Back-To-Lab Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programme

Back-To-Lab Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programme

The Back-To-Lab (बैक-टू-लैब) initiative, orchestrated by the Women Scientists Division, aims to reintegrate women into scientific research after career breaks. This program is specifically designed for women residing in Kerala who wish to reclaim their positions in the science and engineering fields.

Overview of the Scheme

The Back-To-Lab fellowship offers a two-year Post-Doctoral Fellowship to women who have experienced interruptions in their career paths. The primary aim is to encourage the participation of women in scientific research and mitigate the under-representation of females in academia and professional sectors, particularly in STEM fields. This initiative recognizes the importance of women’s contributions to scientific advancements, especially within a developing economy.

By providing financial support and mentorship, this program fosters a conducive environment for women to transition back into their research roles after taking time off for family or personal commitments. The effective utilization of human resource potential in science is essential for promoting qualitative research interventions.

Key Requirements

For successful participation in the Back-To-Lab fellowship, certain conditions must be met:

• A Scientist Mentor must be appointed, who is a regular faculty member of the institution and has a minimum of five years of service remaining before retirement.
• The mentor is responsible for overseeing the research project, ensuring its progress, and facilitating the timely submission of financial statements to KSCSTE.
• Applicants currently receiving financial aid from other state or central funding bodies are not eligible for this fellowship.
• Institutions must provide comprehensive facilities, including laboratories, libraries, and essential utilities to support the research work.
• Any unutilized funds, along with accrued interest, must be returned to the KSCSTE at the end of the fellowship period.
• Publications resulting from the research must acknowledge the support received from KSCSTE.
• Collaboration with foreign entities requires prior approval from KSCSTE.

Financial Benefits

The Back-To-Lab scheme provides a monthly stipend of ₹45,000 along with a 10% House Rent Allowance (HRA). Additionally, fellows receive an annual contingency grant of ₹75,000. The fellowship duration is capped at two years.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for the fellowship:

• Only women candidates may apply.
• Applicants must be permanent residents of Kerala.
• Candidates should be unemployed and on a career break due to familial obligations or comparable reasons at the time of application.
• No emoluments should be received from any source at the time of application.
• Individuals who have previously benefited from the KSCSTE Back-to-Lab Fellowship for their PhD are ineligible.
• The maximum age for applicants is 40 years, with extensions of 3 years for OBC candidates and 5 years for SC/ST candidates.
• A Ph.D. in Science or Engineering is mandatory.
• Applicants must have attained a minimum of 60% marks in their postgraduate studies.
• The chosen research center must be different from the one where the PhD was conducted, and it should be a government-recognized R&D institution or a university department in Kerala. Notable national institutes outside the state such as IISER, IIT, and IISc are also accepted.
• Publication of at least one research paper in a Science Citation Index (SCI) journal or securing a patent is required.
• Those who have received another Post-Doctoral Fellowship from KSCSTE or any other organization are not eligible to apply.

Application Procedure

To apply for the Back-To-Lab fellowship, eligible candidates should follow the steps outlined below:

• Online Application: Interested applicants must submit their applications online via the KSCSTE website: www.submit.kscste.kerala.gov.in.
• Application Review: A preliminary review of applications will be conducted to verify eligibility and supporting documents.
• Peer Review Process: All eligible submissions will undergo a peer review by five experts in the relevant research area. Only proposals receiving at least three favorable reviews (greater than 5 on a 10-point scale) will progress.
• Presentation Before Committee: Proposals that pass the peer review will be invited to present before the Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Recommendations from the RAC will determine funding approval, and applicants will be notified to sign an agreement as per the scheme’s guidelines.

Contact Information

For further inquiries, please reach out to:

The Head, Women Scientists Division
Kerala State Council of Science, Technology and Environment
Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom (P.O), Thiruvananthapuram – 695 004
Phone: 0471 2548208
Fax: 0471 2540085, 2534605
Email: [email protected]

For additional queries, contact: [email protected], [email protected]