Southeast Asia Bioethics Network Grants
The Southeast Asia (SEA) Bioethics Network, supported by the Wellcome Trust Research Development Award [grant no. 222870/Z/21/Z], is dedicated to being the leading resource for bioethics in SEA. Our mission is to raise SEA perspectives and provide a platform for unheard and underrepresented voices in bioethics.
In line with our commitment to increase awareness and capacity in SEA, we are pleased to invite applications for Professional Growth Fellowship Grants from individuals who are interested to undertake bioethics projects that advance their professional growth in bioethics. The Network accepts a wide variety of projects that empower applicants in their bioethics career journeys. These may include but not limited to organising workshops, actively participating in training or continuous education programmes and taking on an important role in collaborative events.
We also invite postgraduate and undergraduate students as well as fresh graduates (i.e., those who graduated within the last two (2) years), who are interested in having practical experience in bioethics in the SEA region to apply for our internship grants.
Our funding opportunities include:
| Grant type | Professional Growth Fellowship Grants | Internship Grants |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Scholars, researchers and professionals in bioethics as well as individuals interested in bioethics | Postgraduate and undergraduate students as well as fresh graduates (i.e., graduated within the last two (2) years) interested in bioethics |
| Purpose | To provide support for advancing professional growth in bioethics | To provide support for practical and hands-on experience in bioethics |
| Eligibility | Doctoral degree OR Master’s degree with at least three years of research/work experience OR Undergraduate degree with at least five years of research/work experience | Postgraduate and undergraduate students as well as fresh graduates (i.e., graduated within the last two (2) years) |
1. Professional Growth Fellowship Grants
The Southeast Asia (SEA) Bioethics Network Professional Growth Fellowship Grants aim to support scholars, researchers and professionals in the field of bioethics as well as individuals interested in bioethics by providing assistance to advance professional growth in bioethics within the SEA region. The activities may include organising workshops or conferences, actively participating in training or continuous education programmes and taking on an important role in collaborative events. The Professional Growth Fellowship Grants envision empowering recipients in their bioethics career journeys.
The Professional Growth Fellowship Grants encourage applicants to propose learning activities that not only contribute to their individual growth but also have the potential to positively impact the broader bioethics community in SEA. Through these Professional Growth Fellowship Grants, the SEA Bioethics Network aspires to cultivate a cohort of professionals well-equipped to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the field of bioethics.
Applicants from any discipline, including philosophy, law, medicine, social sciences and humanities, must meet the following criteria:
-
- Have either:
- a doctoral degree, or
- a master’s degree with at least three years of research/work experience, or
- an undergraduate degree with at least five years of research/work experience.
- Must be a national or permanent resident of a SEA country or working in a SEA country.
- Have been accepted by a supervisor with experience in bioethics or bioethics-related discipline who is affiliated with an academic institution/organisation to supervise the fellowship.
- Not receiving funding from any other sources for this research.
- Have either:
Fellowships are awarded for a duration of up to one (1) year.
Applications for 2026 will open on 1 February 2026 and close on 30 April 2026 at 11:59 pm Malaysian time.
Professional Growth Fellowship Grants are awarded up to £6,000 (including all taxes).
Recipients are expected to:
- Submit a progress report to the SEA Bioethics Network at the expiry of six (6) months from the commencement of the Fellowship.
- Submit a final report within three (3) months after the end of the Fellowship to the SEA Bioethics Network, providing details and relevant supporting materials of the learning activities.
- Any output from the grant must include a funding acknowledgement statement acknowledging the grant received from the SEA Bioethics Network, which is supported by the Wellcome Trust Research Development Award [grant no. 222870/Z/21/Z].
To apply for the Professional Growth Fellowship Grants, please follow the steps outlined below:
- Download the Application Form and Curriculum Vitae (CV) template.
- Complete both the Application Form and CV template accurately.
- Click Here to access the Google Form for uploading the application form, CV, a letter of acceptance from a supervisor and a letter of recommendation from a referee.
- Once you are satisfied with your application, submit it through the Google Form. You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging the receipt of your application.
- Keep in mind the application deadline. Submissions received after the specified date and time will not be considered.
