IMU 2023 Graduate Research Assistantships In Developing Countries (GRAID) Program

The Program provides research assistantships to graduate – PhD and Master – students of emerging research groups working in a developing country listed in Priority 1 or 2 of the IMU CDC Definition of Developing Countries. It provides modest support for emerging research groups, making it possible for them to fund their most talented students as graduate research assistants, thereby fostering the growth of a mathematics community.

It is assumed that the emerging research group has an ongoing collaboration with an international mathematician. The students will receive a monthly stipend to study full-time and pursue a Master or PhD graduate degree in mathematics and they will be supported additionally by linking their research with an international mathematician.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Principal Investigator should be a university professor in mathematics holding a PhD and live and work in a university or research center in a developing country listed in Priority 1 or 2 of the IMU CDC Definition of Developing Countries, and who is already training mathematics Master’s or PhD students, and who is part of a research group.
• The International Partner should be a mathematician working in a university or research center not based in any of the countries listed in Priority 1 or 2 of the IMU CDC Definition of Developing Countries.

The International Partner and Principal Investigator should be in regular contact, for instance using modern communication technology. At the time of application there should be an active and ongoing collaboration between the International Partner and Principal Investigator.

The Principal Investigator will be responsible for ensuring smooth sustained communication in the Team between:

• The graduate research assistants,
• The International Partner, and
• The GRAID Committee.

Benefits of IMU Postgraduate Scholarship

The amount of the stipend per graduate research assistant should not exceed USD 3,500 per year. The exact amount will be decided by the GRAID Committee on a case-by-case basis depending on the local cost of living. One Team can apply for up to 3 graduate research assistantships.

The following costs can be covered by the stipend:

• Accommodation expenses of the graduate research assistant
• Basic living expenses

Duration of Program: 

• For PhD students the stipend will typically cover 4 years depending on satisfactory progress based on annual reports. Extensions for up to 6 months will be decided at the discretion of the GRAID Committee.
• Master students will typically be funded for 1 year. Extensions for up to 6 months will be decided at the discretion of the GRAID Committee

Selection of the Graduate Research Assistants

• STEP 1:The Principal Investigator and the International Partner- whose application has been approved by the GRAID Committee, will be invited to nominate PhD and/or Master students who are ready to pursue a full-time graduate research assistantship. Once the Principal Investigator and the International Partner have selected the graduate research assistants, they should submit the names and a short description for each of these assistants and also provide their short CVs which include the following information, among others: previous experience, degrees in mathematics, science and/or engineering, list of publications (if any). The nomination of women students is strongly encouraged.
• STEP 2:The GRAID Committee will evaluate and select completed applications quarterly. The top ranked applications will be awarded graduate research assistantships, depending on availability of funds. The Committee decides on the amount of support for each Team, depending on the cost of living in the country of the Principal Investigator.

Documents Required for Application

The following documents have to be uploaded during the application process:

• A short CV of the PI and a short CV of the International Partner,
• A narrative Collaboration Proposal (not to exceed 3 pages) based on the already existing contacts between PI and International Partner. It must contain the following:
  • The proposal should describe their professional relationship, the research group the PI hopes to foster, the number of PhD and/or Master students they hope to support and a summary of their vision for the training of these students.
  • The research plan.
  • An itemized budget for the requested support.
  • The proposal should be signed by PI and International Partner.
• A reference letter, from the International Partner supporting the application, to be uploaded by the International Partner on receipt of an email requesting him/her to do so.

How to Apply

Go to International Mathematical Union (IMU) on www.mathunion.org to apply