M K Bhan – Young Researcher Fellowship Programme (MKB-YRFP)

1. ABOUT THE SCHEME:

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of

India, had launched a new grant opportunity in 2020-21, the M K BHAN – YOUNG
RESEARCHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME (MKB-YRFP), with an aim to encourage young
bright researchers to continue their research in the country after Ph.D. The scheme is to offer an
independent research grant to young Post-Doctoral Fellows, so as to enable them to emerge as
future leaders and take up cutting edge research focused on issues of national relevance. This
fellowship willbe awarded for Research work to be carried out at DBT-Autonomous Institutes only.

2. AIM OF THE FELLOWSHIP

(i) To provide attractive opportunities to young researchers for developing them as

independent investigators.
(ii) This will enable young researchers to pursue their research interests within the country and
also develop a critical mass of trained scientists for the country’s research institutions,
universities and major new initiative.

3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

(i) The applicant should be Indian National and possess a Ph.D. in any branch of Life
Sciences/ Biotechnology/allied areas.
(ii) Applicant should not be holding a permanent position in any institute/university.
(iii) The applicant should have an excellent track record as evident by peer reviewed
publications, technologies developed, patent (if any). Those who have submitted their
Ph.D. are also eligible to apply; however, fellowship can be implemented only after award
of the degree. Applicant should not take-up fellowship at the Institute where he/she has
done his/her Ph.D.
(iv) Each applicant must identify a host institute and a mentor.
(v) The upper age limit will be 35 years as on the closing date of the submission of the
application.
(vi) Applicants cannot have more than one fellowship at a given point of time.
 (vii) The application has to be endorsed by the mentor and the head of the host institute (DBT
Autonomous Institute) chosen by the applicant to take up the fellowship in the prescribed
format.
(viii) In case a fellow is accepted a regular position in the DBT autonomous institute, salary
component of the fellowship will be discontinued from the date of joining the position,
however, other components of fellowship will be continued for the remaining tenure of the
fellowship.
(ix) The fellowship is co-terminus with the project duration.

4. NATURE OF SUPPORT

(i) The scheme provides a consolidated monthly remuneration of Rs. 75,000/- p.m.
(ii) MKB-YRFP fellows in addition will receive a research/contingency grant of Rs. 20.00
lakh per year for hiring manpower, purchase of consumables, minor equipment, domestic
travel and other contingent expenditure to be incurred for the implementation of research
proposal selected for the fellowship.
(iii) MK Bhan fellow can engage one manpower (JRF/SRF/Project Assistant/Project Associate)
under him/her. Capital equipment will be procured in the name of the institute where the
fellow proposes towork and value of the whole set of the equipment should not exceed
Rs.10.00 lakh during the whole tenure of the project.
(iv) MKB-YRFP fellows will be eligible for regular research grant through extra mural and
other schemes of various S&T agencies of the Govt. of India, provided that Co-PI is a
regular faculty. However, they can take research grant from anywhere but salary from only
one source.

5. WHERE WILL THE MKB-YRFP FELLOWS WORK?

(i) MKB-YRFP Fellows can take up the Young Investigator grant at any of the DBT-
Autonomous institutions. However, application should be duly forwarded by the competent
authority of the host Institute. Fellows can change their host institute only once during the
tenure of the fellowship with the prior No Objection Certificate from the host institute who
has forwarded the application (Director/Registrar). The proposed new institute should also
be a DBT Autonomous Institute.
(ii) Candidate should submit his/her nomination through single host institute only. However,
institutions can nominate more than one candidate.
6. DURATION AND NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIP

(i) Upto 50 fellowships will be provided each year. The duration of the fellowship will be for
a maximum period of three years and in exceptional cases the duration could be extended
by another two years on a fresh appraisal.

7. HOW TO APPLY?

(i) Eligible applicants should submit application as per prescribed proforma to DBT duly
forwarded by the Host Institute (DBT AIs only) where they intend to take up fellowship.

8. MODE OF SELECTION

(i) A national-level Selection Committee constituted by the Department of Biotechnology for

the purpose will select the final candidates for MKB-YRFP.

9. Financial Support

Non-Recurring
Description Amount Comments and Notes
Equipment and accessories Up to an amount of Rs. 10.00
lakh
Recurring
Fellowship Rs. 75,000 per month for 3 Admissible only to awardees
years who do not have a regular
employment
Manpower (only one As per recent DST
JRF/SRF/Project O.M./Government of India
Associate/Project rule
Assistant)

Consumables, Rs. 10.00 lakh per year

Contingencies & Travel
(Travel expenditure is to be
restricted up to Rs. 50000/-
per year.)

10. OTHER CONDITIONS

1. A letter from the mentor, giving consent to provide laboratory space where the
applicant desires to work, should be enclosed with the application. The laboratory
should be able to support major needs of the project.
2. Fellows are not entitled to any kind of salary during the fellowship. If during the
fellowship, the fellow finds a regular employment in DBT AIs or receives any other
fellowship, he/she should immediately inform to the DBT. In that case fellow can avail
only the manpower, consumable, travel and equipment components of the fellowship. If
fellow accepts a permanent position in other than DBT AIs, he/she needs to opt out of
the MKB-YRFP fellowship.

