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Collaborate:


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1.Overview

TheSciencebyWomenprogrammewillfundatotalof15six-monthvisitingseniorresearchfellowshipsfor15 experienced African women researchers in any of the following international research centres ofexcellencebasedinSpain.

Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO, www.icfo.eu ) is specialised in the science and technology ofharnessinglightasapervasiveanduniversaltoolthatbenefitshealth,energy,informationaswellassafety,securityandenvironment

Valld´HebronInstitutdeRecerca(VHIR,http://en.vhir.org) isapublic-sector institutionthatpromotesand develops the research, innovation and biosanitary teaching of the Vall d’HebronUniversityHospitalinsideValld’HebronBarcelonaHospitalCampus.Throughtheexcellenceoftheirresearch,theyidentifyandapplynewsolutionstothehealthproblemsofsocietycontributingtospreadthemaroundtheworld.

Institute for Neuroscience (IN, http://in.umh.es/ ). The mission of the IN is to investigate thedevelopment, structure and function of the nervous system in normal and pathological conditions. Thegeneral objective is to improve the understanding of the healthy brain, in order to shed light ondysfunctionsleadingtodisease.Thisgoalisrecognizedasthemainchallengefacedbymodernbiology.

Kronikgune(www.kronikgune.org/en/)is an Institute for Health Services Research that promotes andcarries out management and organization research on health and socio-health services. Its scientificresearch programme is aligned with the policies of the Basque Department of Health, that pursue thecontinuous adaptation and transformation of the health system by keeping people at the center of thesystemandaddressingthechallengesderivedfromaging,chronicityanddependency

BiocrucesBizkaia (BC)(https://www.biocrucesbizkaia.org)is theHealth Research Institute of the CrucesUniversityHospital.Itaimstopromote,uniteandsupporttheresearchgroupsthatmakeuptheInstituteto develop a translational research quality and enhance the effective innovation and collaborationwithotherorganizations.All this inorder toprovidenew tools,practicesandknowledge to contribute to theimprovementofhealthcare,populationhealth,wealthcreationandeconomicdevelopment.

DeustoInstituteofTechnology(DeustoTech) (http://deustotech.deusto.es/)conductsresearchmainlyinthe field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), with a special focus on areas ofknowledge such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Cybersecurity, Cyberphysical Systems,Positioning Systems, Co-Creation and Circular Economy applied to different sectors such as Industry,Mobility,Energy&EnvironmentandSocietalChallenges.

SpanishNationalCancerResearchCentre(CNIO)(www.cnio.es)isaninternationalcancerresearchcentreof excellence with the mission of fostering translation of scientific breakthroughs into novel and moreeffectivewaystoprevent,diagnoseandtreatcancer.

InstituteofHealthCarlosIII(ISCIII)(www.isciii.es)isaPublicResearchinstitutionthatpromotes,managesanddevelopsexcellencebiomedical research inSpain. It is focusedonproviding support to theSpanish


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National Health System, through the management and development of scientific knowledge in healthsciences,onthepromotionanddevelopmentofanexcellentandhighlycompetitiveresearchaswellasontraining programs in public health and health management. The general objectives are to generateknowledgeinhealthsciences,toproduceapositiveimpactonthehealthofthepopulationandtopromotesocialwealththroughtheinnovation.

Donostia International Physics Center ( dipc.ehu.es ) is a research center located in Donostia – SanSebastián (Spain). The mission of DIPC is to perform and catalyze cutting-edge research in physics andrelateddisciplines,aswellastoconveyscientificculturetosociety.DIPCwasconceivedandplannedbasedontheideathatanadvancedsocietyneedsadvancedscientificresearch.

Material Physics Center - (MPC-CFM, http://cfm.ehu.es/) is a centre created to foster internationalexcellence in advanced materials nanoscience fundamental research. MPC-CFM research activity coverselectronic,magnetic, optical and dielectric properties of condensed and softmatter systems, aswell assurfaces and nanostructured architectures. Physical and chemical properties ofmaterials andmolecularassembliesareaddressedbyanalysingtheirpropertiesatthenanoscale.Thisiscarriedoutbyfollowingatwo-foldstrategy,whichconsistsoftheoreticalandexperimentalresearchmethodsthattargetthestudyofnanoscalepropertiesofmatter.

PrincipeFelipeResearchCenter(CIPF)(www.cipf.es)isacutting-edgebiomedicalresearchcenterlocatedin Valencia. Investigators at theCIPF use a range of model systems to pursue key biological questionsrelated to human health problems including rare diseases, cancer, neurodegeneration and metabolicdiseases.Ourmissionistoenhancebasicknowledgeabouthumandiseaseswiththegoalofapplyingourresultstothedevelopmentofnewdrugsandtherapies.

Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IAS) (www.ias.csic.es) is focused on providing scientific knowledgeand technological transfer thatenhances theharmonizationof foodproductionwith theconservationofnatural resources and environmental protection. The IAS covers agronomy, crop breeding and cropprotectionprofitingfrommoderntoolsandmethodologiestestedinEuropeandAfrica.

Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT) (www.icmat.es) is a joint research center of the ConsejoSuperior de Investigaciones Científicas - CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) and three Madriduniversities: theUniversidadAutónomadeMadrid (UAM), theUniversidad Carlos III deMadrid (UC3M),andtheUniversidadComplutensedeMadrid(UCM).TheICMATislocatedontheUAMCampusinMadrid,itsfacilitiesareexceptionalinthefieldofmathematicalresearch.

