The Department of Bio-Technology under the Union Ministry of Science & Technology has invited applications for the award of a Research Associateship in the frontier areas of Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Interested candidates can submit applications online till February 28.
The objective of the DBT-Research Associateship (DBT-RA) programme is to train and nurture young researchers and scientists and generate a critical mass of trained manpower in the biology and biotechnology sector. The research can be done in premier research institutions/Universities. The financial assistance for the programme is provided by the Ministry of Science & Technology.
The applicants should hold a PhD degree in Science, Engineering, or MD/MS degree in any area of medicine. They should have a good academic record and research interests in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Those who have submitted their thesis are also eligible to apply.
A total of 75 candidates will be selected for the programme. They can expect a monthly stipend of Rs 47,000 to Rs 54,000, besides the annual contingency grant of Rs 50,000. However, they will receive Rs 35,000 till they attain their PhD/ MD/MS. There can be changes in the rate.
The upper age limit is 40 years for male candidates and 45 years in the case of female candidates (as of February 28 this year). Those who are employed too can apply. However, they have to relinquish their jobs to start the research after getting selected.
The research is tenable only in India. The candidates cannot avail of the fellowships at the same institution where they have earned their PhD/MD/MS degree. A mentor cannot have more than two fellows at a time. Superannuated faculty could also mentor as long as labs are available with them.
The Associateship is for two years. However, there is a provision for extending the same annually based on excellence in research for up to four years. Referees should upload a pdf copy of the letter of recommendation on the portal before February 28. Those who were awarded the fellowship cannot reapply. For more details, log on to the website http://ra.dbtindia.gov.in.
