Innovation in Scientific Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Fellowships 2012

Ministry of Science and Technology
Department of Science and Technology (DST)
Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016, Website www.inspire-dst.gov.in

Admission-2012

INSPIRE Fellowship for programme in Science and Technology (4th advt)

INSPIRE Fellowship to first rank holders for pursuing doctoral programme in Science and Technology

For the first rank holders qualified for doctoral research in any recognized university in India, innovation in Scientific pursuit for Inspired research (INSPIRE), a new scheme of the govt of India, offers standing opportunity through fellowships at the level same as National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified candidates

Applications are invited from first rank holders in the post graduate degrees in Basic and Natural Sciences or degree in Engineering Sciences, Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Veterinary Sciences of any recognized Indian University or Institute/statutory body in India for award of INSPIR Fellowship and appropriate research grants for a maximum period of five years for doing full-time research leading Ph.D degree
Application format and necessary documents required are available on the website www.inspire-dst.gov.in

Eligibility: Candidates who are only Indian citizen and have acquired their required qualifications necessary for admission to the Ph.D program during 2011 i.e. January to December 2011 are only eligible

However, students who are already enjoying senior research fellowship (SRF) or higher positions in any project need not to apply for this

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme: The strength of the innovation infrastructure of a nation has enormous significance in the competition among emerging knowledge economies

The realization of vision 2020 calls for action and a well designed innovation infrastructure

Generation and nurturing of a human talent pool capable of utilizing and developing first principles in science is both a pre-condition and integral part of such an innovation infrastructure

An India specific model for attracting talent with an aptitude for research and innovation, for a career in Basic and Natural sciences is required

INSPIRE is an innovative programme developed by the dept of Science and Technology to attract talent to the excitement and study of science at an early age, and to help the country build the required critical resource pool for strengthening and expanding the S&T system and R&D base

It is a programme with long term foresight

INSPIRE has three components

1. Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS)

2. Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)

3. Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC)

The dept of Science and Technology, Govt of India, has launched the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) http://www.inspire-dst.gov.in program in 2008

The program aims to attract talent for study of science and careers with research

INSPIRE includes many components

The importance of assured career opportunity in R&D sector has been recognized

INSPIRE faculty scheme opens up an assured opportunity for research career (AORC) for young researchers in the age group of 27-32 years

It offers a contractual research positions to young achievers and opportunity for independent research in the near term and emerge as a future leader in the long term
Eligibility

Essential: Indian citizens and people of Indian origin including NRI/PIO status with Ph.D (in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Pharmacy, Medicine, and Agriculture related subjects) from any recognized university in the world

Those who have submitted their Ph.D theses and are awaiting award of the degree are also eligible

The upper age limit at the time of awarding the offer should be 32 years for considering support for a period of 5 years

Desirable: Candidates who are within top 1% at the school leaving examination, IIT-JEE rank, 1st rank holder either in graduation or post-graduation level university examination (which are used presently for identifying INSPIRE scholars at under-graduate level and INSPIRE Fellows for doctoral degree)

Publications with an aggregate Impact Factor 10 or at least three research publications in SCI journals (one in case of Mathematics) of high Impact Factor

Applications: Direct, Nomination and Institution mode are available for applying by the eligible candidates

Under Institutions Mode, candidates may directly approach reputed academic institutes and the host academic Institute shall be required to adopt their own internal process and mechanism as available before forwarding names of shot-listed candidates for final selection by the Apex Committee
Selection procedure

Selection for INSIPIRE Fellowship shall be purely on the basis of academic merit of the candidates, choice of the supervisor, host institutions and the research proposal

All interested and eligible candidates must apply in the prescribed a4 size along with documents

Application should be sent by post only and shall be addressed to Head, INSPIRE Program, Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016

The envelop should mention on top application for INSPIRE Fellowship (give subject code)

This advertisement along with application format is available at the website www.inspire-dst.gov.in for submission of application throughout the year