Spanish National Center of Biotechnology (CNB) (http://www.cnb.csic.es/index.php/en/) is located inMadridandformspartoftheSpanishNationalResearchCouncil(CSIC).Thecenterstandsoutforitsbroadand interdisciplinary approach, combining gene-based technologies with frontier research incomputational, structural, cell and synthetic biology, to discover novel biological entities, decipher theirfunctional interplay in individual organisms and larger communities, ranging from virus and bacteria toplants,animalsandhumans.


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Campusof InternationalExcellence inAgrifood (www.ceia3.es)&CordobaUniversity (www.uco.es) isajoint initiativebetween the andalusian universities of Almeria, Cadiz, Huelva and Jaen, headed by theUniversityofCordoba.Theseinstitutionshavealongscientificcareerpath,andtheyputallthisknowledgeabout the agrifood industry at the disposal of society. The main objective is to contribute to thedevelopmentof this sector and find answers to the agricultural challenges of 21st century. In order toachievetheseobjectives,ceiA3putatthedisposalofsocietytheresultsofthescientificworkofmorethan300 research groupsand3.500ofscientistsspecializedinagricultureandagrifoodbecomingoneofthebiggestAgrifoodCampusofInternationalExcellenceofSpain.

Eachcentrewillhost1researcher.

Thepreferredareasofresearchinclude:1.HealthandBio-medicine

2.Energy,WaterandClimateChange

3.AgricultureandFoodSafety

4.Mathematics,InformationandCommunicationTechnologies

6.PhysicsandMaterialsSciences

2.Eligibilityrequirements

• Beingawoman• NationalityofanAfricancountry.• PhDwithatleast3yearsofpost-doctoralprofessionalexperience• Contractual relationshipwith a university or a public or private non-profit organization based in

Africadedicatedtosignificantscientificresearchintheareasindicated• Excellentacademicrecordandproventrackofrelevantresearchexperience• SolidworkingknowledgeofEnglish• Provenexperienceleadingaresearchgroup

Beneficiariesofpreviouseditionsarenoteligible.Candidatesmusthavealreadyidentifiedresearchgroupsinthehostcentrestoconfirmthattheirproposedresearch can be carried out in collaboration with those research groups and, when needed, in theirlaboratories.

3.GeneralConditions


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Ingeneral, thedurationof the research stayswillbe six continuousmonths.Nevertheless,dependingonpersonalandprofessionalneeds,andwithapprovalofthehostresearchcenter,theplannedresearchmaybesplitintwostayswithintwoyearsafterthefellowshiphasbeenawarded.Successfulcandidateswillhaveaccesstothefollowingbenefits:

• Returnflightfromtheircentreoforigintothehostinstitution• Livingallowanceof2.400Eurosgrosspermonth tocoveraccommodation,personalexpenseand

healthandoccupationalaccidentinsurancecoverage.

Beneficiariesmustdevotethemselvesentirelytoresearchattheassignedresearchcentreandmaynotbebeneficiariesofanyotherfellowship,grant,stipendorregularincomeduringtheirresearchstay.Beneficiaries might be asked to formalise their relationship with the research centre in writing. Incompliancewiththelocallaws,theWomanforAfricaFoundationortheresearchcentre(asthecasemaybe)will, if so required ineachparticular circumstanceby the tax and/or social security regime, retainorwithholdthecompulsoryamountsfromthelivingallowances.Women for Africa Foundation, in collaborationwith the research centre,will help beneficiarieswith thecompulsoryformalitiesinordertoobtainthevisawithSpanishEmbassiesandConsulates.TheWomenforAfricaFoundationstronglydiscouragesfinalbeneficiariestotakealongtheirfamilies,sincewecannotassureanyfinancial,logisticoradministrativesupportforfamilies.4.DeadlineforapplicationsDeadlineforapplicationsisSeptember30,2019.OnlyapplicationssubmittedinEnglishviatheSciencebyWomenmicrositeatwww.mujeresporafrica.eswillbeaccepted.Theymustincludethefollowingdocuments:

• LetterofInterest(max.1page)• Fullcurriculumvitae• Fullyfilledform• PassportorNID• PhDDiploma• Brief but concise description of the project to be developed in the Spanish host centre

(max.2pages)

5.SelectionprocessApplications will be subjected to a highly competitive selection process by the Women for AfricaFoundation’sScientificCommittee.Thejurywillevaluatethefollowingcriteria:

• The candidate’s research career, curriculum vitae and experience as independent research groupleader.

• Theproject’sscientific-technicalqualityandinnovativepotential.• Theexpectedandmeasurableeconomicorsocialimpactoftheresearchproject.• Thecandidate’splantocommunicateanddisseminatetheproject’sresults.


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• Theproperconsiderationofethicalissueswhereappropriate.

Successful applicants will present innovative research projects that respond to the needs of Africanpopulationsandthatare likely tobetransferred intoproductsorpatents forcommercialexploitation,orservicesandpublicpolicieswhichhaveasocial impact intermsofpeople’swelfareandqualityof life,aswellasaneconomicimpactintermsofcompanies’productivityandcompetitiveness.

