DST – INSPIRE Faculty Scheme Notification

Department of Science and Technology, Government of India has introduced INSPIRE Faculty Scheme and the notification for the Scheme has been announced for the year 2012-2013. The Inspire Faculty Scheme (IFS) will open up an Assured Opportunity for Research Career (AORC) for young researchers who are in the age group of 27-32 years. The Faculty Award Scheme is expected to augment high quality scientific manpower in scientific and educational institutions. The Scheme provides attractive opportunities to young teachers and achievers for developing independent scientific profiles. The programme is intended to helping the teachers to emerge as Science and Technology leaders in the long term. The Faculty Scheme offers contractual research positions and provides career opportunities, but it is not a guarantee for tenure positions after 5 years. Website of Inspire scheme is http://www.inspire-dst.gov.in . The DST is also offering INSPIRE Fellowship Scheme for the Students. Following are details of eligibility and application procedure for INSPIRE Faculty Award Scheme for 2021:

Eligibility and Fellowship: Maximum number of INSPIRE Faculty positions under INSPIRE Faculty Scheme will be 1000 per year. Applicants should have PhD (in science, mathematics, engineering, pharmacy, medicine, and agriculture related subjects) from any recognized university or institute in the world. Candidates who have submitted their Ph.D. theses and are awaiting for the award of the degree are also eligible to apply. Age must be below 32 years for considering support for a period of 5 years. Candidates who are within top 1 percent of candidates at the School Leaving Examination, IIT-JEE rank, 1st Rank Holder either in Graduation or PG level University Examination will be preferred. DST also offer INSPIRE Fellowships for UG, PG and Doctoral Candidates based on these criterion. At least three publications (one in the case of Mathematics) in the research publications in SCI journals of high Impact Factor are desirable.

Those selected under INSPIRE Faculty shall be eligible to receive a consolidated amount equivalent to the pay scale of the Assistant Professor of an IIT as Fellowship amount. Apart from this, a Research
Grant of Rs 7 lakh per year for 5 years will be to each successful candidate. The duration of the INSPIRE Faculty position is for a maximum period of 5 years. An expert panel of the DST will select the candidates through rigorous selection process.

Interested candidates can apply online only in the prescribed format available on the DST website at http://inspire-dst.gov.in/facultyScheme_Guidelines.pdf . The DST has designed a new format for direct application and nomination of the candidates under various streams. Academic institutions or industry R and D through their Vice- Chancellors/ Directors of Institution/ Head of Institutions/ Presidents and Fellows of Science Academies shall nominate the candidates for Faculty Award Scheme. There are separate application procedures for direct mode and nomination mode candidates. Both categories candidates can apply through DST – INSPIRE website at http://inspire-dst.gov.in/faculty_scheme_online.html . Last date for the receipt of applications is 29th February 2012.