The TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme offers young scientists from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) the opportunity to spend three months at research institutions and Centres of Excellence in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy.
The programme supports collaborative research projects and training visits that contribute to sustainability science and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to strengthen the research capacity of early-career scientists while creating opportunities for international collaboration.
What Does the Programme Support?
Only applications in the fields listed below will be considered. Research proposals must be relevant to areas that support the SDGs (please see https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org).
– SISSA
- PHYSICS
- Astroparticle Physics (APP)
- Astrophysics and Cosmology (APC)
- Theory and Numerical Simulation of Condensed Matter (CM)
- Physics and Chemistry of Biological Systems (SBP)
- Statistical Physics (SP)
- Theoretical Particle Physics (TPP)
- Data Science Excellence Department Initiative (DS)
- NEUROSCIENCE
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
- Functional and Structural Genomics
- MATHEMATICS
- Geometry
- Mathematical analysis
- Mathematical modelling
- Mathematical physics
- Numerical analysis and scientific computing
- SCIENCE OUTREACH
See: https://www.sissa.it/interdisciplinary-laboratory
- COVID-RELATED PROJECT
See: https://www.sissa.it/news/sissa-projects-and-covid-19
– International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)
- Non-communicable diseases (See: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases)
- Human viral diseases (dengue, chikungunya, zika, tick-borne encephalitis viruses, COVID-19)
- Biotherapeutics and biosimilars
- Plant biotechnology and microbiome studies
- Computational biology.
– National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) (only one host supervisor available: Prof. Andrea Vacchi)
- Technologies related to the development of MIR sources for high precision spectroscopies
- Silicon sensors and detection systems developments for synchrotron light sources applications
- Sensors development for high energy astrophysics
– National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) (contact email address: mobility@ogs.it)
- OCEANOGRAPHY
- Physical Oceanography
- Applied Oceanography
- Biogeochemistry
- Marine Biology
- Marine Systems Modelling
- SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Marine spatial planning
- Eutrophication
- Biodiversity
- Climate adaptation and coastal resilience
- GEOPHYSICS
- Geosciences
- Borehole geophysics
- Geophysical integrated analysis and new technologies
- Airborne geophysics
- Onshore geophysics
- SEISMOLOGY
- Applied seismology
- Seismic hazard
- Induced seismicity
- Geodesy
- Seismic engineering
- CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
- Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnologies
- Energy, Environment and Sustainable Chemistry
- Analytical and Cultural Heritage Chemistry
- Material Chemistry
- Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
- Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of Organic Compounds and Biomolecules
- Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis
- Bioorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry
- Drug Design, Synthesis and Formulation
- MATHEMATICS
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Mathematical analysis
- Mathematical physics
- Numerical analysis
- COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Artificial Intelligence
- Big Data
- Application of A.I. to Medicine
- GEOSCIENCES
- Paleontology
- Structural Geology and Sedimentology
- Applied Geology
- Mineralogy and Petrography
- Geochemistry
- Seismology
- Studies on Antarctica
- BIOMEDICINE – contact person: Prof. Paolo Macor: pmacor@units.it
- Molecular oncology
- Molecular microbiology
- Immunology and molecular pathology
- Pharmacology and chemotherapy
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Neurosciences
- Biomaterials and tissue engineering
- Molecular genetics
- ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY – contact person: Prof. Paolo Macor: pmacor@units.it
- Terrestrial ecology
- Marine biology and ecology
- Freshwater biology and ecology
- Plant and animal ecophysiology
- Environmental microbiology and genetics
- Biodiversity informatics and conservation
- PSYCHOLOGY – contact person: Prof. Pierpaolo Busan: pbusan@units.it
- Cognition and applied cognitive psychology
- Neuropsychology and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
- Personality and social psychology
- Typical and atypical development during lifespan
- HUMANITIES
- Cultural heritage – Cultures and cultural Production
- Archeology
- Geography
- History of Art
- Cinema, music, media culture
- Philosophy
- Education: Systems, institutions. Teaching and learning.
- Social Science
- History of Literature
- Literary theory and comparative literature
- Social Anthropology
- History
- Liguistics
- AGRICUTLURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL SCIENCES
- Crop production and yield
- Agro-forestry
- Husbandry
- Biomass use for energy purposes
- CULTURAL HERITAGE
- Archeology
- History of Art and Architecture
- Cinema, music, media culture
- COMPUTER SCIENCES
- Artificial intelligence
- Cyber-security
- Big data
– Materials Foundry-National Research Council (IOM-CNR)
- Energy and Environment: Chemical physics of materials, interfaces, and surfaces down to single atoms
- Quantum Materials: Understanding and controlling quantum systems to enable novel technologies
- Sensors and Devices: Exploring and tailoring the electronic, optical and magnetic properties of matter at the nanoscale
- BioMed: Biophysics, Nanomedicine, and Soft Matter
– Area Science Park – contact email address: gestionerit@areasciencepark.it
- GENOMICS AND EPOGENOMICS LABORATORY
- NGS-based Covid19 genomic surveillance
- Environmental microbiome research using NGS
- ELECTRON MICROSCOPY LABORATORY
- Advanced characterization of nanostructured materials by transmission electron microscopy
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING (LABORATORY OF DATA ENGINEERING)
- Machine learning and deep learning for life sciences
- Representation of information in artificial neural networks
- Statistical and geometric techniques for data analysis
- Large scale scientific computing and HPC for deep learning
- Management of large data structures
- Atomic and Molecular physics
- Atomic Force Microscopy
- High-pressure X-ray diffraction
- Inelastic ultraviolet scattering
- Infrared microscopy
- Laser physics
- Mechanical engineering
- Optics, including x-ray optics
- Solid-state photoelectron spectroscopy and spectromicroscopy
- Structural biology and macromolecular crystallography
- THz science and technology
- X-ray absorption and X-ray fluorescence
- X-ray imaging and tomography
The programme particularly encourages research connected to sustainability science and development challenges relevant to the SDGs.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must:
- Be 40 years old or younger as of 31 December 2026
- Hold an MSc or higher degree
- Be a national of a Least Developed Country
- Hold a research position in a Least Developed Country
- Have a research proposal relevant to sustainability science and the SDGs
- Meet the specific scientific field requirements of the selected host institution
- Be able to return to their home country after completing the research visit
Women scientists are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants who are already in Italy are not eligible.
Participating Host Institutions
Research visits can be hosted by institutions including:
- SISSA – Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN)
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS)
- University of Trieste
- University of Udine
- Materials Foundry – National Research Council (IOM-CNR)
- Area Science Park
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste
What Does the Programme Cover?
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, through UNESCO-TWAS, will cover travel expenses and subsistence costs for the stay in Italy.
The visit lasts three months.
Application Process
Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process early.
Before submitting an application, candidates should:
- Identify a suitable host institution and research area.
- Review the research areas available at the host institution.
- Contact a potential host supervisor and discuss the proposed research.
- Develop a research plan for the three-month visit.
- Obtain an acceptance letter from the potential host supervisor.
- Submit the application through the TWAS online application system.
The acceptance letter should be obtained before submitting the application, so applicants should not wait until the deadline to contact potential supervisors.
Deadline
31 October 2026
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Why Apply?
This programme offers early-career researchers from Least Developed Countries the opportunity to gain international research experience, work alongside scientists in Italian research institutions, strengthen their research capacity and develop connections for future scientific collaboration.
It is particularly valuable for researchers whose work contributes to sustainability, climate and environmental challenges, biodiversity, water, ocean science, health, technology or other SDG-related areas.