6.Researchproposals

Researchproposalsshallcoverthefollowinglines:

InstituteofPhotonicSciences(ICFO)

• LightforHealth:medicalopticaldevices,photonicsforcleanfoodandcleanwater• LightforEnergy:opticalsensors,photovoltaicenergies,newmaterials,graphene• Light for Information: optical telecommunications, quantum information, optical sensors Laser

Technologies:newlasers• Light-basedtechnologiesforindustrialprocesses

Valld´HebronInstitutdeRecerca

• ResearchGroupofMaternalandFetalMedicine,DepartmentofObstetrics.IsoneofthelargestmaternityunitsinCataloniaandSpain.ItisatertiaryreferralcenteraccreditedbytheEuropeanCouncilandtheCollegeofObstetricsandGynecology(EBCOG)andtheEuropeanAssociationofPerinatalMedicine(EAPM)asatrainingcenterwith14residents.

Keyobjectives:

-Createsynergiesthroughthecombinedworkofbasicscienceresearchersandclinicalinvestigatorsinthepreclinicalbasisofplacentalinsufficiencycomplicationsandcongenitalheartdisease.

-Developandimproveadvancedpredictionandpreventionofpretermlabour.

-Establishapioneerdetectionprogramofcongenitalheartdiseaseandchromosomalabnormalities.

- To investigate the long-termmaternalandchildrenhealth impactofanadversegestationenvironment(growthrestriction,preeclampsia,prematurity,breastcancerinpregnancy).

- To encourage a competitive multi-disciplinary network dedicated to the education and training ofresearchpersonnel.

-Generatevalueinthefieldofmaternalandchildrenhealth.

• InternationalHealth


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WorkinthefieldofTropicalMedicineandInternationalHealthunderstoodasthedisciplinethatprovidesspecialized assistance with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to people with tropicaldiseases,whichpromotesteachingandtranslationalresearchandthedevelopmentofCommunityHealthaswell as the implementation of public health strategies,which aims to improve accessibility to qualityhealthinourcountryaswellasinternationally,alwaysmaintainingascientificcommitmentthatbasestheactionstaken.

• HIVThe HIV Translational Laboratory is focused on the characterization of the latent HIV reservoir and thedevelopmentofnewtherapeuticstrategiesdirectedtodepletethislatentreservoirwiththeultimategoalofcuringHIV.The lab is locatedwithin the InfectiousDiseaseunitof theValld´HebrónHospital,andhasaccess to clinical samples of more than 2100 HIV-infected patients. The priority research lines are: i)Understandingtheviralmechanismsinvolvedinthelong-termmaintenanceofvirallatency,ii)Assessingtheimpactofnewdrugstopurgethelatentreservoir, iii)Exploringnewsynergisticapproachestodepletethelatentreservoirwithbi-specificnanoparticles,andiv)Targetingspecificsitesofviralreplication.

• GynecologyThe gynecology research group is focused on the molecular and translational research of severalgynecological cancers (including and mainly those of the endometrium and ovary) and gynecological-relateddiseasessuchasendometriosis.Thankstotheclosecollaborationbetweencliniciansandbasicandtranslational researchers, their projects are focused on unresolved clinical needs. They identify andcharacterizenewmolecules,whichmightplayrelevantroles intheneoplasticcell transformation,and/orgrowth,progression,disseminationofthosetumorsandresistancetocurrenttherapies.Theyalsoworkinthedevelopmentofnewclinical relevant tools, suchas thedevelopmentofnewdevices to improve theclinicalmanagementofthepatient,andthegenerationofpatient-derivedxenografts(PDX)mousemodelsthatareusedinpreclinicalvalidation.Itsaimistoidentifynewandvaluablemoleculesandbiomarkerstoimprovediagnosis,prognosisandtherapy.

InstituteforNeuroscience(IN)

• Generalprinciplesunderlyingtheconnectivityofspecificclassesofneuronswithindefinedneuralcircuits,howtheserulesemergeduringdevelopment,andpathologicalconsequencesofdeviatingfromthenormaldevelopmentalprogrammes.

• Neural activity influence on brain wiring, connectivity alteration by manipulation of neuronalactivity,andaltercompensationofsensorylossbyactivitymodulationinthesparedcircuits.

• Brainmaturationandbehaviourshapingbyearlystress,intestinalfloraandhormonesinpuberty.Alterationoftheneuronalepigenomeasaresultoftheseexperiences.

• Activity-driven gene expression and chromatin modification influence on brain function, anddynamicmodulationofcorticalinterneuronspropertiesbynetworkactivity.

• Synaptic gain of information transfer imposed by the strategic distribution of presynaptic andpostsynapticreceptors,andtheimportanceofgenesrelatedtosynapticfunctioninbraindisease.

• Propagationoftheactivityofspecificpopulationsofcells in long-rangeneuronalcircuits,cellularmechanismsunderlyinginformationstreamsinthebrain,andeffectsoftheseprocessesinanimalmodelsofpsychiatricdisorders.


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• Formation of primary brain tumors and metastases. The potential of cell plasticity in normaldevelopmentandpathologicalprogrammesofadulttissues.

KronikguneResearchCenter

Kronikgune’sareaofexpertisecomprisesthedevelopmentandimplementationICTenabledsolutionsforthemanagementofchronicdisease,evaluationofhealthservicesandidentificationofdeterminantsinthemanagementofchronicity,withacommonframeworkthatintegratesbothsocialandhealthaspects.

Healthcareevaluation

• HealthcareProcessandOutcomeevaluation• PatientReportedOutcomes”-PROM• Healthcarematurityassessment• Budgetimpactanalysis

Integratedhealthcaresystems.

