Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India has launched SERB Overseas Postdoctoral fellowship (SERB-OPDF).

The Program aims to build national capacity in frontier areas of Science, which are of interest to India by providing postdoctoral fellowship for a period of one year extendable to one more year subject to satisfactory performance. The applicant should have completed PhD degree in science and engineering not earlier than the preceding two years from recognized institutions in India. For researchers who are in regular employment, the 2 year period may be relaxed however, the age should not exceed 35 years. The Program admits candidates in identified areas and sends them to top institutions around the globe, other than USA and and also to institutions where internationally acclaimed scientists are working. The applicant should himself/herself correspond with the proposed host institution abroad for their postdoctoral work. He/she is required to produce evidence, in the form of a letter of acceptance from the host institution along with merits/uniqueness of that host institute in the proposed area.

Application for support to undertake overseas postdoctoral research in overseas countries other than USA on a competitive mode is sought from the eligible researchers.

• To build national capacity in frontier areas of Science, which are of interest to India by providing postdoctoral fellowship for a period one year, which is extendable to one more year on good progress of research.
• To tap the expertise gained by these young scientists to strengthen / initiate national programmes in their domain knowledge.

• The scheme is open to Indian nationals only.
• Should have completed PhD degree in science and engineering not earlier than the preceding two years from recognized institutions in India. For researchers who are in regular employment, the 2 years period may be relaxed; however, the age should not exceed 35 years.
• Offer letter from the overseas host institution (Other than USA).

The selection would be made among students who gained admission to postdoctoral program in overseas institutions. The research should be undertaken in one or more of the following disciplines:

Materials, Energy, Sustainable Chemistry, Quantum Computing and Spintronics, Complex systems, Theoretical Mathematical Science, Big Data, Mechanobiology / Physical Biology, Bio-energy, Genetic to Physiology, Mental Health, High Performance Computation in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, Humanoid Robotics, Cognitive Science, Mechnotronics, Advanced Manufacturing, Cyber security, Encryption and decryption, Petroleum and Petro-Chemical Engineering, Science of Climate Change, Glaciology, Modeling, Imaging, Algorithms and Combinatorial Optimizations.

The candidate will be required to submit a research proposal in above mentioned area that he/she would be undertaking in the postdoctoral study. The Board will constitute a selection committee to select the candidates.

The selected fellows will be paid a monthly fellowship amount equivalent to US $ 3000, one time Contingency / Preparatory allowances of Rs.60,000/- to cover visa fee, airport transfer charges, insurance etc., Overseas Medical Insurance in India and USA of Rs. 20,000/- and Conference grants (if applicable) of Rs. 74,000.

The selected fellows will also be provided shortest route economy class air fare from their place of work in India to the place of the host institute and back.

The application for consideration under the SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (SERB OPDF) can be submitted only when the call for application is made.

The format, guidelines and other details of the SERB-OPDF Program are available at www.serb.gov.in and www.dst.gov.in

• The application for consideration under the SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (SERB OPDF) can be submitted only when the call for application is made.
• The application should be prepared and submitted strictly according to the formats prescribed in this document.
• The duration of the fellowship is for a period of one year. The fellowship may be extended for one more year subject to evaluation. Application for such extension should reach SERB Office well in advance accompanied by reports from the host justifying the extension of the fellowship. No extension is possible beyond two years. Fellowship for less than six months will not be entertained. However, in exceptional cases fellowship for shorter periods may also be considered.
• For scientists / researchers in regular employment, 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 SERB.
• The candidates selected for the award of the fellowship should commence their research in the overseas institution within three months from the date of the offer letter, and if not, the offer will be automatically stands withdrawn and no correspondence will be entertained thereafter.
• Application from researcher in regular employment should be forwarded through the head of organization/ department where the applicant is employed.
• The candidate should also submit a letter of approval of research plan from the host.
• Copy of acceptance letter from host institution.
• Please make sure to quote the registration number/ letter number (given by SERB) in all your future communications.
• The information should be given under each section, even if it is Nil.
• The candidates may submit 3 copies of the application printed on both the sides of A4 size paper and send to the Program Coordinator.
  

  Programme Coordinator, Overseas PDF
  Science and Engineering Research Board
  5 & 5A, Lower Ground Floor
  Vasant Square Mall
  Sector-B, Pocket-5
  Vasant Kunj
  New Delhi-110070

This call is specifically for inviting applications for Postdoctoral research at Institutions located in countries other than USA. Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) will make a separate call for US specific institutions. IUSSTF can be reached at www.iusstf.org.

A softcopy of the proposal complete in all respect should also be mailed to: opdf@serb.gov.in

The envelope / mail containing the proposal should be superscribed with “SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship: 2016-17”