M K Bhan Fellowship Program 2025-26 (MKB-YRFP) For Young Researchers, Apply Online
M K Bhan Fellowship Program 2025-26 (MKB-YRFP) For Young Researchers, Apply Online. Interested and eligible applicants can check out all of the details on the same below:
M K Bhan – Young Researcher Fellowship Programme (MKB-YRFP)
Guidelines, Terms & Conditions
1. ABOUT THE SCHEME:
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, had launched a new grant opportunity in 2020-21, the M K BHAN – YOUNG RESEARCHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME (MKB-YRFP), with an aim to encourage young bright researchers to continue their research in the country after Ph.D. The scheme is to offer an independent research grant to young Post-Doctoral Fellows, so as to enable them to emerge as future leaders and take up cutting-edge research focused on issues of national relevance. This fellowship will be awarded for Research work to be carried out at DBT-Autonomous Institutes only.
2. AIM OF THE FELLOWSHIP
i. To provide attractive opportunities to young researchers for developing them as independent investigators.
ii. This will enable young researchers to pursue their research interests within the country and also develop a critical mass of trained scientists for the country’s research
institutions, universities, and major new initiatives.3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
i. The applicant should be an Indian National and possess a Ph.D. in any branch of Life Sciences/Biotechnology/allied areas.
ii. Applicant should not be holding a permanent position in any institute/university.
iii. The applicant should have an excellent track record as evident by peer-reviewed publications, technologies developed, patent (if any). Those who have submitted their Ph.D. are also eligible to apply; however, the fellowship can be implemented only after the award of the degree. Applicant should not take up the fellowship at the Institute where he/she has done his/her Ph.D.
iv. Each applicant must identify a host institute and a mentor.
v. The upper age limit will be 35 years as on the closing date of the submission of the application.
vi. Applicants cannot have more than one fellowship at a given point of time.
vii. The application has to be endorsed by the mentor and the head of the host institute (DBT Autonomous Institute) chosen by the applicant to take up the fellowship in the prescribed format.
viii. In case a fellow is accepted into a regular position in the DBT autonomous institute, the salary component of the fellowship will be discontinued from the date of joining the position; however, other components of the fellowship will be continued for the remaining tenure of the fellowship.
ix. The fellowship is co-terminus with the project duration.
4. NATURE OF SUPPORT
i. The scheme provides a consolidated monthly remuneration of Rs. 90,000/- p.m.
ii. MKB-YRFP fellows in addition will receive a research/contingency grant of Rs. 20.00 lakh per year for hiring manpower, purchase of consumables, minor equipment, domestic travel, and other contingent expenditure to be incurred for the implementation of the research proposal selected for the fellowship.
iii. MK Bhan fellows can engage one manpower (JRF/SRF/Project Assistant/Project Associate) under him/her. Capital equipment will be procured in the name of the institute where the fellow proposes to work, and the value of the whole set of the equipment should not exceed Rs. 10.00 lakh during the whole tenure of the project.
iv. MKB-YRFP fellows will be eligible for regular research grants through extramural and other schemes of various S&T agencies of the Govt. of India, provided that Co-PI is a regular faculty. However, they can take research grants from anywhere but receive a salary from only one source.
5. WHERE WILL THE MKB-YRFP FELLOWS WORK?
i. MKB-YRFP Fellows can take up the Young Investigator grant at any of the DBT-Autonomous institutions. However, the application should be duly forwarded by the competent authority of the host Institute. Fellows can change their host institute only once during the tenure of the fellowship with the prior No Objection Certificate from the host institute that has forwarded the application (Director/Registrar). The proposed new institute should also be a DBT Autonomous Institute.
ii. Candidates should submit their nomination through a single host institute only. However, institutions can nominate more than one candidate.
6. DURATION AND NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS
i. Up to 50 fellowships will be provided each year. The duration of the fellowship will be for a maximum period of three years, and in exceptional cases, the duration could be extended by another two years on a fresh appraisal.
7. HOW TO APPLY?
i. Eligible applicants should submit applications as per the prescribed proforma to DBT duly forwarded by the Host Institute (DBT AIs only) where they intend to take up the fellowship.
8. MODE OF SELECTION
i. A national-level Selection Committee constituted by the Department of Biotechnology for the purpose will select the final candidates for MKB-YRFP.
9. FINANCIAL SUPPORT
| Non-Recurring | Amount | Comments and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment and accessories | Up to an amount of Rs. 10.00 lakh (mostly in first year) |
| Recurring | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fellowship | Rs. 90,000 per month for 3 years | Admissible only to awardees who do not have a regular employment |
| Grant in Aid (Consumable/ one manpower / domestic travel etc.) | Rs. 10.00 lakh per year (first year), Rs. 20.00 lakh/year (subsequent years) | Manpower salary will be as per recent DST O.M./Government of India rule |
10. OTHER CONDITIONS
i. A letter from the mentor, giving consent to provide laboratory space where the applicant desires to work, should be enclosed with the application. The laboratory should be able to support major needs of the project.
ii. Fellows are not entitled to any kind of salary during the fellowship. If during the fellowship, the fellow finds a regular employment in DBT AIs, he/she should immediately inform the DBT. In that case, the fellow can avail only the manpower, consumable, travel, and equipment components of the fellowship. If the fellow accepts a regular position/an employment other than DBT AIs, he/she needs to relinquish the MKB-YRFP project.
iii. The fellow can go abroad (not more than 3 months) for professional training in line with the MKB YRF project. This visit should not be planned in the first year and last 6 months of the project. If the fellow has to travel abroad for any professional work for more than 3 months, permission from DBT in advance is mandatory. For a visit of more than 3 months, only the consumable grant and salary to the manpower hired under the project will be provided. However, the MKB fellow will not get any fellowship during this visit.
iv. The financial transactions of the award programme will be handled by the host institute, which will be responsible for submitting the Utilization Certificate (UC) and Statement of Expenditure (SE) every financial year.
v. The awardees will be the corresponding author for any publication emanating as a result of the research carried out on account of the award. The mentor and others could be co-authors. The support of DBT should be suitably acknowledged in the publications (papers, reports, etc.) arising out of the research work done under this award programme.
vi. The Fellow will submit an annual progress report through the Host Institute.
vii. Institute will constitute an Expert Review Committee to review the scientific work done by the Fellow and submit minutes of the Review Committee to the DBT along with UC/SE.
viii. A mentor can endorse only one application each year. A DBT-AI can forward/endorse any number of applications to DBT for consideration. Mentors who have less than 5 years for retirement can’t endorse MKB-YRFP application.
ix. DBT reserves the right to discontinue fellowship at any stage and change terms & conditions of the fellowship.
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