• Healthcareorganisationalmodelsandpathwaysinnovation• Healthcareimplementationandscalingupstrategiesandmethodologies• Patientempowermentstrategiesandinterventions

e-Healthsystems

• ICTsystemsandservicesrequirementsforintegratedcare.• Design,deploymentandevaluationofICTenabledpersonalizedcareplans• Riskstratificationmodelstopredictpatients’andpopulationneedsandresource´sallocation.• InnovativewaysofusingICTsanddigitaltechnologiestoenhanceknowledgemanagementand

knowledgetransferamongstakeholderstoaccelerateeffortstowardsachievingtargetsandindicatorsforSDG3(onensuringhealthylivesandpromotingwellbeingforallatallages).

BioCrucesBizkaiaHealthResearchInstitute

Biocruces HRI is constituted by different research groups integrated in 7 research scientific areas. Eachresearch group and area are supervised by a coordinator, being Dr Castaño, the Scientific Director ofBiocruces,thescientificareasarethefollowing:

• Primary Health Care, Prevention and Chronic Diseases: Primary healthcare provides a uniqueopportunity for clinical research at thepopulation level focusedon thepromotionof health andprimary, secondary and tertiary prevention of the chronic illnesses that are most common andwhich have the most effect on health, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and mentaldisorders.Theresearchgroupsinthisareadesignandevaluateinnovativeinterventionstoaddressthemain determinants of health, including lifestyle and other risk factors associatedwith these


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illnesses. Primary care researchers focus on how to improve the quality of life of patients, theiradaptivecapacityandtheirself-careability.

• Cancer:Allaspectsofalltypesofsolidmalignanttumoursandbloodcancers,fromepidemiologicalcharacteristics to biological and clinical features are included. The aim of the different researchunitsistocarryoutresearchoncanceratthebasic,appliedandclinicallevels.Giventhenatureofour institution as a healthcare provider, most of the activity is to be focused on translationalresearch, promoting a rich and productive interaction between basic biomedical sciences andappliedoncology,inorderthatresultsdirectlybenefitpatientsandsocietyasawhole.

• Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Renal Diseases: Different research groups worktogetheronthecharacterisationoftheetiopathogenesisandtheepidemiologyoftheseconditionsand the identificationofnewdiagnosticand therapeutic strategies, seeking to translate scientificprogress to patients. Diabetes, obesity, and coeliac disease are key areas in endocrinology andnutrition,andwefocusonthegeneticandenvironmentalcausesandondiseasecontrol,aswellasnewtherapeuticapproachesincludingprevention,newdrugsandtechnologies,andcelltherapy.

• Autoimmune, Inflammatoryand InfectiousDiseases:we focuson tend tohavean inflammatorybasisandanenvironmental,infectious,metabolic,orautoimmunecause,andbechronicinnature.Translation of our results to clinical practice should be immediate, the main objective being toimprove the prognosis and quality of life of our patients. Further, clinical research in this areashould contribute to ameliorating the growing social and economic impact of these medicalconditions

• Nervous Systems Diseases: Neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, demyelinating diseases(multiplesclerosis),stroke,andotherneurologicaldiseasesaccountforasignificantpercentageofmortality and disability, with severe social consequences. Research groups will pursue in-depthwork along established research lines such as the study of the causes of diseases, their geneticnature,clinicalandbehavioralprofilesofpatients,andtheepidemiologyofdiseases.Researchonclinical and pathological correlates by means of neuroimaging techniques that enable theassessmentofbrainfunctioninginnormalanddiseasedstates,aswellasmoredetailedanalysisofbiologicalmarkers.

• Maternal ChildHealthcare andAssistedReproduction: The objective is to innovate andprovideanswers to the fertilityproblems, to improve thehealthofpregnantwomenand to increase thesafetyofthemotherandchildatbirth.Wefocusoureffortsoncaringforfoetalhealth,theanalysisof congenital, and improving the diagnosis of certain genetic disorders, especially in relation tointellectual disability and diseases linked to the X chromosome. We aim to improve ourunderstandingofpaediatriccancer,especiallybraintumoursandgeneticpredispositiontocancer,and some rare diseases to develop better diagnostic methods and new treatments. Healthproblems of children and adolescents, in particular conditions related to prematurity and thoseassociatedwithsevereconditionsorrequiringurgentintervention.

DeustoInstituteofTechnology(DeustoTech)


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Energy&Environment:

OurunitaimstodesignITC-basedsolutionsthatwillallowtomovetowardsmoresustainableandefficientenvironmentsandcities,workingcollaboratelywithcompaniesandpublicadministrations.Ourscientific-technological capabilities include: environment, smart grids for the supply and management of urbanservices,andadvancedmaintenanceandoperationsystems.

Mobility:

OurunitfocusesonITCresearchappliedtotransport,mobilityofpeopleandlogistics.OurtransferactivityrelatedtothedevelopmentITSIntelligentTransportSystemsandSmartMobilityPlatforms,contributestomaking the mobility of individuals and objects more sustainable, smarter and more comfortable. Ourscientific-technological capabilities include: soft computing applied to ITS, smart mobility and seamlesspositioningsystems

Industry:

Ourunitisfocusedontransformationintoadigital,smartandsafeindustry.Wequestionthestateoftheartinordertomeetthechallengesfacedbyindustryinitstransformationtowardsamoresustainableandcompetitive model. Our scientific-technological capabilities include: data analytics, cybersecurity andcyberphysicalsystems.

