Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) of Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF) committed to the common goal of promoting science and technology through devised programs and to nurture contacts between scientists and technologists at an early career stage jointly launch the Indo-US Research Fellowship Program for Indian Researchers. The objective of the Indo-US Research Fellowship Program for Indian Researchers is to introduce scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers to international collaborative research opportunities, thereby furthering their research capacity and global perspective and forging long-term relationships with scientists, technologists and engineers in USA.

These awards will provide an excellent opportunity to young Indian scientists and technologists of all disciplines, under the age of 40 years to interact with the American scientific community and get first hand information of the developments taking place at the international level and acquaint themselves with new scientific research methods and to collaborate in a larger research project. It will enable young Indian researchers to carry out a clearly defined research project at a place of their choice in USA up to a period of 12 months. The individual availing this fellowship would be called as an IUSSTF Research Fellow.

Eligibility Criteria:

Academic Qualifications: Ph.D. in Science, Engineering, Technology or Medicine. Applicants must provide proof of independent research work in internationally recognized academic journals.
Age: Up to 40 years as on 31 December 2011
Employment: A permanent position in a public funded R&D lab/ S&T institution (non-private)/ recognized universities/colleges in India. Area of Work: Area proposed by the candidate should be clearly defined as:

• Atmospheric and Earth Sciences

• Chemical Sciences

• Engineering Sciences

• Life Sciences

• Medical Sciences

• Mathematical and Computational Sciences

• Physical Sciences

Promising applications in areas other than the above areas may also be considered.

Place of work:

The fellow should be accepted by the US scientific/technological institution, which is internationally recognized as an outstanding institution where major work in the identified area is in progress. There should be willingness on the part of the American institution to accept and extend necessary support to the candidate for the work proposed. The candidate should himself/herself correspond with their proposed host institution abroad for placement. Candidate is required to produce evidence, in the form of a letter of acceptance from the US institution to be visited along with merits/uniqueness of that host institute in the proposed area.
Note: The candidates who have availed any other overseas fellowship to USA for a period of more than three months through any Government/public funding agency during last two years will also not be considered for this fellowship.

Fellowship:

“The IUSSTF Fellow will be entitled to fellowship amount of US $ 3000 per month.” "IUSSTF Fellow will also be entitled to a personal contingency grant of up to a maximum of Rs. 50,000 to cover for visa, airport transfer, medical insurance etc. Medical insurance expenses, visa fee, airport transfer charges will be met by the fellow from out of this personal contingency grant."

IUSSTF Fellow will also be permitted to travel within USA to attend conferences or visit other institutes of interest with the approval of the advisor at the host institute. The Fellow will be entitled to avail one of the following grants for this purpose.Grant of $ 600 for fellowship period up to 6 months Grant of $ 1200 for fellowship period beyond 6 months.

Air-tickets for all the selected IUSSTF Fellow would be provided directly by the IUSSTF travel desk by economy class and shortest route from their place of work in India to the place of the American host institute and back. As a rule, reimbursements will not be provided for air tickets purchased directly. Rules governing payment of salary, leave, medical, gratuity, GPF and pension etc. of the organization/ institution/ university to which the fellow belongs would continue to be applicable. No liability on any of these accounts will be borne by IUSSTF. The candidate selected for the award of the Indo-US fellowship should commence their research with six month period from the date of award announcement. Failure to do so would render the fellow forfeit the award.

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Courtesy: indousstf.org