Skip to main content

Funding & Scholarships

Funding mechanisms to support mathematical sciences vary widely across the world. Here is some information about funding that relates particularly to women. Information about grants that relate particularly to CWM and the IMU may be found here

Abel Visiting Scholar Program (IMU & developing countries)

The Niels Henrik Abel Board and the International Mathematical Union invite applications from mathematicians professionally based in developing countries to visit an international research collaborator for a period of one month. The period is extendable for up to three month in the case of matching support from the host institution. 

Ada Lovelace postdoctoral fellowships with the Quantum Software Consortium (NL)

The Quantum Software Consortium (QSC) offers prestigious 3-year fellowships, called Ada Lovelace postdoctoral Fellowships, aimed at hiring talented female researchers.

3-year appointments occur at one of the QSC-partners, according to the terms of employment of the Dutch Universities or that of the Research Institutes. 

The first call for proposals is open until January 31, 2019.

AIMS NEI Fellowship Program for Women in Climate Change Science

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI) invites interested female scientists to apply for the third round of the AIMS-NEI Fellowships for Women in Climate Change Science (WiCCS).

Association for Women in Mathematics (USA)

The AWM website offers a variety of travel grants.

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships (UK)

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships, offered by the British Royal Society,  are for outstanding scientists in the UK at an early stage of their research career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances such as parenting or caring responsibilities or health issues.  Female candidates are particularly invited to apply. Dorothy Mary Hodgkin, OM, FRS (1910 – 1994) was a British biochemist, credited with the development of protein crystallography. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964.

Elsevier Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World

The Awards reward and encourage women working and living in developing countries in the early stages of their scientific careers. The Awards rotate annually between disciplines. Subject areas are:
2017 (selected in 2016) - Engineering Sciences: Engineering, Innovation and Technology
2018 (selected in 2017) - Physical Sciences: Chemistry, Maths and Physics

Elsevier Mathematical Sciences Sponsorship Fund

This is sponsorship for men and women in least one of three categories: Young researchers - travel grants for conferences or workshops; Educational - educational activity aimed at promoting the mathematical sciences to young researchers, or educating the general public; Philanthropy - support for activities to advance mathematical sciences in developing nations.

Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarships

Dr. Anita Borg devoted her adult life to revolutionizing the way we think about technology and dismantling barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields. Her combination of technical expertise and fearless vision continues to inspire and motivate countless women to become active participants and leaders in creating technology.

In her honor, Google is proud to honor Anita’s memory and support women in technology with the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship. Google hopes to encourage women to excel in computing and technology and become active role models and leaders in the field.

Google Anita Borg Scholarship recipients will each receive a financial award for the academic year. A group of female undergraduate and graduate students will be chosen from the applicant pool, and scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of each candidate’s academic background and demonstrated leadership.

India: Scholarships for Indian Women

The Kovalveskaya fund for women in developing countries.

This is a small foundation which aims to encourage women in science and technology in developing countries. Founded in 1985, it is named after the Russian mathematician, socialist and feminist Sofia V. Kovalevskaya (1850—1891).

Kovalevskaia Research Grants for Female Mathematicians in Southern Africa Region

"The Kovalevskaia Research Grants is an initiative of the Kovalevskaia Fund and SAMSA within the MASAMU Program, aiming at encouraging upcoming female mathematicians from the sub-Saharan Africa. The grant is awarded to female candidates from the region who have demonstrated outstanding work with respect to research and publications in pure or applied mathematics."

London Mathematical Society (UK)

The London Mathematical Society (LMS)  offers small childcare grants to help people with young children  attending conferences, and the Grace Chisholm Young Fellowships  to mathematicians who need support when their mathematical career is interrupted by family responsibilities or similar circumstance. Grace Chisholm Young (1868-1944) was a well known British mathematician.

L’Oréal-UNESCO: Women and Scientific Excellence and The For Women in Science Program

In 1998, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO joined forces to create For Women in Science partnership, which supports women researchers all over the world.The programs offer various awards and fellowships to women scientists which take different formats in different regions. For example:

The L’Oréal USA For Women In Science fellowship program awards five post doctoral women scientists in the United States grants of up to $60,000 each. Applicants are welcome from a variety of fields, including the life and physical/material sciences, technology (including computer science), engineering, and mathematics.

In Brazil, awards are  managed  by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, see here.

The Organisation for Women in Science in Developing Countries (OWSD) 

The Organisation for Women in Science in Developing Countries (OWSD) offers  fellowships and awards to women scientists to pursue postgraduate research in a field of the natural sciences.  The fellowship programme is for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a doctorate degree at a centre of excellence in the South outside their own country. The awards are for women up to 10 years after receiving their PhD.

WISE (Women into Science and Engineering - UK)

WISE (Women into Science and Engineering - UK) offers various support including scholarships for  young women starting or on a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) apprenticeship or degree at a UK University.