Har-Gobind Khorana Innovative Young Biotechnologist Fellowship of Department of Biotechnology

Applications have been invited for the Har-Gobind Khorana 'Innovative Young Biotechnologist Fellowship' (IYBF), instituted by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, to identify and nurture outstanding young scientists with innovative ideas and desirous of pursuing research in frontier areas of Biotechnology. 

The proposed project must be carried out in any recognized research institution/university in India having adequate facilities and the application for the same must be forwarded by the head or duly designated competent authority of the host Institution or University.

Eligibility: Applicant should be an Indian Citizen having a PhD in any branch of Life Sciences, Computational Sciences (applied to Biotechnology, Medicine or Biological Sciences), Veterinary Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences or Agricultural Sciences. Master degree holders in Medicine or Dentistry (MD/MS/MDS or IMC designated equivalent) and Engineering/Technology (M.Tech or AICTE designated equivalent) are also eligible to apply. Applicant must have a regular position in India, should have completed 3 years in India after joining of regular position in India and published high-quality papers in the best journals. Only the published work after joining Indian institutions will be considered for the screening and selection for the award of the fellowship.  

Applicant should not be more than 35 years of age on the last date of submission of application. Age relaxation of 5 years is applicable for SC/ST/OBC, Women and Physically Handicapped category.

Applicant should have an excellent academic career and a track record of high-impact peer-reviewed publications or invented technologies as evidenced by granted Indian and/or international patents.

Nature of Fellowship: The fellowship will cover both non-recurring and recurring financial grants for executing the innovative research plan proposed by the fellow. This includes equipment/software, consumables, contingencies, and travel grants as required for the research project. Fellows will also receive a cash fellowship every year during the project in addition to the equipment and other recurring grants. The extent of Financial Support is as follows (a) Non-Recurring: Equipment and accessories- Up to Rs. 10 Lakh (b) Recurring: (i) Cash Fellowship - Rs.1.30 lakh per year for 3 years (ii) Manpower - either one JRF or one SRF or one Project Assistant or Project Associate Level I/II with remuneration as per recent DST O.M. issued in this regard (iii) Consumables, Contingencies & Travel- Rs.10 lakh per year. Travel expenditure is to be restricted up to Rs.50000/- per year (iv) Overheads - As per DBT rules. 

Duration: The duration of the project will be for three years subject to satisfactory progress. Not more than 20% of fellows with exceptional progress may be chosen for the phase II program and given a two-year extension based on fresh appraisal. During the extension period fellows will be eligible for the research grant and fellowship money. 

Other Conditions: The project will be operated by the fellow. However, capital equipment will be procured in the name of the institute where the fellow proposes to work. The financial transactions of the fellowship have to be handled by the host institute, which will be responsible for submitting the Utilization certificate and Statement of Expenditure every financial year. In case the fellow moves to another institute during the tenure of the research project, with prior approval of the DBT, the project grant may be transferred to the new host institute.

No-objection certificate from the current institute and acceptance from the new host institute will be pre-requisite. IYBF fellow should not undertake foreign deputations for more than three months during the entire course of the project period. The fellow will be the corresponding author for any publication emanating as a result of the research carried out on account of the fellowship. Other Terms & Conditions are to be followed as mentioned in the sanction order of the grant as and when the fellowship will be sanctioned to fellows. To get the detailed notification click here. 

Application: Applications are to be submitted online by clicking here, latest by 6th March 2024. For queries related to the Program, one may contact at manojsrohilla.dbt@nic.in