TWAS-CUI Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

Please use the “apply now” button at the bottom of this page to start your application once the call is open.

Opening date of this fellowship: 8 May 2026

Closing date of this fellowship: 15 June 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the preliminary acceptance letter as early as possible. Keeping in mind that only Acceptance letters dated the same year as the year of application are eligible.

Programme details

• TWAS-CUI Postdoctoral Fellowships are tenable in the departments and laboratories of the campuses of the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) for a maximum period of six (6) months. An extension of  an additional six (06) months may be granted for the Postdoctoral fellowship, subject to the approval of both CUI and TWAS. However, no stipend or financial support will be provided during the extended period.

• CUI-TWAS Fellowships are offered in the following areas of the natural and related applied sciences: 

  Computer Science
  Computer Engineering
  Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM)
  Mathematics
  Environmental Sciences
  Biotechnology
  Chemistry
  Pharmacy

• CUI-TWAS Fellowships are also offered in the following social and economic sciences: 

  Management Science, Development Studies

• CUI will provide a monthly stipend which should be used to cover living costs such as food, accommodation and health insurance. The monthly stipend will not be convertible into foreign currency.
• The language of instruction is English.

Eligibility

Applicants for these fellowships must meet the following criteria:

• be nationals of a developing country (other than Pakistan);
• must not be on site in Pakistan;
• must not hold any visa for temporary or permanent residency in Pakistan or any developed country;
• hold a PhD degree in a field of natural sciences;
• IF applying in a field of eligible social sciences, hold a PhD degree in a field of social sciences;
• apply for the fellowship within five years of having obtained a PhD degree;
• be regularly employed in a developing country (other than Pakistan) and hold a research assignment there;
• provide an official Acceptance Letter from CUI (see sample preliminary acceptance letter that can be downloaded below or included in the online application form). Postdoctoral applicants may contact the prospective supervisor for academic guidance or input. See the list of host supervisors in the excel at the bottom of this page. After finding a suitable host supervisor, applicants are required to formally apply for an acceptance letter in writing to the Attention of: Mr. Kashif Masood, CUI Deputy Registrar here: cuitwasfellowships@comsats.edu.pk;
• provide evidence of proficiency in English, if medium of education was not English;
• provide evidence that s/he will return to her/his home country on completion of the fellowship;
• not take up other assignments during the period of her/his fellowship;
• be financially responsible for any accompanying family members and for any delay incurred in completing the fellowship.

Submitting your application

• The call for applications is open until 15 June 2026.
• Applicants must submit an Acceptance Letter from CUI when applying, or by the deadline at the latest. Without preliminary acceptance the application will not be considered for selection.
• Reference letters must be on letter-headed paper and signed, and submitted via the online portal only! N.B. Only signed reference letters can be accepted.
• Applications and all related material can only be accepted via the online portal using the apply now button at the bottom of this page.

Contact details

• TWAS Fellowships Office
ICTP campus, Strada Costiera 11
34151 Trieste, Italy
Tel: +39 040 2240-3555
E-mail: fellowships@twas.org

• COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI)
Mr. Kashif Masood
Deputy Registrar (International)
Park Road, Tarlai Kalan
Islamabad 45550. Pakistan
Tel: (+9251) 9049 5272
Fax: (+9251) 924 7010
E-mail: cuitwasfellowships@comsats.edu.pk