CCM:

TheChairofComputationalMathematicsofDeustoTechaimstodevelopanactiveresearch, trainingandoutreach agenda in Applied Mathematics. It is committed with the development of ground-breakingresearch in the areas of Partial Differential Equations, Control Theory, Numerical Analysis and ScientificComputing;keytoolsfortechnologicaltransferandfortheinteractionofmathematicswithotherscientificdisciplinessuchasbiology,engineering,social,earthandclimatesciences.

SocietalChallenges:

Atourunit,weusebasicandappliedresearchtomakeITCsavailabletosocietyandcitizens,andcontributetobuildingabetterworld.Ourscientific/technologicalcapabilitiesare:heterogeneousdatamanagement,intelligentenvironmentenablementanduser-drivencomputing.

SpanishNationalCancerResearchCentre(CNIO)

•Basic Research – As the main activity of the CNIO, basic research is carried out in two ResearchProgrammes: Molecular Oncology and Structural Biology. Research proposals in basic researchshould be focused on generating knowledge and discoveries that can advance the fields ofmolecularoncology,structuralbiologyandbiocomputing.


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•Patient-orientedTranslationalResearch–theClinicalResearchProgrammeoftheCNIOaimstobringtogether thebenchandthebedsidebydirectingresearchefforts towardstranslatingadvances incancer research for theprevention,diagnosis,and treatmentofpatients.Researchproposalscanincludeconductingearlyclinical trialswithnoveldrugs;discoveringbiomarkersfordrugresponseanddiseaseoutcome,andimplementingastrategyforpersonalizedmedicine.TheHumanCancerGeneticsProgrammefocusesonareasrelatedtogenetics,genomics,pharmacogenetics,molecularcytogeneticsandtheenvironmentalbasesofhumancancer,workinginclosecollaborationwiththeclinicalcommunity.Researchproposalsshouldbefocusedintheseareas.

•Innovation– theCNIOhas an Experimental Therapeutics Programme (ETP) to developdrugdiscoveryanddevelopmentresearchprojectstoidentifynoveldrugtargetsandtovalidatethemaspotentialtherapeutic opportunities for the treatment of cancer; and a Biotechnology Programme thatsupports the development of novel biotechnological tools and reagents for cancer research.Research proposals in these scientific disciplines should be oriented at these two aspects ofinnovationinappliedcancerresearch.

InstituteofHealthCarlosIII

Themainareasofresearcharethefollowing:

• NationalCentreforMicrobiology:ScientificandtechnicalsupporttotheNationalHealthSysteminprevention,diagnosisand treatmentof infectiousdiseases,microbiologicaldiagnosisofemergingorunusualhumaninfections,participationinthecontrolofalertsininfectiousdiseases,detectionof resistance to antimicrobials, evaluation of vaccines against human pathogens, developing ofbiomedical research in infectious pathology, technological innovation to improve thecharacterizationofviruses,bacteria,fungiandparasitesandpathogenesisofimmunological-baseddiseases.

• NationalCentreforEpidemiology:Epidemiologicalsurveillanceandresearchofcommunicableandsome non-communicable diseases (cancer, cardiovascular and neurologic disorders). Researchprojects on influenza, geographical distribution of some communicable diseases, HIV infection,environmental factors, metals, obesity, diet and other determinants of cancer, metalbiomonitoring,cardiovascularrisk factors,monitoringtobaccoandothermodifiabledeterminantsandmethodologicaldevelopment.

• National Centre for Tropical Medicine: Scientific support to the National Health System in theprevention and monitoring of tropical pathologies, improving research in tropical medicine anddiseasesrelatedtointernationalhealth.

• Institute of Rare Diseases Research: Scientific support to the National Health System in thedevelopmentofboththeRareDiseasesNationalRegistryandtheNationalRareDiseasesStrategy.Promoteandimplementepidemiological,socio-economicandtranslationalresearchinareassuchas rare diseases, rare cancer, congenitalmalformations, autism spectrum disorders and toxic oilsyndrome. Coordinating the National Rare Diseases Biobank and the Rare Diseases PatientsRegistry.

• Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Disease:Chronic Diseases ResearchUnit: Developingbasic and translational research activities, referential diagnosis and training in chronic diseases,


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thusprovidingascientificandtechnicalsupportresourceforthemostprevalentdiseases,mainlycancerandneurodegenerativedisorders,inthecontextoftheNationalHealthSystem.

• Digital Health Research Unit: Research and scientific and technical advice on the application ofInformation and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on health. It develops a technological andhumanplatformforthedefinition,development,implementationandevaluationofnewhealthcareservicesbasedonICTs.Italsohasresearchlinesonclinicalandexposures(exposome)informationmanagement (acquisition, normalization, anonymization, persistence,...) and on how to extractmedicalknowledgefromitbyapplyingmachinelearningtechniques.

• Nursing and Healthcare Research Unit (Investén-isciii):Research in aging, frailty and fallsprevention;Sleepqualityandcircadianrhythmusingsensors,painmanagement(mainlyinchildrenwithcancer)andimplementationofbestpracticeguidelinesindailyclinicalpracticetroughtheBestPracticeSpotlightOrganizationsInternationalProgram.

