SWIFT Travel Awards
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With the generous support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, ABIC is pleased to make a select number of SWIFT Awards available to the African life sciences community. These awards are to support travel within Africa for the purposes of carrying out microscopy research in any biological field. Each award is intended to fund the air travel and accommodation for one researcher currently based at an African research institute, to travel to a lab or facility elsewhere in Africa, and thereby gain access to light microscopy resources needed for their research.
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The SWIFT Awards alternate between two categories: ​
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SWIFT Pilot Work Awards
By helping contribute towards travel expenses, the SWIFT Pilot Work Award aims to facilitate access to microscopy technologies and expertise linked to performing a microscopy-based experiment for the first time. The goal of supporting pilot and proof-of-concept experiments is to enable researchers to explore and determine the utility of microscopy in their research in preparation of future work and potential funding applications.
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SWIFT Collaborative Work Awards
To foster intra-continental collaboration within Africa, the SWIFT Collaborative Work Award is aimed to alleviate the cost of travel associated with collaborative works within Africa. Specifically, this award is purposed to contribute towards the travel and accommodation of a researcher involved in a collaborative project requiring microscopy. Both new and established collaborative efforts will be considered.
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What is included in the award?
Each award will fund one set of return flights for travel and accommodation at up to USD2500 per award in total for a single researcher to visit a facility elsewhere in Africa. We expect each visit to last between 7 and 14 days. Other costs related to the trip are for the awardee’s home laboratory or institute’s expense.
Who is eligible?
Scientists based at African research institutions, carrying out not-for-profit life science or biomedical research can apply. This award is open to PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, principle investigators/lab heads, and research or technical assistants.
How can you apply?
To apply, please complete the Application Form, through which you will also submit a project proposal and letters of support from your home institution and the receiving lab or facility. Applicants will be reviewed by a panel that will assess scientific merit, justification, and need.​
This call for applications open on: 18 December 2025 at 08:00am UTC+2.
Application deadline: is 30 January 2026 at 11:59pm UTC+2.
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