Wheat Initiative Expert Working Group on Durum wheat genomics and breeding Travel Awards to support short-term lab-visits
The Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding Expert Working Group (Durum EWG) and the Wheat Initiative (WI) are pleased to announce that up to 4 travel awards will be available for Early Career Researchers members from our EWG, to support short-term lab visits. Each travel award amount will be up to € 2,000.00.
The awards are intended to promote the role of ECRs, and their scientific carrier in durum wheat genomics and breeding. The grant will cover travel and accommodation expenses up to the amount granted.
Funds can only be provided as reimbursement. This means that successful awardees must provide receipts of their travel and accommodation expenses after the visit, in accordance with the Wheat Initiative Guidelines. No funds can be provided in advance and receipts not following the WI guidelines will not be accepted for reimbursement.
Who can apply?
Early Career Researchers registered in the EWG durum wheat genomics and breeding.
Applicants must be enrolled or working at an institution located in:
Wheat Initiative member country (Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Uruguay).
CIMMYT and ICARDA.
non-G20 or non-OECD countries.
Early Carrier Researchers from Argentina (a non-eligible country), applying for a lab visit at CIMMYT are eligible for this grant. If selected, WI will reimburse the cost of the economy airfare and CIMMYT commits to covering accommodation and subsistence expenses.
Application:
Applications must be submitted by e-mail to annamaria.mastrangelo(a)crea.gov.it; all applications must include as cc wheat.initiative(a)julius-kuehn.de
The e-mail with application must have in the subject line “Durum EWG: Application for travel support” and include the following information:
Full name and nationality of applicant
E-mail address
Name and address of institution where ECR is enrolled as a PhD student or postdoc.
Name and email address of applicant’s primary PhD supervisor
Short CV of the applicant (about one page including education, professional experience and publications)
Research proposal describing the activity that will be carried out in the hosting lab and its connection with the current research activity of the candidate (about one page)
Acceptance letter signed by the supervisor of the hosting institution, including supervisor’s contact information
Please indicate whether or not you need a visa to travel to the hosting institution.
Estimation of your travel expenses (max. half page). Including ONLY the following expenses:
Accommodation
Travel costs by plane, train or long-distance bus (economy fare)
Visa cost (when applicable).
Early Carrier Researchers from Argentina applying to visit CIMMYT can only request reimbursement for economy airfare and must include in the application a letter reporting the budget that CIMMYT has allocated to support the lab visit.
DEADLINE Applications must be received before 19 July 2026.
The selection will be based on the research proposal and on an interview with the candidates conducted by a panel of experts.
Additional information:
The travel awards must be used to cover costs of travel, accommodation expenses and visa (when applicable) only.
Notification of the outcome of your application and the amount awarded will be announced by 31 July 2026.
The notification email will include the WI’s Guidelines on how to obtain the reimbursement and the maximum amount for accommodation (which varies by city).
If a visa is required to travel to the hosting institution, the granting of funds is contingent upon obtaining said visa in time for the lab stay. It is the beneficiary's responsibility to process and obtain the visa and any other documentation necessary for the stay.
Important: If awarded you must acknowledge the contribution of the Wheat Initiative in any output resulting from the laboratory visit.