The Dorcas Muthoni PhD Fellowship honours Dorcas Muthoni, a distinguished Kenyan engineer and social entrepreneur. The fellowship is part of our university's commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on gender equality and quality education, particularly for African women in STEM.

This fellowship, launched in 2018, is now accepting applications for the fourth edition in 2026.

Objectives of the Fellowship

  • Promote Gender Equality: Address the gender gap in ICT and support more women pursuing STEM careers.
  • Research Opportunities: Provide African women in ICT with PhD research opportunities, leveraging UPF’s excellence in research.
  • Social Impact: Fellows are expected to return to their home countries in Africa to contribute to technological development and social progress.

 

The Dorcas Muthoni Fellowship is part of the Doctoral Programme in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF).

  • Research Areas: Topics include Computation and Intelligent Systems, Multimedia Technologies, Networks and Communications, Computational Biology and Biomedical Systems and Center for Brain and Cognition.
  • Department of Engineering: UPF is home to 25 research groups, awarded the Maria de Maeztu Strategic Research Program twice.
     
Note: The programme is conducted in English.
  • Duration: 4 years (renewable annually).
  • Gross Salary:
    • €1,515/month for Years 1 and 2
    • €1,623/month for Year 3
    • €2,029/month for Year 4
       
  • Teaching Load: 45 hours/year.
  • Start-up Fund: €2,500 for initial relocation costs.
  • Fees Covered: Includes tuition fees (€401.12/year) and related program fees. Please note that it does not cover, neither the admission fees to the UPF PhD ICT Programme (30,21€), neither the fees for validations of degrees issued by a university outside the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) without homologation (218,15€), nor the enrollment administrative fees (69,80€).
This fellowship is available for one individual only, and we cannot provide support for accompanying family members.
  • Nationality: Female researchers of African nationality only.
  • Academic Qualifications: Must hold a degree qualifying for the UPF ICT PhD Programme.
  • Candidates must not have already obtained a PhD degree.
  • Language Proficiency: English proficiency at B2 level or higher.
  • Mobility: Applicants must not have lived or worked in Spain for more than 12 months in the past three years.

  • Application Period: 1st September 2025 – 15th January 2026
  • Resolution: 20th February 2026
  • Fellowship Start: October 2026
     
Early applications are encouraged.

Required Documents:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. Academic Transcripts (Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree, if applicable)
  3. Two Reference Letters (in English)
  4. Motivation Letter: Explain your motivation and expected impact on ICT gender equality and social development in Africa.
  5. Passport Copy
  6. Teaching Subjects Form: Signed by your potential PhD supervisor.
  7. Letter of Support: From a UPF Department of Engineering research supervisor.
Note: All documents must be in English and uploaded in PDF format.

Selection Process

Candidates will be evaluated based on academic qualifications, research potential, and alignment with the fellowship’s goals. Evaluations will be conducted impartially and confidentially.

The final list of selected fellows will be announced on 20th February 2026.

The selected candidate will have to apply to be admitted to the UPF ICT PhD Programme. The Doctoral School of UPF will verify, upon starting the admission process to the doctoral programme, that the studies taken up by the selected candidate make her eligible to enroll in an official doctoral programme in accordance with the regulations in force in Spain. Should they be found not eligible after verification, the fellowship will be withdrawn.

Application and resolution

For any inquiries, contact:

[email protected]

Dorcas Muthoni
 

Dorcas Muthoni

Awarded doctor honoris causa by UPF. Academic year 2017-2018

"In recognition of her entrepreneurial career in the field of ICT on the African continent, her significant work in the promotion of engineering studies among young women in Africa, and her social commitment to breaking the vicious circles of poverty."

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