Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (RRF) 2024-25 – DBT Invites Applications
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (RRF) 2024-25
Applications are invited from Indian Nationals working in overseas research institutions for taking up scientific research in India under the Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (DBT-RRF), a prestigious Re-entry Scheme of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. Initiated in the year 2006-2007, DBT-RRF programme has been instrumental in creating a pool of highly skilled and trained researchers working on cutting-edge technologies in Indian universities and institutions as well as building a critical mass of science leaders aimed at competence building in Biotechnology.
Aim of Fellowship:
The scheme has been conceptualized with the aim of attracting highly skilled researchers (Indian Nationals) working overseas in various cutting-edge disciplines of any area of life sciences & biotechnology, bio-engineering, healthcare (human and animal), agriculture and veterinary biotechnology, bio-energy and allied areas by providing them an attractive avenue to pursue their scientific R&D interests in Indian universities/ institutions.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Nationality: Indian citizens only are eligible to apply.
- Age Limit: The upper age limit for applying is 45 years as on the closing date of the application.
- Area of Research: Applicant working in any area of Life Sciences & biotechnology, bio-engineering, healthcare (human and animal), agriculture and veterinary biotechnology, bio-energy and allied areas will be eligible to apply.
- Qualification & Experience: Applicant should possess a Ph.D./M.D. degree or equivalent in life sciences/ agriculture, bioinformatics and allied areas or M.Tech. in Biotechnology/ allied areas/ medicine etc. with at least three years of post-doctoral research experience in overseas research laboratories. Applicants should have a proven/outstanding track record as evident from research publications and recognitions.
- Those who have already returned to India within one year of the closing date of the advertisement (two years for women candidates) are also eligible to apply; however, if they have secured a permanent position in India within this period then they are not eligible to apply.
NOTE: The candidate will not be eligible to avail fellowship and research grant under this program in case they have secured a regular job in Indian institutions after submission of application and before the start of fellowship support.
Duration of Fellowship: The duration of the fellowship will be for a period of three years. In exceptional cases, the duration of the award may be extended by an additional two years after a fresh appraisal of performance.
Nature of Support:
- The Fellow will receive a fellowship grant of Rs.1,35,000/- per month (consolidated).
- In addition, the fellow will receive a Research Support grant of Rs. 13,00,000/- per annum for the purchase of consumables, minor equipment, domestic travel, engaging project staff, and other contingent expenditure to be incurred in connection with the implementation of the project.
- The Host institute will receive Rs. 50,000/- per annum towards institutional overhead under the project.
- The Fellows will be eligible for regular research grants through extramural and other research schemes of various S&T agencies of the Government of India provided that a Co-PI is a regular faculty member, and the concerned funding agency allows for this arrangement. The information on the details of projects applied/sanctioned by the agencies may be made available to DBT from time to time and also as a part of the annual report.
- In case a fellow joins a permanent position, the fellowship component of the scheme will be discontinued from the date of joining the regular position; however, he/she can avail the research grant component for completion of the project.
- During the extension period, the fellow will be provided with Fellowship, Contingency/Research grant, and Institutional Overhead.
Selection of Host Institute:
- Applicants can choose to work at any S&T institution, including university departments, other academic institutions, and national laboratories in India, provided the institution at which they wish to pursue research is willing to provide the necessary R&D, administrative, and basic infrastructural support to facilitate research.
- The applications have to be duly forwarded by the Competent Authority of the host institutions against an advertisement.
- Candidates can submit their nomination through a single host institute only. However, institutions can nominate more than one candidate.
How to Apply:
- Application for Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship Programme session 2024-25 shall be submitted by ONLINE mode only.
- To apply, interested applicants may kindly visit the common fellowship portal https://fellowships.gov.in/, and can access the online application form exclusively at the following link: https://fellowships.gov.in/rrf-registration-2024-25/generate.
- Applicants must register on the online portal, fill in complete information in the online application form, and submit it before the closing date of application.
- The online application form to be filled by the applicant comprises information pertaining to Personal Information, Academic Qualifications, Post-Doctoral Experience, Work Experience, Research Contribution, Referee Details, Proposed Research Work, and Proposed Host Institution.
Documents to be submitted along with Online Application Form must include:
- Date of Birth Proof
- Copy of Passport (if applicable)
- Doctoral Degree Certificate
- Details of Research Contribution
- Reprints of 5 Best Research Publications (first page only)
- Research Proposal detailing Proposed Research Work
- Certificate by Host Institute
- Letters of Recommendation
- Undertaking from the applicant/ Statement from Current Employer (certifying that the applicant is not on a permanent position in India) (if applicable)
- It is mandatory to submit a certificate from the host institute; otherwise, the application shall not be accepted.
- Application forms that have not been submitted through the online portal shall not be accepted.
All candidates are required to keep the original copies of the documents mentioned above in hand; in case of selection at a later stage, the same will be required to be submitted to DBT-HRD-PMU, RCB Faridabad.
- Detailed information on the fellowship grant, eligibility criteria, and application process is available at DBT and RCB website (https://dbtindia.gov.in/ and https://rcb.res.in).
Important Dates:
- Start Date of Online Application: 28th January 2025
- End Date of Online Application: 28th February 2025
“Prospective Applicants may Join us for an Online Question-Answer Session; tentatively scheduled for the second week of February 2025” (Link for session will be shared on DBT and RCB websites).
Contact Information: The RRF programme is being managed by the DBT HRD Project Management Unit (DBT-HRD PMU) established at Regional Centre of Biotechnology (RCB), NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad.
For any queries, please contact:
Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
Dr. Manoj Kumar
Scientist ‘D’
Department of Biotechnology
Block 2, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003
Email: [email protected]
DBT-HRD Project Management Unit (DBT-HRD PMU)
Regional Centre for Biotechnology, GoI
NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana-121001
Phone No.: 0129-2848538/539
Email: [email protected] (for applicants)
Website: www.rcb.res.in
(The DBT-RRF session 2024-25 online application portal will remain open till 28th Feb. 2025)
Download guidelines with terms & conditions here
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