The SAFE Fellowship: A Lifeline for At-Risk Researchers
Call to researchers! If you are suffering and facing problems like harassment, persecution, or violence, then the SAFE Fellowship wants to provide assistance to you. It’s a program targeted to all non-European researchers undertaking PhD/doctoral or postdoctoral positions in all fields of science. The objective is to create opportunities for endangered scientists to work in a secure and conducive atmosphere.
Who Can Apply?
The SAFE Fellowships for non-EU researchers presently undertaking PhD doctoral studies or positions qualified as “postdoctoral”, who really face qualifying risks such as, but not limited to, discrimination, persecution, or violence. The fellowship is of two categories eligible to afford a range of situations.
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Eligibility Tracks
Track 1: Researchers Facing Threats Outside the EU
This track is for researchers who:
- Are not EU citizens and are under threat in their home country or have fled their country in the recent past due to such threats.
- Have not acquired refugee status or subsidiary protection status.
Track 2: Researchers Who Are Within the EU
This track is for researchers who:
- Are non-EU citizens residing temporarily in an EU Member State and recognized as a refugee or in the circumstance of subsidiary protection.
- Are in the EU on a temporary permit/visa, outside the formal refugee process.
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SAFE Fellowship Overview
Host Institutions
Eligible host institutions include academic and non-academic higher education or research organizations in countries of EU Member States. These institutions support and provide a space with sufficient resources for researchers to continue their work without fear.
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Eligibility Criteria for Researchers SAFE Fellowship
Specifically, to be eligible for the SAFE Fellowship, researchers must meet the following requirements:
- Be either a doctoral candidate or at least be in possession of a doctoral degree at the beginning of the fellowship.
- Be dealing with qualifying risks like discrimination, persecution, or violence at this very moment, or have dealt with this issue not too long ago.
- Possess adequate language proficiency required by the host institution.
- Be non-EU citizens.
- Include an ethics checklist along with the application.
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Available Fellowships
- Number: 60 fellowships
- Duration: Up to 24 months
- Funding: Fully funded, covering various aspects of the fellowship to ensure a secure and supportive environment for the researchers.
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Evaluation and Selection Process
The selection procedure is long and undergoes various stages to guarantee that only high-potential candidates are picked. The following are the steps:
- Eligibility Check: The first review will screen the candidates to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Preliminary Assessment: The preliminary assessment focuses on shortlisting candidates from the higher-level candidates.
- External Evaluation: A comprehensive external expert evaluation of the various merits of each application.
- Final Selection: Final selection based on results from a detailed process of evaluation.
- Notification of Results: The successful candidates are informed, and host institutions are notified.
- Fellowship Agreements are signed: Formal agreements are signed confirming the awarding of the fellowship and outlining terms and conditions.
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How to Apply for SAFE Fellowship
- Applications for SAFE Fellowships, submit online, are create by eligible researchers sponsor by EU-based host institutions. Here is a stepwise guide to the entire process:
- Research Host Institutions: Researching potential host institutions in the EU.! You would need to contact them to convince them if they would back or sponsor your fellowship application.
- Formulate a Joint Proposal: Prepare together with the host institution a joint proposal with the complete outline designed according to the SAFE call for applications.
- Submit Application Online: It is submitted to the online official portal by the host institution in your name.
- Include Linking Documents with the Application: It is important to include all essential linking documents, such as the ethics checklist and any proof of language proficiency.
- Track Application: Communicate frequently with your host institution about the status of your application.
Matchmaking Service
The very program our SAFE is to facilitate by connecting vulnerable researchers and potential host institutions throughout the EU. It would include the joint proposal such that researchers to find matching institutions where they can pursue research goals in an accommodating environment.
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Application Deadline
Mark this date: January 20, 2025. It is the application deadline for the SAFE Fellowship. Rather, gather together the required documents and submit them before this date to have your application considered.
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Conclusion
The SAFE Fellowship program is intended for those researchers facing serious danger in their respective home countries. It allows the provision of a safe and supportive environment for a researcher to continue his or her important work without fear of discrimination, persecution, or violence in EU Member States. If you or someone you know fits this category, act without further delay. Check if the potential candidate is eligible, reach out to a potential host institution and complete the application form today.