Call for Applications for Indo-Australian Career Boosting Gold Fellowships (IACBGF- Fellowships) 2016-17
Under the Indo-Australia Collaboration between Department of Biotechnology, Government
of India and the Australian Government, Indo-Australian Career Boosting Gold Fellowships
(IACBGF) are announced. Under this initiative, the Government of India will fund ten (10) researchers from India.
The fellowships will be supported to undertake a collaborative research project at a leading
science institute or university Australia for a period of 3 to 9 months, commencing in 2016- 17.
- Call opening on —- 24th August, 2016
- Last date of Submission —- 31st October, 2016
OVERVIEW OF FELLOWSHIPS
1.1 The Indo-Australian Career Boosting Gold Fellowships (IACBG-Fellowships) is an initiative of the Government of India through the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology; with in kind support from the Australian Government, Australia, through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Under this initiative, the Government of India will fund ten (10) researchers from India. The fellowships support travel to undertake a collaborative research project at a leading science institute or university in the Australia for a period of 24 months, commencing in 2016.
1.2 This Program is open to applicants based in India who are
employed on a full time basis (need not be permanent employees) but have not accrued more than five (5) years employment in a research role since being awarded their PhD.1.3 Ten (10) Fellowships will be awarded in total annually, for applicants from India who have identified an opportunity to undertake a high quality, technically feasible and strategically valuable research project with a collaborating organisation in Australia.
1.4 In the first call, priority will be given to projects that are relevant to one of the following thematic areas and topics:
Agricultural Biotechnology
- abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in crops
- crop improvement for nutrition and biomaterials
- germplasm sources for adaptability to climate extremes
- disease resistance.
- biofuels
Medical Biotechnology
- bioresourcing of novel antimicrobials from natural resources
- developing novel & improved vaccines delivery platforms
- diagnostics – affordable and rapid diagnostics for genetic and infectious diseases; and
- drug discovery and delivery system
- biomedical devices & implants for therapeutic applications.
- stem cells/regenerative medicines
However, applications that identify an opportunity to collaborate with a leading Australia research institution/university in another research area not listed will be considered for support under this program.
1.5 Applicants will need to demonstrate that access to the requisite knowledge/expertise, skills and facilities has been agreed by their host, the value of such access and the prospects for ongoing development of the partnership and the benefits this will bring to India.
1.6 Eligible applications are assessed competitively against a number of selection criteria listed in Section 4 below
EXTENT OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE :
The fellows would be entitled to:
- Monthly Associateship of Rs. 1,50,000/-
- Preparatory allowance of Rs. 20,000/- (one time grant) and
- Cost of air passage in economy class by Air India for joining the overseas laboratory and back. The selected candidates may receive the payment of salary and continuance of other service benefits by the institutions to which they belong. However, no liability on any of this account will be borne by DBT.
- Fellows must spend a minimum of 3 months on their project at their nominated international host institution in Australia. An IACBG-Fellowship may not exceed 9 months
ELIGIBILITY :
3.1 The Fellowships are open to Indian researchers who are currently employed on a full time basis (need not be a permanent employee) but have not accrued more than five years experience as a research scientist since being awarded their PhD.
3.2 Eligible applicants include persons employed in a:
- Indian Government agency, statutory body or government owned corporation;
- Indian based university, institute, or other national research organisation; or Indian private sector research and development organisation.
- Age limit 35 years
3.3 Indian applicants must be Indian citizens with their principal place of residence being India.
3.4 Unsuccessful applicants in any one round are eligible to re-apply in subsequent rounds.
3.5 Fellowships are awarded on an individual basis only. Therefore, interdependent or joint applications will not be considered.
3.6 The decision of the IACBG-Fellowships Secretariat regarding applicant eligibility is final
SELECTION CRITERIA
4.1 Eligible applications will be assessed competitively against the following criteria: Feasibility of the project:
- technical feasibility of the project and achievability of the project goals;
- the applicant’s expertise and capacity to carry out the proposed project; and
- the appropriateness of undertaking the project with the nominated institution(s).