Notification of the outcome of applications will be sent to applicants by 31 July 2026.
For any inquiries regarding the grant, please email the Network Manager at [email protected] and use ‘SEA Bioethics Professional Growth Fellowship Grants 2026’ as the subject heading.
2. Intership Grants
The Southeast Asia (SEA) Bioethics Network Internship Grants aim to support postgraduate and undergraduate students as well as fresh graduates (i.e., those who graduated within the last two (2) years), interested in bioethics by providing funding assistance for practical experience in bioethics in the SEA region. Crafted as a conduit for individuals to acquire valuable practical insights and firsthand experience in the dynamic realm of bioethics, these grants emphasise the application of ethical principles in real-world scenarios. The goal is to bridge the gap between academic learning and the practical intricacies of bioethical decision-making. Through these internships, the SEA Bioethics Network seeks to nurture a generation of professionals who possess not only a strong foundation in the theoretical aspects of bioethics but also the practical acumen to effectively address ethical challenges in the field.
Internship grants will only be awarded to applicants who have secured acceptance for an internship at one of the institutions/organisations listed below. It is the responsibility of the applicants to secure a placement prior to applying for this grant.
- Institution/Organisation : Bioethics Cluster Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute (IMERI), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia
- Contact Person : Dr. Pukovisa Prawiroharjo
- Address : Salemba Raya No.6, RT.2/RW.6, Kenari, Kec. Senen, Central Jakarta City, Special Capital Region of Jakarta 10430
- Email : [email protected]
- Overview of the Internship Programme : We offer an internship programme that focuses on deepening the understanding and application of bioethical principles in medical settings. Interns will engage in scholarly activities and discussions on topics such as AI, bioethics and genetic modifications.
- Institution/Organisation : Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH), Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada
- Contact Person : Dr. Wika Hartanti
- Address : Gedung Penelitian dan Pengembangan, 1st Floor, North Wing. Jl. Medika, Sendowo, Sinduadi, Kec. Mlati, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, 55281
- Email : [email protected]
- Overview of the Internship Programme : We offer an internship programme that provides interns with the opportunity to engage in activities and projects focused on bioethics and medical ethics in healthcare and education. The programme highlights three main areas:
- ELSI (Ethics, Legal, and Social Implications) in Precision MedicineInterns will contribute to capacity-building initiatives for ELSI research, addressing critical ethical, legal, and societal challenges in the field of precision medicine.
- Clinical Ethics Support in Academic HospitalsThis focus area involves participation in developing clinical ethics support projects and engaging in capacity-building activities to enhance ethics practices in academic healthcare institutions.
- Bioethics Education in Undergraduate Medical EducationInterns will assist in creating a bioethics competency framework and evaluating bioethics education programmes, shaping future medical ethics education.
This programme offers a unique platform for aspiring bioethicists to gain hands-on experience and make impactful contributions to advancing bioethics in healthcare and education.
- Institution/Organisation : Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya
- Contact Person : Associate Professor Dr. Sharon Kaur Gurmukh Singh/ Dr. Tay Pek San/Dr. Mohammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Aziz/Dr. Kuek Chee Ying
- Address : Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur
- Email : [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected] - Overview of the Internship Programme : We offer an internship programme which provides research experience in bioethics, allows interns to observe and participate in the activities of the SEA Bioethics Network, coupled with education experiences facilitated by the academic staff of the Faculty of Law at Universiti Malaya.
- Institution/Organisation : Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia
- Contact Person : Associate Professor Dr. Mark Tan Kiak Min
- Address : Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- Email : [email protected]
- Overview of the Internship Programme : We offer a customised internship experience, where activities may include participation in clinical ethics consultations, observation of ethics teaching, contributing to the development of tools and modules for ethics education, undertaking relevant research and experiencing various other ethics-related activities. Interns will work in a multidisciplinary environment to tackle ethical issues involving clinical ethics, professional ethics, research ethics, global health ethics, transplant ethics. They will also engage in discussions on current issues including AI and climate change, and explore the interplay between ethics the law.