3. The financial transactions of the award programme will be to be handled by the host
institute, which will be responsible for submitting the Utilization certificate (UC) and
Statement of Expenditure (SE) every financial year.

4. Each Institute will be sanctioned a consolidated budget for the number of fellows
selected for each Institute. Budget will include the Fellowship amount and
Contingency/Research Grant.

5. The awardees will be the corresponding author for any publication emanating as a result
of the research carried out on account of the award. The mentor and others could be co-
authors. The support of DBT should be suitably acknowledged in the publications
(papers, reports etc.) arising out of the research work done under this award programme.

6. The Fellow will submit annual progress report through Host Institute.

7. Institute will constitute an Expert Review Committee to review the scientific work done by the
Fellow and submit minutes of the Review Committee to the DBT along with UC/SE.

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 DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY (DBT)
APPLICATION FOR M K BHAN-YOUNG RESEARCHER
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM2022-23(MKB-YRFP)

MKB-YRFP -2022-23

(Expand space wherever needed)

1. Full name
2. Date of Birth
(DDMMYYYY)
& Age as
closing date of
the application Age:
(attach proof for
age)
3. Gender (Please
tick the relevant Male Female Others
box)
4. Permanent Address Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:

District: State:

Pin:
5. Telephone
6. Mobile
7. E-mail address

8. Name and address of

the forwarding
Institution

9. Academic qualification from Bachelor’s degree onwards (in chronological order)

Degree Subject University/institution Year Percentage of

marks &
Class/Grade
10. Employment/Research/Teaching positions history: (list the most recent first)

Position University/Institution Dates

11. Details of PhD work

Title
Institution/University
Name of Guide
Mentor’s e-mail ID

12. Details of:

a) Summary of the PhD work (not more than 300 words)

b) Work done during Post-doctoraltraining (if any) including institute

where work was carried out, name & email id of mentor and brief
description (not more than 300 words) of work.

13. List of peer reviewed publications in indexed journals giving list of

authors (indicate whether applicant is first or corresponding author),
name of journal, journal impact factor, year of publication, volume and
page numbers.

14. List of any books/chapters/reviews published

15. Overseas visits

Name of the place Country Duration of the Purpose
visit with dates

16. Recognitions/Awards

Recognizing/Awarding Purpose Year

Agency or organization
17. Details of Research Proposal
a. Broad Area of Research
b. Project Title

c. Scientific details of research project (Description should not exceed 5 pages)

The description must be confined to the following details:
• Introduction,
• Background to the problem including literature review,
• Objectives,
• Working hypothesis,
• Detailed Methodology,
• Expected outcome.

18. Name & address of the mentor

Full name
Title (Professor/Dr)
Position:
Institution’s address:
Telephone
E-mail address

19.
Name of head of the organization / duly
designated competent forwarding
authority

Name

Designation

20. Any other information in support of your application

 Attachments Needed

1. Proof for date of birth.

2. Proof of Master’s degree, and PhD Certificate.
3. One copy of each publication mentioned in column 13 and 14.
4. One copy of recognition/award details mentioned in column 16
5. Consent form from mentor (as case may be) and host institute

I confirm that all the information provided in the application is factual and true to
the best of belief. I have checked the research proposal for plagiarism and
confirm that any similarity is within acceptable limits. Further, I also understand
that if any deviation from this is detected and confirmed, my application is liable
to be rejected or if this occurs after award, the same will be withdrawn.

SIGNATURE OF THE APPLICANT NAME

DATE:
PLACE:

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 DECLARATION/CERTIFICATION
It is certified that

a) If the project involves the utilization of genetically engineered organisms, we

agree to submit an application to DBT duly approved by our Institutional Bio-
safety Committee. We also declare that while conducting experiments, the
Bio-safety Guidelines of the Department of Biotechnology would be followed.
b) If the project involves field trials, human subjects, animal experiments,
exchange of biological specimens etc. we will ensure that appropriate ethical
clearances would be taken from concerned ethical Committees/Competent
authorities. These details will be conveyed to the Department of
Biotechnology before implementing the project.
c) If the Research Project involves biological resources, the obligations under the
Biological Diversity Act 2002 as applicable shall be compiled with the
awardee, the details of such obligations can be accessed at www.nbaindia.org

d) It is agreed that any intellectual property right(s) on the invention(s) arising

out of the project shall be taken in accordance with the instructions and
guidelines of the Department of Biotechnology. Please see
www.dbtindia.gov.in for details.

e) The Institute undertakes all needed financial and other management

responsibilities of the project.

f) The mentor will provide all necessary support to the awardee (those not in
regular/permanent employments) as per the guidelines given in the MKB-
YRFP notification.

g) The institute will provide necessary facilities for carrying out the research by
the MKB-YRFPfellow.

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Signature of mentor with seal bearing Signature of Competent Authority

name, designationand affiliation Institute /University seal bearing
name, designation and affiliation