INDO-AUSTRALIAN CAREER BOOSTING GOLD FELLOWSHIPS (IACBGF) 2016-17
INDO-AUSTRALIAN
CAREER BOOSTING GOLD FELLOWSHIPS 2016-17
(A joint initiative of the Indian and
Australian Governments)
OVERVIEW OF FELLOWSHIPS-
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.
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.
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.
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 -
1. abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in crops.
2. crop improvement for nutrition and
biomaterials.
3. germplasm sources for adaptability to climate
extremes.
4. disease resistance.
5. Biofuels.
Medical Biotechnology –
1. bioresourcing of novel antimicrobials from
natural resources.
2. developing novel & improved vaccines
delivery platforms.
3. diagnostics - affordable and rapid diagnostics
for genetic and infectious diseases; and drug discovery and delivery system.
4. biomedical devices & implants for
therapeutic applications.
5. 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.
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.
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:
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.
2. Eligible applicants include persons employed in a:
·
Indian Government agency, statutory body or government owned
corporation;
·
Indian private sector
research and development organisation.·Indian based university,
institute, or other national research organisation; or
·
Age limit 35 years
3. Indian applicants must be Indian citizens with their
principal place of residence being India.
4. Unsuccessful applicants in any one round are eligible to
re-apply in subsequent rounds.
5. Fellowships are awarded on an individual basis only.
Therefore, interdependent or joint applications will not be considered.
6. The decision of the IACBG-Fellowships Secretariat regarding
applicant eligibility is final
SELECTION CRITERIA
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
2. Each selection criterion has equal weighting.
3. No weighting will be given to an applicant’s prior
international experience.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
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.
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.
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.
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. The Department may seek further information from the
applicant, or their nominated referees, to clarify details provided in the
application.
6. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
7. Canvassing in any form shall lead to fore-termination of
Candidature
SELECTION PROCESS
1. The selection process will be managed by the
IACBG-Fellowships Secretariat in liaison with relevant external parties in
India and Australia (as required).
2. Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis by a
Selection Panel using the selection criteria set out in Section 4 above.
3. Applicants will only receive advice of receipt of their
applications on requesting a receipt.
4. There is no implicit guarantee of approval at any stage in
the process
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
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).
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.
3. Other grants and allowances received by the applicant should
be detailed in the project outline.
TIMELINES –
1. 24 th August, 2016- Applications open 31st
October, 2016
2.
Closing date for applications
January/February, 2016-Selection process completed March, 2016- Letters of
offer to successful applicants and signing of fellowship agreements
3.
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: ssdiwan.dbt@nic.in
Website: www.dbtindia.nic.in
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