Over 300 Young Researchers Selected For Support Under SERB National Post-Doctoral Fellowship

A total of 301 young researchers have been selected for support under SERB National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF), to work for 2 years in frontier areas of science and engineering, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Tuesday (1 November).

The fellows will work under a mentor who is in a regular academic/research position in a recognised institution in India and this training will provide them a platform to develop as an independent researcher, the ministry said.

Applications were received from 3,833 researchers against the invitations for proposals, according to the ministry.

The applications were reviewed by the designated expert committees.

The support which includes a monthly fellowship, an annual research grant and overheads for the host institution is broadly given in five thematic areas, namely Chemical Sciences, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

Candidates within the upper age limit of 35 years, with PhD/MD/MS degree from a recognised University and also those who have submitted their PhD/MD/MS thesis and are awaiting award of the degree, are eligible to apply, the ministry said.

The fellowship, initiated in 2015 to tap the young budding researchers and support them to graduate to an independent scientist, has received around 23,000 applications in last eight years, out of which around 3,500 fellows have been benefitted so far.

According to the ministry, N-PDF 2022 will bring this number to 3800.