Organisation : Wellcome Trust/ DBT India Alliance
Fellowship Name : Margdarshi Fellowship
Website : https://www.indiaalliance.org/
Margdarshi Fellowships :
This scheme provides a unique opportunity to visionary biomedical scientists to lead and nucleate a cutting edge research programme in India in collaboration with Indian Host Institution(s).
Related : Wellcome DBT Clinical & Public Health Research Senior Fellowships : www.scholarships.net.in/13666.html
The Applicant and the Host Institution(s) are encouraged to make a “synergistic effort” towards establishing a Centre of Excellence that aims to improve the existing scientific breadth and develop new research avenues.
Eligibility:
Applicants would be expected to be running an independent laboratory for at least 10 years and have an outstanding scientific record.
Eligible candidates should have:
** Demonstrated leadership skills
** Made significant and outstanding contributions in biomedical research
** Mentored young scientists and students
** Attracted extramural funds from peer-reviewed competitive sources
** Established important national and international collaborations
** Maintained high ethical standards of research and financial management
Note:
** Candidates of all nationalities and origins are eligible to apply if they are pursuing or intend to pursue research at an institution in India.
** There is no age limit to apply for the Fellowship. However, Applicants should not use this scheme to propose a post-retirement settlement plan.
** To be eligible, an Applicant must be sponsored by a ‘not-for-profit’ Host Institution located in India.
** This scheme provides the flexibility of choosing two Host Institutions. For more details on the institution’s eligibility, please refer to https://web.archive.org/web/20190913205243/http://www.wellcomedbt.org:80/remit-and-eligibility.
** It is not mandatory for the Applicant to hold a confirmed appointment at the Host Institution. A long-term commitment will, however, be important to foresee the impact the partnership proposed through the Margdarshi Fellowship programme.
** To ascertain the level of coordination, collaboration and integration between the stakeholders as desired by the mandate of the Margdarshi Fellowship programme, the Applicant and the Sponsor(s) are required to submit a joint application by the announced Last Date.
** No exceptions to this Last Date will be made.
Contact Us:
Queries should be sent to margdarshi@wellcomedbt.org
Application Process :
To apply, the Applicant and the Sponsor(s) should submit a Joint application on IASys. This application includes:
Application Form: The Applicant is responsible for creating an application using the online form available on IASys. The Lead Applicant will complete the application form and also invite Sponsor(s) on the application. This leads to creation of separate Sponsorship forms.
Sponsorship Form:
The Lead Applicant and the Sponsor submit their respective forms individually. However, submission of Lead Applicant’s form is contingent upon successful submission of the Sponsorship Form by the Sponsor.
It is therefore important for the Sponsorship Form to be submitted within the specified Last Date to allow the Lead Applicant to complete the process of submission.
If there is more than one institution participating in the programme, both the Primary and the Secondary Sponsors will fill in their respective Sponsorship forms, which will be made available to the Sponsor(s) by the Applicant through IASys.
The Sponsor form(s) must be filled in by the Sponsor and not by the Applicant. A breach of confidentiality on this matter will disqualify the Applicant.
Consent Form: The Sponsor should confirm their willingness by filling in the consent form. If there is more than one institution participating in the programme, both the Sponsors should upload their individual consent forms on the system. A format is included in the application form.
The Applicant and the Sponsor(s) at the Host Institution will be required to explain
(1) their strategic thinking and conceptualization of the proposed programme,
(2) how the Applicant’s experience, knowledge and reputation in the field of interest will help in introducing a new programme at the Host Institution,
(3) the support committed by the Host Institution to achieve the desired impact, and
(4) the expected short-term and long-term outcomes.
It will be necessary to demonstrate how this Fellowship will pave way for establishing a larger programme in future and opening new avenues for other researchers. Applicants should also outline their engagement plans with the wider scientific community, and an outreach beyond the scope of their proposed research.
It is not mandatory for Applicants who are already pursuing research in India to relocate to another institution. However, if the programme necessitates relocation, interested Applicants can do so.
In such cases, Applicants will have to detail the reasons for leaving their current institution and how the proposed relocation will augment their scientific activities and enhance research activities at the proposed institution.
The Lead Applicant and the Sponsor/Host Institution(s) will be required to fill online Forms, which will be made available through IASys, the India Alliance online application portal. Last Dates communicated in advance will be strictly enforced.
A format of the Sponsor’s consent form is included in the application form. The form has to be signed, dated and issued on Sponsor’s official letterhead. The Sponsor must upload this form through IASys.
If there are two Sponsors, both of them will be required to upload their respective consent forms. Please note that a completed consent form is mandatory for the application to be considered in the competition.
An invitation to the next level of the competition will be contingent upon a successful review of the joint application made by the Applicant and the Sponsor(s).
Evaluation process :
The joint application will be reviewed by the Margdarshi Selection Committee of India Alliance to assess the eligibility, remit and competitiveness.
The review process primarily evaluates Applicant’s track record in the proposed area, resources available at the Host Institution, concept of the proposed programme, its potential to create new directions of research at the Host Institution, the extent to which it is a new development, involvement of Sponsor/Host Institution and their commitment to assess the feasibility of the programme.
Those applications found suitable by the Margdarshi Selection Committee will be sent out for an external review following which there will be an interview with the Margdarshi Selection Committee. This Committee will be the final decision-making body for the award.
Fellowships must be started within one year of the award.
Notes:
1. Applicants may suggest to India Alliance the names of potential reviewers as also names of individuals to be excluded from the review. However, the choice of reviewers will rest with India Alliance and will not be disclosed to the Applicant.
2. Applicants are reminded that this is a competition and the decision of India Alliance will be final. Applicants are not allowed to write directly to Margdarshi Selection Committee members. India Alliance reserves the right to disqualify an Applicant who has breached this condition.