This year, the program awarded grants to 163 outstanding women from low- and middle-income countries, supporting their doctoral and postdoctoral studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
This year, the program awarded grants to 163 outstanding women from low- and middle-income countries, supporting their doctoral studies and postdoctoral research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This year’s cohort includes 54 new Fellows and 109 renewal grantees, further expanding this diverse global community of scholars. As researchers, educators, innovators, and leaders, they are applying scientific knowledge to critical challenges in their home countries.
Since its launch in 2004, the Faculty for the Future program has played a transformative role in strengthening STEM teaching, research, and scientific capacity building in countries and regions where it is most needed. Our recent Fellow survey (https://apo-opa.co/4sIff13) shows that 83% of grantees work in academia, making significant contributions through research, teaching, and student mentorship. The findings also indicate that Faculty for the Future Fellows have collectively taught over 185,000 students and mentored nearly 900 graduate students while conducting their research.
Their work yields tangible institutional and societal benefits. For instance, in Mozambique, neurologists Dr. Deise Catamo and Dr. Helena Buque (https://apo-opa.co/4sMHgEu) are leading a quiet revolution in neurology research and care. Similarly, Dr. Shakardokht Jafari (https://apo-opa.co/4e0pGcC), founder of TRUEinvivo®, has translated her research into a life-saving technology providing high-precision dosimetry for radiotherapy.
Faculty for the Future Fellows also play a key role in public policy formulation. Nearly 59% of surveyed Fellows reported active engagement in policymaking, contributing to national and regional agendas. For example, Dr. Happy Magoha serves as Chair of the Technical Committee of Food Scientists in Tanzania, and Dr. Gayatri Indah is a seismic technical expert at Indonesia’s National Disaster Mapping Agency. Furthermore, Mekdelawit Deribe and Rania Al-Zou’bi (https://apo-opa.co/3OBNKbd) have based their doctoral research on physical models to support more equitable and sustainable management of critical river systems in their regions.
Additionally, 20% of surveyed Fellows are entrepreneurs, with their new ventures driving innovation, economic growth, and social impact. A prime example is Dr. Sadiyo Siad (https://apo-opa.co/4coAQXj), who founded Hano Academy, Hano Technical University, the Somali STEM Society, and Hano Connect. Through these initiatives, Dr. Sadiyo has played a transformative role in advancing STEM education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Somalia.
“The creation of the Faculty for the Future program twenty years ago was a visionary response to both the urgent need for scientific expertise in under-resourced regions and the persistent gender gap in STEM,” said Capella Festa, President of the Schlumberger Foundation. “By empowering women researchers and bringing diverse perspectives to education, innovation, and leadership, the program demonstrates that diversity not only strengthens science but also creates profound and lasting positive impact.”
The Schlumberger Foundation remains committed to expanding the reach and impact of the Faculty for the Future program, steadfast in the belief that advancing women in science is crucial for achieving global equity and sustainable development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Schlumberger Foundation.
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