To all the early-career professionals, do you want to have an immersive short-term experience this summer in Geneva, Switzerland, through a fully funded fellowship program? The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations that works towards disarmament to promote peace and secutiry is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 4th edition of its flagship “UNODA Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship 2026.” A prestigious 3-month fellowship organized by the UNOPD invites applications from early-career professionals from least, lower, or upper middle-income countries holding an advanced degree in the life sciences or related disciplines from an internationally recognized institution.
The objective of the UNODA fellowship program is to provide an opportunity to emerging leaders from the Global South to gain expertise in disarmament and biosecurity and to connect with young leaders and experts from across the world. The fellowship was initially established in 2019, and to date, the program has awards total of 140 fellowships. The duration of the fellowship is 3 months, which features a series of live webinars, a poster competition, and a five-day in-person visit to Geneva from August 17 to 21, 2026. No application fee is required – Applications must be submitted online by March 5th, 2026. Learn more about the UNODA fellowship below.
UNODA Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship 2026 Overview
- Country: Switzerland
- Organized by: United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
- Duration: 3 months
- Fellowship Mode: Remote – In-person
- Coverage: Fully Funded
- No of Fellowships: 20
- Application Deadline: March 5th, 2026
Also, Check: EWC Jefferson Fellowships 2026 in USA, Japan & Korea
Fellowship Coverage
UNODA offers generous support to the selected fellows. The coverage includes:
- Return airfare coverage to and from Geneva
- Daily allowance to cover the living expenses
- Accommodation during the in-person participation in Geneva, Switzerland
- Completion certification by the United Nations
Eligiblity Criteria
Individuals meeting the following criteria are invited to submit applications for the Youth for Biosecurity fellowship:
- Calling applications from the citizens of least developed, low-income, and upper-middle-income countries: check the list here
- Candidates must be under 35 years of age at the time of application
- Excellent command of English
- Holding a degree in the fields of life sciences or related fields
- The fellowship highly encourages female applicants to apply
- Demonstrate interest in the UNOPD work
- Must commit to full-time participation during the fellowship dates
Fellowship Components
The fellowship runs over a 3-month period that consists of the following activities:
- Online Webinars: Participants will attend 5 live online webinars, which will take place from June 3 to July 1, 2026.
- Poster Competition: work on the scientific project that will be presented at the BMC working group in Geneva
- Study Visit to Geneva: A 5-day in-person, fully funded trip to Geneva during the meeting of the BWC working Group
Required Documents
- Current Resume/CV
- Recommendation Letter
- Passport copy
- Degree Certificates
- Confirmation of availability for the entire program
Also, Check:
How to Apply for the UNODA Fellowship Programme?
The application process for the United Nations Youth for Biosecurity fellowship is online via the official portal. Interested applicants meeting the required criteria need to visit the offical link below and complete the online application by March 5th, 2026.
APPLY FOR UNODA FELLOWSHIP 2026
