Technical Difficulties

Pakistani women face barriers in STEM research that men don’t. Cultural expectations pressure women to prioritize family over careers. Universities and labs lack support systems like childcare or flexible schedules. Women researchers get less mentorship, fewer collaborations, and smaller research budgets than male peers. And when women do excellent research, they’re often overlooked for recognition, promotions, and leadership positions.

The result? Talented women leave STEM. Pakistan loses research capacity. And critical problems—in health, energy, climate, agriculture—don’t get the diverse perspectives needed to solve them. Meanwhile, countries investing in women researchers see innovation accelerate, research quality improve, and economic returns multiply.

The Pakistan Higher Education Commission is offering PKR ₨18 million (roughly $64,000 USD) per fellow over three years to support Pakistani women pursuing STEM doctoral or postdoctoral research. This fellowship funds research stipends, laboratory and fieldwork costs, mobility and collaboration, and mentorship and outreach. The goal is enabling women researchers to conduct excellent research while building the next generation of women scientists.

For Pakistani women enrolled in or admitted to STEM doctoral or postdoctoral programs, this fellowship provides multi-year funding covering research costs and living expenses. You’re not just getting money—you’re joining a network of women researchers, accessing mentorship and leadership training, and gaining platforms to inspire young women to pursue science.

What makes this fellowship distinctive is its focus on mentorship and community outreach. You’re not just doing research—you’re mentoring young women, running STEM camps, and showing girls that women can be scientists, engineers, and innovators.

At a Glance

What This Funding Covers

The PKR ₨18 million supports comprehensive research over three years:

Research Stipend (PKR ₨7.2 million): Women researchers need financial stability to focus on research. This component provides living allowance covering housing, food, and family expenses, enabling full-time research focus without financial stress, and supporting families so women don’t have to choose between research and family responsibilities. Financial stability for fellows and their families removes a major barrier to women’s research careers.

Laboratory and Fieldwork Costs (PKR ₨5.4 million): Research requires equipment and materials. This funding supports equipment and reagents for laboratory research, field data collection (travel, equipment, local assistance), computational resources for data analysis and modeling, and publication fees for open-access journals. High-quality research outputs aligned with global standards demonstrate Pakistani women’s research excellence.

Mobility and Collaboration (PKR ₨3.6 million): Research requires global connections. This component funds conference travel (presenting research, networking, learning), visiting researcher placements at international labs, industry internships applying research to real-world problems, and collaborative research with international partners. Global exposure and collaborative networks accelerate research impact and career development.

Mentorship and Outreach (PKR ₨1.8 million): Women researchers should inspire the next generation. This funding supports STEM camps and workshops for girls, school visits and career talks, mentorship stipends for time spent mentoring young women, and outreach materials (videos, posters, social media). Expanded pipeline of women entering STEM fields ensures long-term change.

Beyond the direct funding, selected fellows get research design and grant management workshops, mentorship training connecting fellows with schools and universities, international exchange grants for collaborative research, and leadership coaching focused on lab management and entrepreneurship.

Who Should Apply

This fellowship is for Pakistani women committed to research excellence and mentorship. You’re a good fit if:

You’re a Pakistani Woman in STEM: You must be Pakistani citizen (or dual national), woman (cis or trans), and enrolled in or admitted to doctoral or postdoctoral STEM program. STEM is defined broadly—physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, health sciences, agricultural sciences, etc.

You Have Research Excellence: You need minimum CGPA (typically 3.0/4.0 or equivalent) or publication record demonstrating research quality, strong research proposal with clear objectives and methodology, and supervisor endorsement confirming your research potential. The fellowship supports excellent researchers, not just anyone pursuing STEM.

Your Research Addresses National Priorities: Pakistan has development challenges—energy access, water scarcity, climate resilience, health care, food security, etc. You need research aligned with national science and innovation priorities, clear explanation of how your research addresses Pakistani challenges, and potential for research to inform policy or create economic value. Research that benefits Pakistan is prioritized.

You’re Committed to Mentorship: This isn’t optional. You need plan for mentoring young women (specific activities, time commitment), outreach to schools or communities (STEM camps, career talks, etc.), and commitment to inspiring the next generation. Fellows who focus only on their own research without mentoring won’t be competitive.

You Have Institutional Support: You need supervisor endorsement confirming support for your research, institutional support letter from your university or research institution, and ethics approvals or compliance protocols if your research involves human subjects, animals, or sensitive data. Strong institutional support increases your chances of success.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Align Research with National Priorities: The strongest applications connect research to Pakistan’s development challenges—energy (renewable energy, grid efficiency, energy access), health (infectious diseases, maternal health, nutrition), climate (water management, agriculture adaptation, disaster resilience), or emerging tech (AI, biotech, materials science). Show how your research addresses specific Pakistani problems.

Highlight Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Technology Transfer: Don’t work in isolation. Show collaborations with other disciplines (e.g., engineering + social science, health + data science), partnerships with industry or government for technology transfer, and plans for translating research into applications. Research that crosses disciplines and connects to users has more impact.