- Institution/Organisation : Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) Tropical Health Network
- Contact Person : Professor Dr. Cheah Phaik Yeong
- Address : 3/F, 60th Anniversary Chalermprakiat Building, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok
- Email : [email protected]
- Overview of the Internship Programme : We offer an internship programme where interns actively engage in the coordination and facilitation of bioethics and other relevant workshops. Interns will play a pivotal role in conducting research related to bioethics, as well as contributing to community and public engagement initiative
- Institution/Organisation : Philippine Health Research Ethics Board, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology
- Contact Person : Ms. Xcyllea Jasmine E. Abanilla,
- Address : Saliksik Building, DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City
- Email : [email protected]
- Overview of the Internship Programme : For information on the internship programme, please contact Mr. Pio Justin Villas Asuncion
Applicants from any discipline, including philosophy, law, medicine, social sciences and humanities, must meet the following criteria:
- Either:
- postgraduate or undergraduate students, or
- fresh graduates (i.e., those who graduated within the last two (2) years)
- A national or permanent resident of a SEA country.
- Has been accepted by one of the above institutions/organisations to conduct the internship.
- Not receiving funding from any other sources for this internship.
Internships are awarded for a duration of up to three (3) months.
Applications for 2026 will open on 1 February 2026. Please note that the Network can only fund a limited number of interns after which the call for applications will close. Therefore, interns are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to enhance their chances of securing funding for their internships.
Grant recipients will be awarded a stipend of £600 per month for up to 3 months (including all taxes) and a one-time round trip economy airfare if the internship is not in the SEA home country (but in another SEA country). This travel benefit only applies to travel between SEA countries.
Recipients are expected to submit a monthly progress report (maximum 800 words) detailing the learning activities to the SEA Bioethics Network. The monthly report must be verified and signed by the supervisor, along with the supervisor’s official stamp. The failure to submit monthly progress reports on time may result in the Network withholding the release of funds to the recipients.
To apply for the Internship Grants, please follow the steps outlined below:
- Download the Application Form and Curriculum Vitae (CV) template.
- Complete both the Application Form and CV template accurately.
- Click Here to access the Google Form for uploading the application form, CV, a letter of acceptance from your host institution/organisation, a letter of recommendation from a referee, proof of nationality or permanent residency status and proof of student enrolment or if you have graduated within the last two (2) years of the application, please upload a certified copy of the graduation certificate and certified copy of the academic transcript of results achieved in each unit of study in which you have been enrolled.
- Once you are satisfied with your application, submit it through the Google Form. You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging the receipt of your application.
Notification of the outcome of applications will be sent to applicants within one (1) month of the receipt of the application.
Successful applicants who intend to undertake internship training outside their home country (but within a SEA country) are required to comply with visa (if applicable) and other immigration requirements of the host country.
For any inquiries regarding the grant, please email the Network Manager at [email protected] and use ‘SEA Bioethics Internship Grants 2026’ as the subject heading.
FAQ
The Network offers four grant types: Research Fellowship Grants, Professional Growth Fellowship Grants, Research Seed Grants, and Internship Grants.
- Research Fellowship Grants: Support extensive research in bioethics.
- Professional Growth Fellowship Grants: Facilitate professional growth through
workshops, conferences, and training. - Research Seed Grants: Fund small- to medium-scale bioethics research
projects. - Internship Grants: Provide practical, hands-on bioethics experience for
students and fresh graduates.
Eligibility varies by grant type and includes academic qualifications and relevant experience. For detailed eligibility criteria, see the grant descriptions under each grant type.
Eligible scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and recent graduates from Southeast Asia can apply. For more details, see the grant descriptions under each grant type.
Applicants must submit a completed application form and CV. Specific requirements may vary by grant type; see the requirements under each grant type.
- Research Fellowship Grants: Up to £10,000.
- Professional Growth Fellowship Grants: Up to £6,000.
- Research Seed Grants: Up to £6,000.
- Internship Grants: A stipend of £600 per month for up to 3 months and airfare
for eligible internships.
Collaboration is encouraged but not mandatory unless specified in the grant requirements.
Applications open on 1 February 2025 and close on 30 April 2025. Submit your application through the Network’s online portal with all required documents.
The deadline for all grant applications is 30 April 2025.