• National Centre for Environmental Health: Scientific-technical support in environmental healthmatters. Research and technological innovation on: - Air Quality (it is the Spanish NationalReferenceLaboratory forAirQuality), -Toxicological research includinghumanbiomonitoring toevaluatehumanexposuretochemicals,andriskassessmentofenvironmentalchemicalsonhumanhealth,-WaterQualityincludingecotoxicologicalevaluation,-Researchonionizingandnonionizingradiation (radioactive polution on food and environmental samples and Radiation dosimetry inhumans).

DonostiaInternationalPhysicsCenter

ScientificactivityatDIPCaddressesfundamentaltopicsthattakeplaceonverydifferentlengthscales,fromelementaryparticlestoatoms,nanostructures,mesoscopicsystems,andgalaxies.DIPC’sresearchactivitywillbestructuredinthreethematicareas,QUANTUM,NANO,andCOSMOS,thatarerepresentativeoftheproblemsanddomainsinwhichDIPCiscurrentlyactive.Specificareasofresearchinwhichtheapplicantscanworkfollow:

ThethreeresearchareasthatwilldriveDIPC’sresearcheffortintheperiod2019-2022are:

QUANTUM

The QUANTUM area includes research activity on systems in which quantum effects determine theelectronic, optical, and magnetic properties. Research is performed on quantum systems, quantuminformation, topological materials, tensor networks, theoretical and computational quantum chemistry,attosecondphysicsandelectronicexcitationsanddynamics,amongothertopics.

NANO

TheNANOarea includes researchactivityonnanoscalesystems forwhichemergentpropertiesariseandinterdisciplinary approaches are needed. Research is performed on the experimental characterization ofself-assembledand low-dimensionalsystems,onnano-photonicsandnano-optics,onthephotoactivationof nanosystems, on the theory of electronic transport in the nanoscale and on nanoconfined polymers,amongothertopics.


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COSMOS

The COSMOS area includes research activity on very fundamental problems linked to the origin,composition, structure, and evolution of the Universe. Research is performed on matter-antimatterasymmetry through experimental particle physics, neutrino physics, computational cosmology and thenatureofdarkenergyanddarkmatter.

MaterialPhysicsCenter(MPC-CFM)

MPC-CFMresearchactivitycoverselectronic,magnetic,opticalanddielectricpropertiesofcondensedandsoftmatter systems, aswell as surfaces andnanostructured architectures. Theoretical and experimentalresearch methods are combined for the study of nanoscale properties of matter. MPC-CFM researchactivitiesaregroupedintofour(4)mainlines,althoughtheorganisationalstructureremainsfullyhorizontalandcross-linked,sincemultidisciplinaryresearchisactivelypursued:

I. CHEMICAL PHYSICS OF COMPLEX MATERIALS The research line “Chemical Physics of Complex Materials” addresses the structural and electronicproperties of complex nanostructured materials, particularly in the presence of molecules. Bothexperimentalandtheoreticaleffortsarecombinedtounderstandtheproperties,formationanddynamicsofdifferentmoleculesandnanostructuresatsurfaces.

Theexperimentallaboratoriesareequippedwith:- Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES) system combined with atomic-resolved

microscopy(ScanningTunnelingMicroscope,STM)- Ultra High Vacuum chamber combining different surface characterisation techniques: X-Ray

Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS), Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS), Low EnergyElectronDiffraction (LEED) and Scanning TunnelMicroscope (STM) (with thepossibility to use inAtomicForceMicroscope(AFM)mode)

- MagnetoOpticKerrEffect(MOKE)set-up- AtomicForceMicroscopy(AFM)/ScanningTunnelMicroscope(STM)operableat1K

II. ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES AT THE NANOSCALE The research line “Electronic Properties at the Nanoscale” focuses on the theoretical investigation ofelectronic properties of solids, surfaces, nanostructures, and low-dimensional systems, includingspintronics,nanomagentism,orattoseconddynamicsinsolids.Theactivitywithinthisresearchlinecoversthestudyofawiderangeofadvancedmaterialsatmicroscopicandmesoscopicscales,suchasmaterialsunderhighpressureorceramicsandcement-basedmaterials.This latterarealsostudiedexperimentally,usingequipmentforsynthesizingceramicsandcements.

III. PHOTONICS The research line “Photonics” deals with the experimental and theoretical study of the interaction ofradiation with matter from different and complementary approaches: (i) the interaction of light with


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metallic and semiconductor nanostructures to confine and engineer electromagnetic fields in thenanoscale,(ii)theopticalpropertiesofnewmaterialsandelementsthatprovideimprovedpropertiesinavarietyoflasingeffects,aswellasthedesignofnovelphotonicstructuresthatprovidelaserconfinementfor bioimaging, (iii) spectroscopy and photonic applications of nano-scale functional units, includingdifferenttypesoflow-dimensionalsystems,and(iv)thedevelopmentofhybridquantumdevicesbasedontheinteractionoflightandmatteratthenanoscale.

Theexperimentallaboratoriesareequippedwith:- Differentspectroscopysystemswithhighspectralresolutionintheultraviolet-visible-infrared(UV-

VIS-IR)radiationdomains- Confocaltime-resolvedphotoluminescence(TRPL)set-up- Opticaltablesforstudyingphotonstates- Lasersystems- etc.

