UNU-BIOLAC is accepting applications to academic activities held in webinar modules around a common theme, according to the priority areas of the Programme. Following our mission to build capacities in Biotechnology within Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, we aim to prepare and qualify professionals through high-level training courses. All activities are co-organized with UNU-BIOLAC throughout the LAC countries and are carried out in collaboration with an international network of highly qualified academics and researchers in the diverse fields of biotechnology.
In pursuit of strengthening the region’s biotechnology studies and networks, and considering the current circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, we have decided to announce a new initiative to integrate elite professionals in the biotechnology fields into virtual activities to engage with regional professionals. These academic activities are of great importance for our mission by empowering qualified professionals to implement academic activities all over the region and incorporating them as an active UNU-BIOLAC alumni community.
Applications are sought from senior researchers who combine the highest level of research excellence with a demonstrated passion for delivering social impact from biotechnology.
With this call, accepted members will have the opportunity to be part of the UNU-BIOLAC mission by proposing high-level capacity building activities and helping to increase UNU-BIOLAC outreach and dissemination capabilities.
Each UNU-BIOLAC webinar activity is expected to host a minimum of 15 participants and be organized by at least one coordinator. It is expected that a minimum of 3 invited expert speakers could be part of the event. These training webinars will have to rely on worldwide experts and participants that equally represent the LAC region. At the end of the activity, the coordinator will have to deliver a final report with all academic/training results and must include a financial statement of all incurred expenses. The final report will be subjected to evaluation by the UNU-BIOLAC academic committee. If an activity receives an outstanding evaluation, its coordinator will be able to apply for further financing within this or any other UNU-BIOLAC call.
Each webinar should provide as outputs a final report and a recording of the activity.
The call for academic memberships is open to all senior researchers who are engaged in active research and academic activities working in high-throughput and deep sequencing of genomes, metagenomic analysis, and whole-genome gene expression to discover new genes and biological functions, which are key technological approaches that provide new insights into the three priority areas that were identified in the context of global climate change as challenging the sustainability of traditional cropping systems and the control of animal and human health by affecting the (re)emergence of diseases and their etiological agents and vectors.
Therefore, UNU-BIOLAC is seeking to empower young scientists to use Big Data as a knowledge-enabling strategy that traverses across the following priority areas:
The UNU-BIOLAC webinar programme is committed to making use of biotechnology for social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and therefore, are willing to promote scientific and technological knowledge to a broad audience, engage in policy debate, and foster international and interdisciplinary collaboration.
During the webinar, coordinators’ prerogative to apply for further funds, under competitive bases, to cover:
All applicants should download and complete all mandatory documentation and submit it with the application form to applications.biolac@unu.edu
The email must contain the following information:
Email Subject: Webinar programme 2020: “Name of the applicant”
Email content:
Mandatory attachments:
Please note that for an application to be considered it must be oriented towards UNU-BIOLAC priority areas. Any application that does not meet this requirement will need to be accompanied by a justification letter. Special considerations will be made for subject matters that are relevant to the region.
UNU-BIOLAC is an equal opportunity institution. No applicant for our academic or research activities shall be discriminated against in any term or condition because of gender, race, colour, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex or sexual orientation.