An Intergovernmental Organisation for research, training, and technology transfer in the fields of health, agriculture and energy to promote sustainable global development. With Laboratories in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town the ICGEB offers a unique technological and educational platform to promote scientific learning and innovation.
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The BWC is a key element in the international community’s efforts to address WMD proliferation and it has established a strong norm against biological weapons. The Convention has reached almost universal membership with 185 States Parties and four Signatory States.
An Intergovernmental Organisation for research, training, and technology transfer in the fields of health, agriculture and energy to promote sustainable global development. With Laboratories in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town the ICGEB offers a unique technological and educational platform to promote scientific learning and innovation.
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The BWC is a key element in the international community’s efforts to address WMD proliferation and it has established a strong norm against biological weapons. The Convention has reached almost universal membership with 185 States Parties and four Signatory States.
The course is part of a joint initiative between ICGEB, TWAS, IAP and BWC from 4 to 8 March 2024 in Trieste Italy, to promote capacity-building in virus detection and biosecurity with an insight to the current issues of science and diplomacy. The selected participants will start their training with briefings and a tabletop exercise on science and diplomacy related topics to biosecurity and the BWC over a 1.5-day workshop organised by TWAS and IAP at the TWAS headquarters. The second part of the capacity building initiative is comprised of theoretical sessions, lectures by international experts in virology, diagnostic procedures, epidemiology, public health, surveillance, antiviral therapy, vaccines, and biosecurity which will be held at the ICGEB headquarters. The training at the ICGEB includes practical sessions on application of molecular assay techniques for virus detection and application of a next-generation sequencing methods for virus detection in the field.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF SPONSORED FELLOWS:
Early/mid-career scientists (preferably 40 years or younger);
Female applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given priority;
Research and wider engagement related to virology, microbiology and infectious disease;
Demonstrated background in molecular biology is essential to get full benefit of the practical sessions;
Only applicants from the countries in the DAC list of ODA recipients will be considered. For list of eligible countries see HERE.
FUNDING:
Selected participants will receive financial support for air travel, daily subsistence allowance in accordance with the United Nations regulations and visa expenses.
REGISTRATION:
Documents to be provided by applicants: a motivation letter outlining the specific interest to attend and a CV demonstrating the relevant background. Participants are encouraged to have a valid national passport when applying for the course and necessary authorization for participation at the course.
Applicants must register on the ICGEB Service Gateway (ISG) HERE, in order to obtain access to the online submission platform.
Data entered for registration to the ISG portal (name, surname, gender, date of birth, nationality and E-mail address) will automatically be included in the applicant’s request to attend the event – “Personal data” section – and will not be editable
For general queries: mehran.rouzbahani@un.org
For any problems with ISG access, please contact the ICGEB IT support service at support@icgeb.org
Deadline to apply: 17 December 2023.
Outcome of selection: 14 January 2024.