IASC Fellowships 2021

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The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) in cooperation with the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) are excited to announce the IASC Fellowship Program 2021.

The IASC Fellowship Program is meant to engage early career scientists in the work of the IASC Working Groups (WGs): Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Marine, Social & Human, and Terrestrial. This year, we will offer 6 IASC fellowships: 

• one Fellow will be chosen per IASC WG
• one IASC Indigenous Fellow: Based on recent recommendations from the IASC Action Group on Indigenous Engagement, IASC has expanded its Fellowship Program to include space specifically for Arctic early career Indigenous scholars. The IASC Indigenous Fellow can choose which IASC WG to get engaged in. 

IASC Fellows are doctoral or postdoctoral researchers, who actively participate in selected activities of the IASC WGs. Fellows are expected to contribute scientifically and also to help organize specific activities and to help with reporting to the IASC Secretariat. Thus, the Fellowship Program provides the opportunity for ECSs to become involved in leading-edge scientific activities at a circumarctic and international level, to build an international network, and also to develop management skills. The level of involvement very much depends on the Fellow's interest - the more you invest, the more you get out of it!

The total duration of the IASC Fellowship Program is 1+2 years. Bookending their first year, the Fellows will receive travel support to attend two consecutive Arctic Science Summit Weeks (ASSWs) where the annual WG meetings are held. After this year, Fellows have the opportunity to stay involved for up to 2 more years without dedicated funding support from IASC. Note: The travel support during the first Fellowship year is the only financial remuneration for the Fellows. Salary is not included during the Fellowship. 

An information webinar about the fellowships for those interested in applying will be organized by IASC at the end of October. The exact date and time will be announced in the coming weeks. 

For more information on the IASC Fellowships please see the IASC website or contact the IASC Fellowship Coordinator Alevtina Evgrafova (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or the APECS Director Josefine Lenz (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

How to apply?

The application and selection process for both Fellowships is coordinated by APECS in cooperation with IASC.

• 1) Application criteria

  All Applicants have to fulfill the following general criteria:

  • PhD student/candidate or postdoctoral researcher (up to 5 years past terminal degree)
  • Have a good command of English

  In addition:

  Applicants for the IASC Fellowship Program 2021 have to fulfill these special criteria:

  • Able to commit to participating in the activities of one of an IASC WG for at least 1 year

  • Able to attend the two upcoming ASSWs: 19 – 26 March 2021 in Lisbon, Portugal (most likely online) and 26 March - 1 April 2022 in Tromsø, Norway 
  • Located at an institution in an IASC member country

• 2) Application form

  If you are interested in these amazing opportunities then please fill out this application form. If you have problems accessing or submitting the form, please contact the APECS Director Josefine Lenz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive a Word version or see the pdf version of the form

  Application deadline is Monday, 16 November 2020. Late applications will not be considered. Successful applicants will be notified before the end of the year.

• 3) Selection process

  The selection of candidates is coordinated by APECS and will be only based on the material you provide in the application form – so please be as specific as possible. 

  All applications will be reviewed in a blind review process with each application being reviewed by 2 independent reviewers. Applications will be reviewed according to multiple criteria including your research background and the quality of your statement of interest of why you would like to become an IASC Fellow. After this initial review process, top ranked candidates will be forwarded to the IASC Secretariat as well as the IASC WG Chairs, who will make the final decision on their Fellows.