Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries
Visiting Fellows Program

The Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program will allow African academics of different genders and from different regions of sub-Saharan Africa working in the broad field of Ocean Sustainability in universities and research institutes to spend time at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver Campus. The goal of this exchange is to facilitate diverse, equitable and inclusive research collaborations between researchers based in African institutions and researchers based at the UBC. Building networks for impactful collaborations is the key reason for establishing this fellowship.

The fellowship is designed to allow exceptional African researchers to build international networks and focus on a project of their choice in collaboration with UBC-based scholars. The goal is to make available to fellows the vast resources available at UBC for research, mentoring and/or collaboration with UBC-based scholars.

The fellowship is open to researchers across all academic fields who are focused on ocean and fisheries sustainability, and how to make the ocean economy work for the people who call Africa home.

Fellows will be affiliated with UBC for 12 months, including a month of in-person sojourn at UBC followed by 11 months of virtual engagement.

The award will cover one economy return ticket and per diem for accommodation and subsistence during UBC visit. The award will also include $5,000 CAD research funds for the proposed fellowship project.

To apply for a fellowship, all applicants must have at least one UBC-based researcher named as their potential collaborator on their application.

Shortlisted applicants will then be evaluated first by a pre-selection committee at the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast. Shortlisted applicants will then be evaluated by a final selection committee at the University of British Columbia. Two fellows will be selected for 2024.

Deadline for applications:

Apply now
The University of British Columbia University of Cape Coast The University of British Columbia - Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Centre for Coastal Management - Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience

Selection criteria

To apply for a fellowship, all applicants must have a UBC-based researcher named as their future collaborator on their application.

The fellows are expected to make a presentation of their work during their visit to UBC. They are also expected to lead the writing of a collaborative paper to be published in a peer reviewed journal, and possibly start a collaborative grant application.

An applicant for the Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows award must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Hold a PhD or research equivalent
  • Hold an appointment in a sub-Saharan African academic or research institution
  • Have published a book or at least two book chapters or peer reviewed journal articles in internationally-reputable outlets
  • Have two academic references detailing specific contributions of the applicant to particular fields of study, and how a visiting fellowship will support career goals and progression
  • Include a research proposal that clearly outlines the organizing theme of the proposed work to be undertaken during the fellowship and how the period of the fellowship will lead to the completion of their project
Dr. William Cheung, Dr. Rashid Sumaila and Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto

Application form

Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program

Fill out the form if you pass the eligibility check noted above.

Applicant Information

Please provide your personal information.

Please upload a passport photograph of yourself. The image should be a clear headshot. The image should be in JPEG, or PNG format and should not exceed 1MB in size.
You are 35 years old
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Referees Information

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    Institutional Details
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    Institutional Details
    Please provide the full address of the institution. Not required if the institution is not applicable.
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Supporting Documents

Please provide relevant documents to support your application.

The application letter should be a pdf not more 1MB in size. The letter should be two pages maximum and should include the following: (i) why you are the right person for the award, (ii) a statement of purpose; and, (iii) a research proposal for the year of award and beyond.
The curriculum vitae should be a pdf not more 1MB in size
The transcript should be a pdf not more 1MB in size. All relevant transcripts should be complied into one pdf file.
All relevant letters of recommendation should be complied into one pdf file. The letter of recommendation should be a pdf not more 1MB in size.
The other documents should be a pdf not more 1MB in size. The other documents should be a complied into one pdf file.

Publication Or Book Reference

Provide PDFs of two publication or book title/link.

Two most significant journal publication should be a complied into one pdf file and not more 1MB in size.
Please provide full reference to book or link to the book.