Apply to the Carbon Sequestration Fellowships

About

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT invites MSc and PhD students of all nationalities to apply for the Carbon Sequestration Fellowships 2026. These short-term (4-month) scientific internships aim to advance research on improving soil organic carbon sequestration, a critical component in addressing the global climate emergency.

Who Should Apply:

We particularly encourage applications from women and candidates from Latin America and Africa. Selected fellows can collaborate with leading scientists at the Alliance’s Palmira, Colombia, or Nairobi, Kenya facilities.

Fellowship Focus:

The Fellowship program aims to develop innovative approaches for enhancing carbon storage in tropical soils by improving the deep-rooting ability of tropical forage grasses and rice genotypes.

Key Benefits:

In the program’s third round, 10 MSc and PhD students will receive funding ranging from USD 10,000 to 12,000* to cover living costs during the internship.
Fellows will work on generating original data and enhancing their research skills under the guidance of experienced scientists, contributing directly to their MSc or PhD thesis.
The program offers hands-on training and mentorship within active research teams, ensuring fellows are deeply engaged in impactful agricultural research.

Program Details:

The fellowships are part of the project “Using genetic diversity to capture carbon through deep root systems in tropical soils,” supported by the Bezos Earth Fund. Fellows will actively contribute to field and laboratory studies; desk-based research is discouraged.

How to Apply:

Interested students should submit applications demonstrating their research potential, alignment with the Fellowship goals, and commitment to tackling climate challenges through innovative agricultural science.

Join us in strengthening international agricultural research networks and making a tangible impact on reducing carbon emissions.

*Kindly review the terms of reference, which include a detailed breakdown of the total amount provided here.

Process and Timing

September 15, 2025: Carbon Sequestration Fellowship publishes the call for applications and circulates widely to potential students.
December 15, 2025: Prospective candidates must submit their applications here by 12:00 midnight Colombian Time.
December 16 to February 23: Review of documents and interviews for potential candidates.
February 24, 2026: The fellowship team notifies selected candidates via email from CarbonSequestrationFellowship@cgiar.org.
February 27, 2026: Successful applicants are publicly announced on the Alliance website and through social media channels.
February 27 to July 5, 2026: The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT manages internal processes, including document collection, ticket allocation, and insurance arrangements. Students will process their visas.
August 3, 2026: The students start the fellowship program in Palmira or Kenya.
August 6, 2026: A welcome breakfast and induction session introduce the fellows to the program and teams.
November 3, 2026: Students begin compiling the results of their internship. This poster will be published on the Carbon Sequestration website at https://carbonsequestration.co/.
November 27, 2026: The students provide an English presentation about the results of their internships to the leaders and teams in Africa and Latin America.
November 30, 2026: The fellowship concludes, and students return to their home countries, completing the program.