IV. POLYMERS AND SOFT MATTER Theresearchline“Polymers&SoftMatter”dealswiththeexperimentalandtheoreticalstudyofpolymersandsoftcondensedmattermaterials,focusingmainlyontheinvestigationofthestructureanddynamicsofpolymers and glass-forming complex systems (multi-component, nano-structured and biopolymermaterials)atdifferentlengthandtimescales(micro,nano,meso,macro).Thefollowingspecificobjectiveshavebeentargeted:(i)understandingoftheinterplayofgeometryandtopologyinpolymericmaterials,(ii)thecharacterisationof interfacial features,and (iii) thestudyof thedynamicsat the interfacial level, thenewconfinementeffectsandthewaylocalfrictionarisesincrowedenvironments.

Theexperimentaleffortaredevelopedinasetoflaboratoriesthatareequipped,amongothers:- Severalspectrometers,coveringawidedynamicalrangeanddifferentsampleenvironments- Optical ConfocalMicroscopy, Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM) and Atomic ForceMicroscopy

(AFM)- Equipment for the characterisation of physicochemical properties and stability ofmolecular and

supramolecularchemicalcompounds- DifferentialScanningCalorimetrer(DSC),Thermogravimetricanalyser(TGA),Dilatometer(DIL),etc.

forthermalcharacterisation- Rheometers- SmallAngleX-RayScattering(SAXS)andWideAngleX-RayScattering(WAXS)techniques- etc.

Overall, within this scientific structure, the applicant could collaborate with the different MPC-CFMresearch groups working on the following main strategic topics at MPC-CFM: Nanophotonics; Two-dimensional materials; Topological materials; Soft matter; Ab-initio characterization of nanostructuredmaterials; Surface Nanophysics; Nanodevices; Quantum Technologies; and Ceramics and Cement-basedmaterials.


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Principe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) is multidisciplinary instituteorganized in 4 interconnectedprogrammes

Molecular Basis of HumanDisease:this programme is focused on identificationof themolecularcausesandmechanismsofseveralhumandiseaseswithemphasisinrarediseases,metabolicdiseasesandcancer.Itaimstogenerateknowledgethatwillimprovethediagnosisandthedevelopmentofspecifictherapeuticstrategies. It promotes a model of translational research and biomedical innovation to drive thedevelopmentofnewtools,biomarkersandtherapeutictargets.

Neuroinflamation and Neurological Impairment:This programme performs basic and translationalresearchonthemechanisms,diagnosisandtreatmentofneurologicalimpairmentindifferentpathologicalsituations, including minimal and clinical hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis, acute liver failure,hyperammonemias, chronic alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse in adolescence and adulthood andperinatalexposuretoethanol(fetalalcoholsyndrome)ortofoodorenvironmentalcontaminants.

New Technologies in Biomedical Research:Investigators in this programmedevelop methodologies forhigh-throughputdataanalysisandprovidessoftwaretoolsforomicsstudiestounderstandthefunctionalaspectsacrossdifferentorganismsanditsrelationshipwithdiseasesandtraits.

Advanced Therapies:The objective of this research areais the development of new diagnostic andtherapeuticapproachesforhealthproblemsthroughtheapplicationofnanotechnology,celltherapy,andmedicinal chemistry. This program addressed tools for neoplastic processes, spinal cord injury,musculoskeletalinjury,neurodegenerativediseases,inflammatoryprocessesandcardiomyopathies.

Recently,CIPFhascreatedatransversalprogrammeto integrateGenderResearchinour instituteandtopromote the elimination of gender bias in the research community. Precision medicine must includeassessmentofrelevantsexdifferencesandanalysisofgendereffectsinbiomedicalresearch.

InstituteofMathematicalSciences (ICMAT) (www.icmat.es)Ourgoal is togenerateknowledge inall theareas of mathematics, particularly in Algebraic Geometry, Mathematical Physics, Differential Geometry,Geometric Mechanics, Mathematical Analysis, Differential Equations and Applications, Number Theory,Grouptheory,Statistics,Probability,OperationsResearchandMathematicsofQuantumInformation.Moredetailedinformationcanbefoundinhttps://www.icmat.es/research/lines.

SpanishNationalCenterofBiotechnology(CNB)

Structural Biology. The CNB stands out for its critical mass of research in 3D-electron and X-Raymicroscopy, ranging fromcryo-electronmicroscopy to3Dsingleparticle reconstruction, tomographyandcorrelativemethods,togetherwith in-housedevelopmentof imagingsoftware.GroupsfocusingonX-Raycrystallography, functional proteomics and biophysics complete the coverage of key areas in structural


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biology.Research in this area is transversal and connectswithbiochemists and cell biologistswhoapplyleading-edgebiophysicalapproachestoresolvebiologicalquestions,suchasthemolecularmechanismsofvirusassembly,DNArepair,celldivisionorproteinhomeostasis.

Cellular and Molecular Biology. Research groups in this area cover two broad but closely interwoventopics.Thefirsttopicismolecularvirologyandcomprisesmultidisciplinaryeffortstodissectviralreplicationmechanismsandstructuralstudiesofkeyviralproteins,aswellasvirus-hostinteractionsofrelevanthumanandveterinarypathogens.Thesecondtopicisregulationofgeneexpression,withafocusonthenetworksthat control the function of mammalian genes with critical roles in normal and pathological processes,includingdevelopmentaldefects,cognitivedisorders,neurodegenerationandrarediseases.

MicrobialBiotechnology.MicrobiologistsattheCNBaimatgainingknowledgeonkeyaspectsofmicrobialbiology with environmental, clinical or biotechnological relevance through approaches that includemolecular genetics, genomics, proteomics, metagenomics and synthetic biology. The subjects studiedinclude environmental microbiology, microbial responses to hostile environments, microbial pathogens,microbialengineering,microbialresistancetoantibioticsandsearchfornewantimicrobials.

