> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://incubator.ersilia.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://incubator.ersilia.io/how-to-apply/application-requirements.md).

# Application requirements

## 📋 <mark style="color:$primary;">Eligibility Criteria</mark> <a href="#eligibility-criteria" id="eligibility-criteria"></a>

<mark style="color:$primary;">A senior researcher can apply individually or with their team (up to 4 scientists) if they fulfill the following conditions:</mark>

* <mark style="color:$primary;">Conduct their research at an academic or non-profit institution based in one of the countries of the WHO African Region.</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">Be currently working on a drug discovery project for Global Health (see</mark> [<mark style="color:$primary;">below</mark>](/how-to-apply/application-requirements.md#scientific-project) <mark style="color:$primary;">for more information on the scientific direction of the program).</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">Have a clear use case for AI support.</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">Be able to commit their time to participate in the Incubator activities (see</mark> [<mark style="color:$primary;">below</mark>](#commitment) <mark style="color:$primary;">for details on what this means).</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">Be able to work and communicate in English.</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">PhD students can act as lead applicants if they have the explicit support of their Principal Investigator (PI), but involvement of senior team members is encouraged.</mark>

## 🔬<mark style="color:$primary;">Scientific project</mark>

<mark style="color:$primary;">The program will accept project proposals that fall within participants' existing research scope and meet the following criteria:</mark>

* <mark style="color:$primary;">Drug discovery projects working with small molecules, including isolated natural products.</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">Focus area: infectious diseases of Global Health relevance (for example: Gram-Negative infections, Malaria, Tuberculosis or Neglected Tropical Diseases)</mark>

<mark style="color:$primary;">Projects we are not likely to select:</mark>

* <mark style="color:$primary;">Projects using natural plant extracts without isolated components.</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">A research proposal that opens up an entire new avenue of investigation inside the group. The aim of the AI Incubator is to support existing, ongoing projects.</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">Projects where the AI use-case is not clearly demonstrated.</mark>
* <mark style="color:$primary;">Projects beyond drug discovery (for example, epidemiologics or epigenetics).</mark>

{% hint style="info" %}
We are eager to learn about your research needs. If your project has a clear use case for AI but does not fully meet all requirements we still encourage you to apply.
{% endhint %}

## **🔐** <mark style="color:$primary;">Participation & Data Sharing Consent Agreement</mark>

<mark style="color:$primary;">All participants along with their PI or corresponding institutional representative must sign the Participation & Data Sharing Consent Agreement submitted at the end of the application process.</mark>&#x20;

<mark style="color:$primary;">This agreement establishes that participants agree to share relevant datasets within the Program, ensuring responsible data use, confidentiality, and compliance with institutional and ethical requirements. It also covers the team's commitment to full participation in the Program, the financial stipend and disbursement terms, the PI's endorsement of the team's participation, and conduct and withdrawal terms.</mark>

> <mark style="color:$info;">You can download the Participation & Data Sharing Consent Agreement here. We recommend you to read it carefully in advance before applying.</mark>
>
> {% file src="/files/KfXrlCXD1h1JvSLCCBdI" %}

## 💰 <mark style="color:$primary;">Financial Support</mark> <a href="#financial-support" id="financial-support"></a>

<mark style="color:$primary;">The AI Incubator provides operational and financial support for participation, covering travel, accommodation, and logistics for all in-person activities. In addition, each selected project will receive a grant of 10.000 USD to be used according to the</mark> [<mark style="color:$primary;">expenses policy</mark>](/resources/expenses-policy.md)<mark style="color:$primary;">. 50% of this amount will be disbursed prior to the start of the Program, and the remaining 50% will be provided once the Program finishes.</mark>&#x20;

<mark style="color:$primary;">During the application process, each participant/team will need to provide an</mark> <mark style="color:$primary;"></mark>*<mark style="color:$primary;">Approximative Budget</mark>* <mark style="color:$primary;"></mark><mark style="color:$primary;">of what they would use the financial support for. Once the team is selected, they will be required to provide a more detailed budget.</mark>&#x20;

> <mark style="color:$info;">You can download the Approximative Budget here. We recommend you to read it carefully in advance before applying.</mark>
>
> * <mark style="color:$info;">In the</mark> <mark style="color:$info;"></mark>*<mark style="color:$info;">Disbursement Needed</mark>* <mark style="color:$info;"></mark><mark style="color:$info;">column, indicate whether you will use the financial support provided before or after the Program to purchase that item.</mark>&#x20;
> * <mark style="color:$info;">You will find some lines already prefilled as an example. Please, delete them before submitting.</mark>&#x20;
>
> {% file src="/files/YfnmJmdUQONMbH6HLfff" %}

## **🤝** <mark style="color:$primary;">Commitment</mark> <a href="#commitment" id="commitment"></a>

<mark style="color:$primary;">As detailed in the Participation & Data Sharing Consent Agreement, each participant agrees to participate actively in the Program for its full duration (24 weeks). Participants commit to:</mark>

1. <mark style="color:$primary;">Attend the in-person workshop and online meetings. If applying as a team,  at least one participant must be present at the in-person workshop and each participant is required to attend at least 80% of the weekly meetings.</mark>
2. <mark style="color:$primary;">Properly preparing for meetings, and responding to emails within a reasonable timeframe.</mark>
3. <mark style="color:$primary;">Engage actively in the development of their work within the established deadlines.</mark>
4. <mark style="color:$primary;">Actively participating in meetings and showing interest in other participants' projects.</mark>
5. <mark style="color:$primary;">Treat fellow cohort members, mentors, and collaborators with respect, abiding by our</mark> [<mark style="color:$primary;">code of conduct</mark>](/resources/code-of-conduct.md)<mark style="color:$primary;">.</mark>
6. <mark style="color:$primary;">Answer to the surveys conducted before, during, and after the Incubator.</mark>
7. <mark style="color:$primary;">Help us build an alumni community open to collaboration opportunities.</mark>

{% hint style="info" %}
We estimate the synchronous (meeting times) beyond the in-person workshop to be \~7h/month. Each project will require different asynchronous time investment, we anticipate a minimum of \~20h/month per project.
{% endhint %}


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