Detail Mentorship Strategies Reaching Girls in Underserved Regions: Don’t just mentor in elite urban schools. Show plans to reach girls in rural areas, low-income communities, or underserved regions, partnerships with schools or NGOs working with marginalized communities, culturally appropriate approaches (e.g., engaging parents, addressing cultural barriers), and sustainable mentorship (ongoing relationships, not one-time events). Mentorship that reaches underserved girls creates the most change.

Plan for Commercialization or Policy Uptake: Research should have impact beyond publications. Show pathways to commercialization (patents, startups, industry partnerships), policy uptake (policy briefs, engagement with government), or social impact (community programs, public health interventions). Research that changes the world is more compelling than research that sits in journals.

Quantify Anticipated Publications, Patents, or Prototypes: Be specific about outputs—number of peer-reviewed publications (with target journals), patents or intellectual property, prototypes or proof-of-concept demonstrations, and policy briefs or reports. Specific, ambitious but realistic targets show you’re serious about productivity.

Address Barriers You’ve Faced: Don’t hide challenges—address them. If you’ve faced discrimination, lack of support, or systemic barriers, explain how you’ve overcome them and how this fellowship will help you succeed despite ongoing challenges. Resilience in the face of barriers is a strength.

Application Timeline

Fellowships commence in September 2025 with annual progress reviews and global conference participation. Here’s a realistic timeline:

January 2025: Prepare application materials including research proposal, CV, transcripts, publications, supervisor endorsement, and mentorship plan. This takes time—start early.

February-March 2025: Finalize application, get institutional approvals, and submit by March 24 deadline.

April 2025: If shortlisted, participate in panel interviews and research pitch. You’ll present your research and answer questions from reviewers.

May-June 2025: Receive fellowship award decision. If awarded, finalize work plan, budget, and agreements with HEC.

September 2025: Begin fellowship. Start research, launch mentorship activities, and connect with other fellows.

August 2026 & 2027: Submit annual progress reports including research outputs, mentorship metrics, and policy briefs. Annual reviews ensure you’re on track.

Completion: Submit final report, defend dissertation (if doctoral), and transition to next career stage with HEC support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply if I’m studying abroad? Yes, Pakistani women enrolled in international programs are eligible. However, you must commit to returning to Pakistan or contributing to Pakistani development.

What if I don’t have publications yet? Early-career researchers may not have publications. Strong academic record, compelling research proposal, and supervisor endorsement can compensate. However, some research output (conference presentations, thesis chapters) strengthens applications.

Can I change my research topic during the fellowship? Minor adjustments are expected as research evolves. Major changes require HEC approval and justification. Flexibility is allowed, but you can’t completely abandon your proposed research.

What if I have family responsibilities? The fellowship is designed to support women with families. The stipend covers family expenses, and flexible arrangements can be negotiated. Don’t let family responsibilities deter you from applying.

Can men apply? No, this fellowship is specifically for women to address gender gaps in STEM research.

What happens after the fellowship? HEC provides career support including job placement assistance, funding for continued research, and opportunities to mentor new fellows. The goal is long-term career success, not just three years of funding.

How competitive is the fellowship? Very competitive—typically 10-15% acceptance rate. Strong research proposals, clear national relevance, and compelling mentorship plans are essential.

How to Apply

Ready to advance your research and inspire the next generation? Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Confirm eligibility. Are you a Pakistani woman? Enrolled in or admitted to STEM doctoral or postdoctoral program? If yes, proceed.

Step 2: Develop your research proposal including research questions and objectives, methodology and timeline, expected outputs and impact, and alignment with national priorities. This is the core of your application—invest time in making it excellent.

Step 3: Plan your mentorship and outreach. What specific activities will you do? Who will you reach? How will you measure impact?

Step 4: Gather supporting documents including academic transcripts, publication list (if any), supervisor endorsement letter, institutional support letter, and ethics approvals (if applicable).

Step 5: Prepare your CV highlighting research experience, academic achievements, leadership and mentorship experience, and awards or recognition.

Step 6: Complete application form and assemble all required components: completed application form, research proposal (typically 5-10 pages), CV, academic transcripts and publication list, supervisor endorsements and institutional support letters, mentorship and outreach plan, and ethics compliance documentation where applicable.

Step 7: Submit by March 24, 2025 through HEC portal.

Step 8: If shortlisted, prepare for panel interview. Practice presenting your research clearly, explaining its importance, and answering tough questions.

Visit the official Pakistan Women in STEM Research Fellowship page for detailed guidelines and application materials: https://pk.usembassy.gov/pakistan-women-in-science-fellowship/

Questions about eligibility, research priorities, or mentorship requirements? Contact the Higher Education Commission Pakistan—contact information is available on their website.

Empowering women researchers accelerates scientific innovation and creates inclusive role models across Pakistan. If you’re ready to conduct excellent research and inspire young women, this fellowship can help you succeed.