What is the Faculty for the Future Fellowship?
The Faculty for the Future (FaF) program is run by the Schlumberger Foundation and designed to support women from developing and emerging economies who wish to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research in STEM disciplines at top universities abroad. Its mission is twofold: reduce the gender gap in science, and empower women scholars to return home and make an impact in teaching, research, or leadership roles.
It isn’t just about funding tuition. The program is structured around holistic development: it values leadership, outreach, scientific excellence, and commitment to one’s home country. Over time, it builds a network of female STEM scholars who can support each other, collaborate, and serve as role models.
Program: Faculty for the Future Fellowship / Grant
Coverage: Fully Funded (up to limits)
Nationality: Women from developing / emerging economies
Degree Level: PhD or Postdoctoral
Duration: Renewable, until completion
Host University: Abroad (outside home country, or “sandwich” with foreign degree)
Fields: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
Deadline (2026 cycle): November 7, 2025
Purpose & Vision
What’s the point of this fellowship? Here’s what matters:
- Bridging gender imbalance in STEM: Many developing countries still see far fewer women pursuing advanced scientific careers. FaF aims to help change that.
- Capacity building in home countries: Scholars aren’t just expected to benefit personally—they’re expected to return home (or stay connected) and strengthen local universities, research culture, policy environments, or STEM entrepreneurship.
- Creating a global network: Scholars become part of a community of peers, mentors, collaborators—long after their funding ends.
- Encouraging role models: Every fellow’s success becomes an example to girls and young women considering STEM paths in their communities.
So yes, this is more than a stipend—it’s about long-term transformation.
Key Dates & Timeline
If you’re planning for 2026, here are the critical dates to keep in mind:
- Opening Date: September 1, 2025
- Application Deadline: November 7, 2025 (12:00 noon CST / UTC–6)
- Referee/Reference Letter Deadline: November 14, 2025
- Notification of Results: Early April 2026
From September onward, the online portal opens and stays active until early November. After that, the foundation takes several months to review and select fellows.
Eligibility Criteria
Before you invest time in the long application, make sure you meet the essential eligibility requirements.
You must:
- Be female, and hold citizenship of a developing or emerging economy. (If you hold dual citizenship including a developed-country citizenship, you are not eligible.)
- Be preparing for or already enrolled in PhD or postdoctoral research in a STEM discipline. The program does not fund Master’s level studies.
- Have applied to, been admitted to, or currently enrolled in a host university or research institute abroad (outside your home country), or be part of a “sandwich” program where the final degree is awarded by the foreign institution.
- Possess an excellent academic record.
- Have a track record of teaching experience or clear commitment to teaching in your home country (or region).
- Be willing to return to your home country or region after your studies to contribute to scientific capacity, university teaching, policy, or entrepreneurship.
- Demonstrate leadership skills, community outreach, and efforts in encouraging girls/women into STEM.
Also note:
- You cannot change your research project or host university once the application is submitted—so choose carefully.
- The program may allow childcare grants under certain conditions for fellows with dependent children.
- Grants cover only the applicant’s costs, not family or spouse expenses.
If you don’t satisfy even one of these major criteria, your application won’t be considered.
Fields of Study & Focus Areas
The fellowship is intended broadly for STEM disciplines: physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, computer science, environmental sciences, etc. One caveat: in biological sciences, the program often restricts awards to interdisciplinary work that bridges physical and biological sciences.
In recent cycles they’ve especially welcomed applications in:
- Physical sciences
- Engineering
- Computer science
- Mathematics
If your research straddles disciplines or addresses local development challenges, that could strengthen your case.
Benefits & Funding
What sort of support does the Fellowship provide? It’s generous—while not unlimited, it can be transformative.
- Up to USD 50,000 per year for PhD fellows
- Up to USD 40,000 per year for postdoctoral researchers
- The grant is based on actual costs incurred, covering:
- University tuition / fees / bench fees
- Accommodation and living allowance (food, books, supplies, insurance, transport)
- Initial travel (to host country), visa, conference expenses
- In some cases, exceptional child care grants (subject to certain rules)
- The award is renewable annually, contingent on satisfactory progress, strong supervisor recommendations, and commitment to home re-integration plans
- The candidate becomes part of a global peer network of women researchers, with access to mentorship, events, and collaborative opportunities
It’s important to remember: while the award is relatively generous, it does not cover family members’ costs or guarantee full coverage of every possible expense—but the foundation attempts to support the core costs.
Selection & Evaluation Process
The application goes through multiple rounds of review and competition. Here’s what the selection committee looks for:
Evaluation Criteria:
- Academic excellence and potential in research
- Quality and endorsement in reference letters
- Reputation and fit of the proposed host university
- Research relevance to home country development
- Clarity of home return / reintegration plan
- Demonstrated leadership, outreach, and commitment to encouraging women in STEM
- Teaching record or commitment to teaching after return
In early rounds, applications that don’t meet eligibility or are incomplete are filtered out. Later rounds involve scoring based on these criteria and careful ranking. Given the high volume of strong applications, attention to detail and a compelling narrative can make a big difference.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Here’s a roadmap to navigate the application from start to finish:
- Monitor the portal opening — The application site goes live September 1, 2025.
- Register your account — Set up an applicant login.
- Confirm your host university and supervisor — You must already be accepted or applied to a research institution abroad and have a proposed supervisor.
- Draft your research proposal — Explain your project, its relevance, methods, timeline, and expected contributions (especially to your home country).
- Write personal essays / statements — Why this research matters, your motivation, your leadership and outreach story, your return plan.
- Gather transcripts, academic records, CV — Show your academic strength and experience.
- Request reference letters — Submit referees’ contact details; they will submit online by November 14, 2025.
- Submit your application before the deadline — November 7, 2025 (by 12:00 CST/UTC–6)
- Wait for the decision — Notifications arrive by early April 2026
- If awarded, maintain performance and comply with renewal requirements — Submit progress reports, supervisor letters, and evidence of reintegration plans
One tip: because you can’t change your proposal or host after submission, invest time early in choosing the best match and writing a coherent, integrated narrative.
Final Thoughts & Encouragement
Any woman researcher from a developing or emerging economy with big dreams in STEM, this is a golden chance. The Schlumberger Foundation’s Faculty for the Future 2026 Fellowship offers not just funding, but a platform, a network, and leverage to make real impact in science and society.
If you meet the eligibility, prepare early, write purposefully, and tell your story with clarity—this could be the turning point in your academic and professional journey.
Go ahead and check the official site, plan your application calendar, and begin building the narrative only you can tell.
You deserve to be in this race. Best of luck—and I truly hope to see you among the fellows.
Apply now on the official program website
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