Ministry of Science and Technology
Department of Science and Technology
2nd ADVERTISEMENT
INSPIRE Faculty Scheme: a component of “Assured Opportunity for Research Career (AORC)” under INSPIRE.
Date of Release: 29.01.2012
The Department of Science and Technology, Government 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 awards to young achievers and opportunity for independent research in the near term and emerge as a future leader in the long term.
A) ELIGIBILITY
ESSENTIAL
· Indian citizens and people of Indian origin including NRI/PIO status with PhD (in science, mathematics, engineering, pharmacy, medicine, and agriculture related subjects) from any recognized university in the world,
· Those who have submitted their PhD Theses and are awaiting award of the degree are also eligible,
· The upper age limit as on 1st January 2012 should be 32 years for considering support for a period of 5 years. However, for SC and ST candidates upper age limit will be 35 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.
B) APPLICATIONS
Three routes i.e. 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.
· Nominations from academic institutions or Industry R&D through Vice-Chancellors/ Directors of Institutions/ Head of Institutions/ Presidents and Fellows of Science Academies or Eminent Scientists from India and Abroad based on personal knowledge. Nominations to be sent to Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi.
· Eligible candidate who wishes to consider in ‘Direct’ and ‘Nominated’ route, may also send applications directly to Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi for consideration.
C) METHOD OF SELECTION
· Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi in coordination with DST will be implementing this INSPIRE Faculty Scheme up to the selection of candidates for awarding INSPIRE Faculty Award.
· A two-tier selection process i.e. Discipline-based Expert Committee in case of candidates under `Direct’ and `Nomination’ routes and Institutional level short-listing in `Institutional route’ followed by final selection by the Apex Level Committee.
· Discipline-wise committees of INSA would evaluate and screen the candidates who apply on Direct and Nominated Routes without support from host-institutions.
· Reputed academic institutions enjoying the status of Centre of Excellence like IITs, IISc, IISERs, TIFR, CSIR Laboratories etc. and Central & State Universities selected under PURSE scheme of DST could employ their own internal processes to short-list candidates and submit the list for final selection by the Apex Committee.
· The Apex Committee shall finally select short-listed candidates for offering INSPIRE Faculty Award under this Scheme and decision of the Apex Committee for selecting candidates in this Scheme shall be the final.
· Candidates, who have not identified host institutions at the time of their application, should do so immediately after their final selection. All selected candidates should avail the INSPIRE Faculty Award within 3 months of their final selection.
D) NUMBER OF INSPIRE FACULTY AWARD PER YEAR
The Scheme provides a provision of maximum 1000 INSPIRE Faculty Awards per year subject to rigorous and transparent criteria basis met by the potential aspirants.
E) AMOUNT & DURATION OF EACH INSPIRE FACULTY AWARD
Each selected INSPIRE Faculty shall be eligible to receive a consolidated amount equivalent to the scale of the Assistant Professor of an IIT as Fellowship amount. In addition, a Research Grant of Rs 7 lakh per year for 5 years shall also be provided to each successful candidate.
The INSPIRE Faculty Award is for a maximum period of 5 (five) years.
In case the INSPIRE Faculty finds a permanent position during the tenure of the position, the Fellowship amount shall be discontinued from the day the INSPIRE Faculty joins in permanent position but he/she may continue with the INSPIRE Faculty Scheme availing Research Grant portion for the balance period to carry out research at the new position.
The INSPIRE Faculty is eligible for applying for any competitive grants from all funding agencies during the tenure of the INSPIRE Faculty Award and would be favorably considered by DST for future support at the end of 5 years based on performance and technical merit.
F) ROLES AND REQUIREMENTS OF HOST INSTITUTIONS
Host institutions should be encouraged to provide a congenial atmosphere for the awardees to excel in their work, and should view them as potential assets for faculty development . Under no circumstances the “INSPIRE Faculty” Award is renewable after 5 years. Host institutions are expected to consider “INSPIRE Faculty” for permanent positions in due course, subject to meeting institutions’ performance assessment criteria.
In-breeding by host-institution is generally not encouraged. However, in case host-institutions are willing to nominate their own PhD students under this Scheme, specific justifications and commitment for development of independent directions of research should be clearly delineated.
Minimum information/ commitment requirements from Host Institutions are:
o Access to all common infrastructural facilities, acceptable laboratory and office space (independently or on shared basis), computing, library access, etc., o Information on whether desirable new areas/directions of research are being introduced through this scheme,
Information on whether the INSPIRE Faculty will be allowed to supervise PhD students, hire research fellows, independently or jointly with a permanent faculty member,
Host-institution’s willingness to consider the candidate for a permanent position in due course, subject to meeting statutory requirements.
G) LAST DATE
A] Eligible candidates choosing ‘Direct Mode’ must apply in the prescribed format of `Direct Mode (A)’ to Executive Secretary, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002 on or before 29th February 2012.
B] Nominated applications in the prescribed format of `Nominated Mode (B)’ should also reach to Executive Secretary, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002 on or before 29th February 2012.
