoing research projects or help start new lines of research
support advanced training of researchers and postgraduate students
give topical lectures and seminars when asked
build a long-term collaboration that continues after the visit

At the end, both the professor and the host institution must send TWAS a full report on the visit.

Eligibility

Host (applicant): a research group or scientific institution based in a UN-designated Least Developed Country. In Africa this includes countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, DR Congo, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. The list changes as countries graduate, so check the official UN LDC list first.

Not eligible as hosts: institutions in countries that are not LDCs, for example Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Egypt and South Africa.

Visitor: must be a TWAS Member, TWAS Young Affiliate or Young Affiliate alumnus/alumna. You can search the TWAS Fellows directory and the Young Affiliates directory to find a scientist in your field.

One programme per year: applicants may apply to only one programme per calendar year across the TWAS and OWSD portfolio. One exception: a head of institution who invites an external scholar under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes may still apply for another programme.

How to Apply

Confirm your country is on the current UN LDC list.
Identify a TWAS Member or Young Affiliate whose expertise matches your needs, and contact them to agree on the visit in principle.
Plan the visit: aims, activities (research, training, lectures), proposed dates and how you will cover local costs.
Complete the official TWAS online application form before 23 November 2026.
Send questions to [email protected].

Full details are on the official TWAS programme page.

Tips for a Strong Request

Show a clear gap the visitor will fill, such as a new technique, equipment training or a research area your team wants to start.
Describe outcomes beyond the visit: a joint paper, co-supervised students or a joint grant application.
Get the visitor’s agreement in writing before you submit.
Be specific about who will benefit — how many staff and students and at what level.