The Qatar Science Leadership Programme (QSLP) has started accepting applications this month for the 2012 training course, which offers opportunities both overseas and in Qatar’s research institutes.

The vocational training course, offered by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), is only open to Qatari nationals with Bachelor or Masters degree. The call for applications is open till 15 May and the winners will be announced two months later.

The training course will develop the trainees skills in line with Qatar’s vision of transforming into a knowledge-based economy, focusing on national interests such as environmental, sustainable development and biomedical research.

Under QSLP, students can choose one of two training modules. The first will offer them a chance for hands-on science research in prestigious overseas universities, such as Cambridge University in the United Kingdom or Harvard University in the United States. The other module will focus on research management at one of the QF institutes, such as the Qatar Science and Technology Park or Sidra Medical and Research Centre.

“Some will choose to pursue science at a higher degree level and others may choose to pursue the administrative side and see where that takes them. This programme aims to help graduates make those decisions by exposing them to all facets of our research operations,” explains Dianna March, director of administration at the research department of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC–Q).

Those interested can apply online here.