Relevance and value of the project:
- contribution to the future work of the applicant;
- advancement of knowledge and skills relevant to the field;
- potential for ongoing interchange of knowledge and skills between the applicant and collaborators in India or Australia; and
4.2 Each selection criterion has equal weighting.
4.3 No weighting will be given to an applicant’s prior international experience.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Applications must be submitted using the Application Form for the 2016 call for applications provided on the following websites: India: www.dbtindia.gov.in Applicants are required to complete all sections of the form and attach/enclose the documents outlined in Section 9 of the Application Form.
5.2 Applicants must obtain and submit written reports from at least two different referees who will be able to provide input to the Selection Panel regarding the project’s feasibility, significance, and value, the applicant’s personal qualities and the international host institution’s potential contribution to the project. Further comment from these independent referees may be sought by the selection Panel.
5.3 Applicants must also provide letters of support from their respective employer/home institution and their Australian host(s) which endorse their application and confirm the commitments made to the proposed collaborative project.
5.4 Applications may be withdrawn within 10 days of the closing date of a call, but are not allowed to be amended and re-submitted.
5.5 The Department may seek further information from the applicant, or their nominated referees, to clarify details provided in the application.
5.6 Incomplete applications will not be considered.
5.7 Canvassing in any form shall lead to fore-termination of Candidature
SELECTION PROCESS
6.1 The selection process will be managed by the IACBG-Fellowships Secretariat in liaison with relevant external parties in India and Australia (as required).
6.2 Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis by a Selection Panel using the selection criteria set out in Section 4 above.
6.3 Applicants will only receive advice of receipt of their applications on requesting a receipt.
6.4 There is no implicit guarantee of approval at any stage in the process
6.5 The final applicant scores and rankings determined by the Selection Panel will form the basis of a recommendation to the delegated departmental officer for approval.
CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIP
7.1 All successful applications will be subject to a formal agreement between the applicant’s employer/home organisation and the Department of Biotechnology. This Agreement outlines the terms and conditions of the IACBG-Fellowships funding and each party’s responsibilities (Annexure I). A Service bond is also to be signed by the Candidates (Annexure II).
7.2 All successful applicants will be required to:
- undertake the Fellowship within six months from notification of a successful application; and
- Successful applicants will be required to submit reports of their visit an initial report within 15 days and a written report on the results of the Fellowship project and make presentations to interested parties after completion of the project.
7.3 Other grants and allowances received by the applicant should be detailed in the project outline.
How to Apply :
LODGMENT OF APPLICATIONS
Download Application Form here
All applications must be lodged by 5.00 pm on 31st October, 2016.
Late submissions will not be accepted. The following copies of the application must be submitted:
- one unbound, single-sided original copy (clipped, not stapled)
- Five (5) spiral bound copies
- soft copy as a Microsoft Word file by email.
Applications can be mailed to: Dr. Suraksha S. Diwan Scientist ‘D’ Department Of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology Block No. 2, 7th Floor, Rom No. 517 CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003 INDIA Email: [email protected] Website: www.dbtindia.nic.in
TIMELINES
24 th August, 2016– Applications open
31st October, 2016 – Closing date for applications January/February, 2016-Selection process completed March, 2016- Letters of offer to successful applicants and signing of fellowship agreements
Please note the timelines are subject to change. Please refer to the DBT website for notification of any changes for the fellowships (http://www.dbtindia.nic.in).
ENQUIRIES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Indian based applicants are requested to direct any queries to the Indian representative of the IACBG-Fellowships Secretariat: Dr. Suraksha S. Diwan Scientist ‘D’ Department Of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dbtindia.nic.in
Download Links :
- Call Text
- Application Form: Word / PDF
- Guidelines
- Referee’s Report: Word / PDF
- Service Bond: Word / PDF
- Terms & Conditions
- You may need to download additional plug-ins to open this file.
