Call for Applications for Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (Bio-CARe) for Women Scientists 2015-16
In an attempt to enhance the participation of Women Scientists in Biotechnology Research, the Department of Biotechnology launched a Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (Bio-CARe) for women Scientists. The programme is mainly for Career Development of employed/ unemployed women Scientists upto 55 years of age for whom it is the first extramural research grant. The purpose is to build capacities for women Scientists employed fulltime in Universities and small research laboratories or unemployed women Scientists after a career break so as to help them undertake independent R&D projects. The scheme is open for all areas of Life Science / biology (including agriculture, veterinary science and medicine).
There are two categories under which support is provided for a period of 3 years. There is a Research Grant Opportunity (RGO), under which a research grant is provided. Under this category, the women Scientists who are unemployed will be provided a monthly emoluments ranging from Rs. 50,000/- to 60,000/- p.m. The employed women Scientists in addition to salary will get an amount of Rs.10,000/- p.m as an incentive. A research grant of upto Rs. 60.00 lakhs is provided. Under the Early Career Scientists (ECS) category, scientists having experience less than two years post PhD are eligible to apply for research grant of upto Rs.
40.00 lakhs. The unemployed women scientists will be provided a monthly emolument of Rs. 50,000/- . The employed women Scientists in addition to salary will get an amount of Rs.10,000/- p.m as an incentive. Details of the two categories of the scheme are as below:
Eligibility Criteria:
(i) M.D/M. Tech /Ph. D/Equivalent degree in any branch of Life Sciences.
(ii) Women Scientists who are employed or unemployed or are desirous of coming back after a break.
(iii) Women Scientists for whom it is the first grant. (Women Scientist who have already availed any grant as a Principal Investigator from any Government Funding Agency including WOS -Women Scientists Scheme (A&B) and Fast Track Scheme of DST are not eligible to apply).
(iv) Women Scientists upto 55 years of age
Fellowship/Stipend:
(i) For unemployed women Scientists there would be a provision for fellowship amount as lumpsum in the following 3 slabs under the Research Grant Opportunity (RGO). The slabs would be decided based on post Ph.D experience as mentioned below:
(a) Grade I Rs.50, 000/- (more than 2 years research/industrial experience)
(b) Grade II Rs.55,000/-( more than 5 years research/industrial experience)
(c) Grade III Rs.60,000/-( more than 10 years research/industrial experience)
Candidates having less than 2years experience will be supported under Early
Career Scientists (ECS) category and get Rs.50, 000/- .
** The candidates are requested to mention number of years of experience post PhD and will have to provide proof of years of experience.
**If a selected candidate is availing a Post-Doctoral or Contractual fellowship, she will have to resign from the same before accepting the project under Bio-CARe programme.
(ii) For employed grantees an additional amount of Rs. 10,000/- per month would be provided as an incentive. This will be in addition to the salary she is receiving from the parent institute/university.
Project Budget:
All research related expenses are to be booked under Equipment, Consumables, Manpower, Contingency, Travel etc. as in other ongoing R&D Schemes of the Department of Biotechnology. The budget is restricted to Rs. 60.00 lakhs for 3 years for RGO and Rs.40.00 lakhs for ECS. This includes manpower to be hired (PA/JRF/SRF/RA for RGO and PA for ECS) in the project. The budget is indicative only. Not mandatory to be funded. Equipment cost should not exceed 30 % of the total cost of the project.
Application Procedure:
(i) The eligible applicants should submit the project proposal online through epromis (http://dbtepromis.gov.in) as and when the program is advertised at DBT website ( www.dbtindia.gov.in). The proposal should describe the objectives and work plan through which she intends to achieve the target in the project period in detail. The applicants should ensure to fill up all the fields as all fields are mandatory.
(ii) For employed candidates, minimum one Co-Investigator is mandatory and the proposal should be duly forwarded by Head of the institute/competent authorities. For unemployed candidates, a Mentor is mandatory and a letter from the Mentor Scientist in whose lab she proposes to work and a forwarding letter of support from the Head of the institute/Competent authority should accompany the proposal.
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