M K BHAN – YOUNG RESEARCHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME (MKBYRFP)
ABOUT THE SCHEME:
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of
India, has launched a new grant opportunity, 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 willbe awarded for
Research work to be carried out at DBT-Autonomous Institutes only.
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 initiative.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
(i) The applicant should be 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, fellowship can be implemented only after award
of the degree. Applicant should not take-up 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 routed through a host institute (DBT Autonomous Institute)
chosen by the applicant to take up the fellowship and has to be signed by both, the mentor
and head of the institution.
(viii) In case a fellow is offered a permanent job, he/she can avail only either the fellowship or
the salary.
(ix) The fellowship is co-terminus with the project duration.
NATURE OF SUPPORT
(i) The scheme provides a consolidated monthly remuneration of Rs. 75,000/- 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 research
proposal selected for the fellowship.
(iii) 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
towork and value of the whole set of the equipment should not exceed Rs.10.00 lakh.
(iv) MKB-YRFP fellows will be eligible for regular research grant through extra mural 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 grant from anywhere but salary from only
one source.
WHERE WILL THE MKB-YRFP FELLOWS WORK?
(i) MKB-YRFP Fellows can take up the Young Investigator grant at any of the DBTAutonomous institutions. However, 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 who
has forwarded the application (Director/Registrar). New institute proposed for change also
hasto be a DBT Autonomous Institute.
(ii) Candidate should submit his/her nomination through single host institute only. However,
institutions can nominate more than one candidate.
DURATION AND NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIP
(i) The duration of the fellowship will be for a period of three years and in exceptional cases
the duration could be extended by another two years on a fresh appraisal.
HOW TO APPLY?
(i) Eligible applicants should submit application as per prescribed proforma to DBT duly
forwarded by the Host Institute where they intend to take up fellowship.
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.
Financial Support
Non-Recurring
Description Amount Comments and Notes
Equipment and accessories Up to an amount of Rs. 10.00
lakhs
Recurring
Fellowship Rs. 75,000 per month for 3
years
Admissible only to awardees
who do not have a regular
employment or not in receipt of
any other fellowship/salary
Manpower (either one JRF
or one SRF or one Project
Assistant
As per DST O.M. dated Jan
30, 2019
Qualifications for JRF and
SRF are as per DST O.M.
dated Jan 30, 2019. Stipends
for Project Assistants with a
Master’s degree are
Rs.15,000/- per month and
with Bachelor’s degree is Rs.
12,000/- permonth.
Consumables,
Contingencies & Travel
(Travel expenditure is to be
restricted up to Rs. 50000/-
per year.)
Rs. 10.00 lakh per year
OTHER CONDITIONS
1. 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.
2. 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 or receives any other
fellowship, he/she should immediately inform to the DBT. In that case fellow has an
option for taking either salary or fellowship at a given point of time. However, he/she
can continue to avail research grant for the remaining duration of the fellowship. If
fellow accepts a permanent position in other than DBT AIs, he/she needs to opt out of
the MKB-YRFP fellowship.
3. The financial transactions of the award programme will be to be handled by the host
institute, which will be responsible for submitting the Utilization certificate (UC) and
Statement of Expenditure (SE) every financial year.
4. Each Institute will be sanctioned a consolidated budget for the number of fellows
selected for each Institute. Budget will include the Fellowship amount and
Contingency/Research Grant.
5. 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 coauthors. 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.
6. The Fellow will submit annual progress report through Host Institute.
7. 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.
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