Senior Associateships are intended for scientists from and working in developing countries. Kindly note that if this condition is not fulfilled, most regretfully the Associateship privilege is either suspended or cancelled, depending on the case. Any change of address must be communicated immediately to the Associate Scheme Office.

Senior Associateship awards have a six-year duration with a total allocation of Euro 8,000. During the six years, Senior Associate Members may apply to visit the Centre as often and for as long as they wish, until the allocation is exhausted, although the maximum foreseen duration of any visit is 60 days.

All candidates over the age of 45 will automatically be considered for a Senior Associateship award. However, a Senior Associateship may be granted to candidates below the age of 45 who opt only to apply for a Senior Associateship award by stating this very clearly on their application form. The upper age limit for Senior Associates is 65 at the time of award.

Visits to ICTP

All visits under the Associateship Scheme are subject to the availability of funds each year and must be agreed upon with the Associate Scheme Office.

Senior Associates wishing to visit the Abdus Salam ICTP during the period of their award must apply exclusively through the Associate Scheme Office according to the following modalities: He/she must complete the visit request on the following link https://e-applications.ictp.it/applicant/login/ASVF18 by 30 November of the year preceding the proposed visit. Please note that the only visits which can be authorized must be requested, with a provisional indication of the dates, by this date (this is essential to plan the programme for the following year).

In order to receive the invitation letter, all Associates should communicate the exact dates of their visit three months before his/her arrival at the Centre. If this deadline is not respected, the Centre cannot be held responsible for difficulties encountered regarding any aspect of the organization of the visit. Moreover, once the invitation letter is issued, only one change in the date of their visit can be considered before it is automatically cancelled.

Wherever possible, Senior Associates are encouraged to visit the Abdus Salam ICTP outside the Summer, when there is a serious problem of overcrowding, unless there is an activity within their scientific interest during the above period. In Summer, the Abdus Salam ICTP guesthouses may easily be fully booked.

Detailed pre-arrival information covering all aspects of their Associateship visit will be sent together with the invitation letter.

Senior Associates will be provided with a prepaid ticket by contacting the Travel Office of the Abdus Salam ICTP (e-mail: travel@ictp.trieste.it) about 60 days before their planned visit.

No requests for reimbursement of taxi fares, visa fees and/or for non-documented travel expenses will be accepted.

We remind Senior Associates that it is their moral obligation to stay in Trieste (unless otherwise authorized) for the whole period they are paid.

At the end of his/her stay, each Associate will update his/her curriculum and his/her publication list when presenting his/her Form B (as already requested on the Form).

For female Associates only:  Should you be pregnant at the time of your visit, please provide  us with a medical certificate stating clearly your expected delivery date.

Outside visits

If, while paying a visit to the ICTP, a Senior Associate is invited to a meeting in Europe to present his/her work (poster, talk, lecture) or, if he/she is invited by an Institute, he/she may leave the Centre for a maximum of 9 days, with  paid living allowance, provided his/her visit meets the minimum requirement of 30 days.

Senior Associates should make a specific request for these outside visits either upon registration or at least ten days before the planned visit, providing the relevant documentary evidence.

Senior Associates should find financial support from the home or host Institute to supplement local expenses as well as any additional travel expenses which may result from outside visits. A detailed report should be brought to the Associates Office after such visits.

Compensation clause

The Abdus Salam ICTP has been asked by UNESCO to advise all Associates as follows:

"Please note that this invitation does not constitute and shall not be construed to create an employment relation between UNESCO and yourself. Accordingly, UNESCO will not pay the employer's contribution to any social security scheme or health insurance scheme in connection with duties performed by you under this invitation.

Moreover, compensation is not payable by UNESCO for any damage to or loss of your personal property. However, for the period of your stay at the Abdus Salam ICTP, including travel between your residence and the ICTP, you will be covered under UNESCO's insurance policy for inter alia permanent total disability or death up to an amount of US$ 100,000 and for medical expenses up to an amount of US$ 10,000 in case of illness, injury or death attributable to your relationship with UNESCO, subject to the terms of the insurance policy."

Application procedure

Click here for information about the application procedure.