Plant Molecular Genetics. Research in this area aims at elucidating signaling pathways in growth andadaptive responses of plants to environmental changes and pathogenic diseases. Besides the intrinsicfundamental interest inunderstanding keybiological processes inplants, theultimategoal is todevelopnewtoolsandmethodstoimprovecropproductionandquality.Biotechnologicalapplicationssuchastheuse of plants as biopharmaceutical factories or as tools to fight environmental problems arising fromspillagesandtheaccumulationoftoxicsubstancesarealsobeingstudied.

ImmunologyandOncology.Biomedicalresearchgroupsinthisareaaddressvariouskeyaspectsofinnateandadaptive immunity,withspecialemphasisoncharacterizing themolecularmechanisms thatunderlieinflammation, theprocesses thatdrive tissue-specific tumordevelopment, aswell as tumor immunologyandtherelationshipsamongstemcells, inflammationandcancer.Abroadandmultidisciplinaryapproachtostudythesediseasesintegratesknowledgerangingfromcellbiologyandimmunologytonanomedicineand stem cell biology, as well as input from clinical research through a network of collaborations withhospitalsandpharmaceuticalcompanies.

SystemsBiology.Amorerecent focusof researchat theCNB isontheapplicationofemergingconceptsandtoolsinthefieldsofsystemsbiology,evolutionarybiology,computationalbiologyandsyntheticbiologytobiologicallyrelevantquestions.Thebiotechnologicalsideofthisapproachincludesnovelstrategiestore-program bacteria for the efficient production of chemicals, biodegradation of toxic pollutants or asbiosensors to monitor the presence of given chemicals. Metagenomics, metatranscriptomics andmathematicmodeling techniques are used to evaluate changes in composition, function and activity ofbacteria in response to environmental perturbations, as well as to determine the conditions that favorcombinationsofspeciesforspecifictasksinbiotechnological,clinicalandecologicalscenarios.


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InstituteofSustainableAgriculture(IAS)

• Developmentofmanagementsystemsandtechnologiesthatoptimizetheconservationandefficientuseof resources,mainly soilandwater.Efficientuseofwater in irrigatedagriculturesystemsunderwater scarceconditions.Useofmodelsand remotesensing to facilitate sustainablemanagementofagriculturalsystems.

• Crop breeding for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Promotion of biodiversity in agriculturethrough conservation and enhancement of plant genetic resources. Development of cultivars withenhancedqualitiesorientedtothemarketdemand.

• Co-designing cropping systems for improving food security, land andwater productivity, soil qualityandclimatechangemitigationinAfrica.Analysisofstrategiesfortheadaptationofagriculturesystemsto future scenarios of climate change. Development of innovative and environmentally friendlystrategiesfortheintegratedmanagementofpests,diseasesandweeds.

CampusofInternationalExcellenceinAgrifood

• Researchandinnovationlinesofthewholeagrifoodchain:fromtheimprovementandoptimizationofresourcesforbothvegetableandanimalproduction,toeconomicandlegalaspects

• Plantandanimalproduction,biotechnologyandhealth• Sustainableproductionincludingagrifoodinputsandallaspectsregardingwaterandwaste

management,soilconservationandfertility• Biotechnology,FoodQualityandFoodSafety,Bioenergyandcreativesolutionsforthefood

industryusingthemostadvancedtechniques.• MarketingandAgrifoodEconomicsissuesandLawandBusiness,includingRuralDevelpoment.• BioeconomyandDigitizationintheagrifoodsectorhighlightsascross-

sectorialflagshipceiA3’sinitiatives.7.DecisionThejury'sfinaldecision,whichshallbedictatedbythestrictestcriteriaofmeticulousnessandtransparency,willbepublishedbyNovember20,2019Successful candidates are expected to start their researchprojects at theassignedhost institutions fromJanuary2020.8.Successfulapplicants’commitmentsThe beneficiaries of the visiting research fellowships agree to respect and comply with the internalacademicandlegalregulationsofthehostresearchcentre.Theawardoffellowshipsdoesnotgenerateanystatutory or labour relation with FMxA, and candidates commit themselves to return to their places oforigininAfricaoncetheyhavefinalizedtheirresearchstay.9.Monitoringoftheproject


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Fellowshiprecipientsareobligedtosubmitwithin2monthsafterfinalizationoftheirresearchstaytotheWomen for Africa Foundation a final report containing the results of their research projects as well aspropositionstodeepencollaborationbetweenthehostcenterandtheoneoforigin.10.ResultsanddisseminationoftheresearchprojectsTheIntellectualandIndustrialProperty(IP)generatedbytheBeneficiariesthroughoutthetermofthestayattheHostEntitywillberegulatedbythesametermsandconditionswhichapplytotheIPgeneratedbytheresearchpersonneloftheHostentity.Submission of applications implies that the fellowship recipients grant to FMxA and the host center, inconsiderationofthebenefitssetforthinSection3,therighttopublishanddisseminatetheresultsofthechosen research projects in all forms (including, but not limited in form of working papers, electronicdocuments and books) and in all territories, with no detriment to the publications in scientific journalschosen by the researchers, which should in any case mention the support received by FMxA and thecollaboratingresearchcentre.

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