INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship Scheme: Apply by September 10

This scheme provides an opportunity to young post-doctoral fellows for carrying out independent research. There is no guarantee of a regular position after 5 years.

Duration and Fellowship benefits: The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship is for a maximum period of 5 years. Each selected INSPIRE Faculty Fellow will be eligible to receive a consolidated amount of Rs.1,25,000/-p.m as fellowship. In addition, fellow will get a Research Grant of Rs.7 lakh every year for 5 years, with the facility for the carry-forward amount, if any, from the previous year. No Fellow shall avail two fellowships concurrently during the tenure of this Fellowship period.

Eligibility: Applicants should be Indian citizens or people of Indian origin with PIO status having PhD degree in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Pharmacy, Medicine or Agriculture related subjects, from any recognized university in the world. They should have a minimum of 60% (or equivalent CGPA) marks throughout their academic profile starting from the Higher Secondary Examination (Class 12 onwards). Those who have submitted their Ph.D theses and are awaiting the award of the degree are also eligible. However, the selection for INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship will be confirmed only after confirmation of the award of the Ph.D degree.

Upper age limit is 32 years for General Category as on 1^st January, 2020 (born on or after 1^st January 1988). For SC/ST applicants, upper age limit will be 35 years (born on or after 1^st January 1985). For persons with benchmark disabilities (Divyangjan with not less than 40 percent of a specified disability), the upper age limit will be 42 years.

Applicant should have publication(s) in highly reputed journals demonstrating outstanding research potential. Those who are employed in regular/contractual positions within India may also apply for INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship for improvement and enhancement in their career prospects but, upon selection, they will need to resign (no lien or deputation or any type of leave would be accepted) from the current job and organization before taking up the INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship.

Desirable: Those who are within top 1% in Class 12 examination, IIT-JEE rank holders, 1st rank holders either in graduation or post-graduation level university examinations.

Application: There are two routes to apply. One is the ‘Direct’ mode and the other ‘Nomination’ mode. One can apply in any one mode only.

Those who intend to apply either through Direct or Nomination mode should apply online at www.online-inspire.gov.in as per the instructions given therein. After successful submission of the application online, applicant may obtain a printout of the application and keep it for personal use only. The last date for online submission of application is 10^th September 2020. Detailed Guidelines of the component are available at the website (Announcement > Faculty links)

Nominations from academic institutions or Industry R&D Centers can also be sent through Vice-Chancellors/ Directors of Institutions/ Heads of Institutions/ Presidents and Fellows of Science Academies or Eminent Scientists from India and abroad based on personal knowledge. Nominations are to be sent to the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi only.

Selection: The Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, in coordination with DST, is implementing this INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship Scheme up to the stage of recommendation of candidates for INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship. A three-tier selections process- recommendations by discipline-based Expert Committees of INSA in case of candidates under Direct and Nomination modes/routes, followed by the Apex Level Committee of INSA. Based on the recommendations of these committees, DST makes the final selection.

For details, visit www.online-inspire.gov.in