Deadline: January 31, 2019.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD,  is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving eight regional member countries in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. ICIMOD aims to serve the region through information and knowledge generation and sharing to find innovative solutions to critical mountain problems. It facilitates knowledge exchange in its thematic areas of Livelihoods, Ecosystem Services, Water and Air, and Geospatial Solutions to address issues of common concern in Regional Members Countries as well as from transboundary perspectives.

 

RESEARCH TOPICS

ICIMOD is open to specific research questions/hypotheses within the following broad categories:

Livelihoods

• Air pollution and poverty linkages

• Air pollution impacts on human health
• Air quality management and governance in HKH – Institutions and Policies
• Air pollution mitigation and policy
• Air pollution impact on agricultural productivity
• Vicious circle of poverty – exposure to pollution – poor health – poverty
• Safe food production
• Climate resilient agriculture in the mountains

Ecosystem Services

• Open biomass burning (forests and agriculture) and its impact on soil and other ecosystems
• Air pollution impact on ecosystems

Water and Air

• Trace gas measurement/modelling
• Aerosol measurement/modelling
• Aerosol–cloud/monsoon interactions
• Regional and urban air quality modelling
• Persistent winter fog over the Indo-Gangetic Plain
• Emission characterization and inventory development

Geospatial Solutions

• Understanding transboundary air pollution using remote sensing techniques
• Remote sensing of air pollution over complex terrain
• Data analysis and visualization of chemical transport models
• Developing supporting systems for improved predictability of chemical transport models
• Understanding the impact of absorbing aerosols on glacier albedo

Terms and Conditions 

• Each PhD fellow needs to have an ICIMOD scientist serve officially as co-advisor, committee member, or equivalent
• Data and knowledge products generated under this fellowship programme are subject to ICIMOD’s data policy
• The fellow must be based at ICIMOD headquarters or ICIMOD designated sites during the period of the fellowship
• The fellowship period is one year, extendable for a second year subject to the candidate’s exceptional performance and budget availability

Financial Support 

• An allowance of USD 1,000 per month while at ICIMOD or at ICIMOD designated sites
• Non-Kathmandu based PhD Fellows will receive an additional USD 200 per month for accommodation
• PhD fellows who are enrolled at a university outside of Nepal will receive reimbursement for travel costs incurred when first travelling from and finally returning to home institute

 

ELIGIBILITY

• Citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan; or any international student currently doing research on the above mentioned topics and specifically focused on the HKH region
• Preference will be given to HUC member institutions
• Must be an admitted/registered PhD student
• Letter of support from PhD Supervisor and Head of Department should be provided
• Letter from the Head of Institution confirming that an ICIMOD scientist will serve as co-adviser, committee member, or equivalent is required once short-listed
• Candidates should be willing to work in an interdisciplinary team and have excellent analytical, technical, and communication skills
• Must be willing to be based at ICIMOD headquarters or ICIMOD designated sites during the period of the fellowship

 

APPLICATION

 

Applications should be submitted online https://www.huc-hkh.org/grant/detail/icimod-doctoral-fellowship-2019, along with the following documents:

• Letters of support from PhD supervisor and Head of Department agreeing to ICIMOD terms and conditions mentioned above
• Cover letter describing the motivation to apply, clearly mentioning the thematic area to which they are applying
• Preliminary research proposal within the broader research areas mentioned above (2–3 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including information on education, research experience, and, if applicable, list of publications

 

 

OFFICIAL LINK

 

ICIMOD Doctoral Fellowship