Standing Committee for promoting Women in Science

MOBILITY SCHEME

(Addressing relocation issue of Women Scientists)

In the year 2014, Department has restructured all the women specific programmes under one umbrella known as “KIRAN” (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing). KIRAN is addressing various issues related with women scientists (e.g. unemployment, relocation etc.) and aimed to provide opportunities in research (WOS-A), technology development/demonstration (WOS-B), and self-employment (WOS-C) etc. KIRAN is also actively involved in taking proactive measures, under the name CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities) to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure in women universities in order to attract, train and retain promising girls students in S&T domain.

In continuation of this, another landmark programme, named as, “Mobility Scheme” has been just launched under KIRAN which will address relocation issue of women scientists working in regular position in Government Organizations. The Mobility Scheme is aimed to provide an opportunity to women scientists who are facing difficulties in their present job due to relocation (marriage, transfer of husband to any other location within the country, attending ailing parents, and accompanying children studying in different city) and will act as filler while searching other career option at new place. The initiative intends to provide a harmonious environment during early phases of women scientists where they would like to stay active in research in addition to attending and fulfilling other responsibilities in the domestic front. It offers a contractual research award to women scientists and enables them for independent research.

• Advertisement - Mobility
• Application Format - Mobility
• Endorsement Certificate

Women Scientists Scheme

Women are an important section of the workforce, more particularly in the science & technology (S&T) domain. However, a large number of well-qualified women get left out of the S&T activities due to various circumstances which are usually typical to the gender. The challenges faced by them are several but most often the "break in career" arises out of motherhood and family responsibilities. To address such issues, Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched "Women Scientists Scheme (WOS)" during 2002-03. This initiative primarily aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists between the age group of 27-57 years who had a break in their career but desired to return to mainstream.

Through this endeavour of the Department, concerted efforts have been made to give women a strong foothold into the scientific profession, help them re-enter into the mainstream and provide a launch pad for further forays into the field of science and technology.

Category of Fellowships:

Under this scheme, women scientists are being encouraged to pursue research in frontier areas of science and engineering, on problems of societal relevance and to take up S&T-based internship followed by self-employment. Following three categories of fellowships, with research grants, are available for Indian citizen:

• Women Scientist Scheme-A(WOS-A): Research in Basic/Applied Science
• Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B): S&T interventions for Societal Benefit
• Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C): Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for the Self-Employment

Eligibility:

The scheme is meant to encourage women in S&T domain, preferably those having a break in career and not having regular employment, to explore possibility of re-entry into the profession.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Post Graduate degree, equivalent to M.Sc. in Basic or Applied Sciences or B.Tech. or MBBS or other equivalent professional qualifications
• M.Phil/M.Tech/M.Pharm/M.VSc or equivalent qualifications
• Ph.D. in Basic or Applied Sciences

Age:

The minimum age to apply in WOS-A & WOS-B is 27 years and maximum age is 57 years. Age relaxation of 5 years would be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC and physically challenged category. Attested copies of supporting documents in this regard must be enclosed.

Support:

This scheme will provide a research grant for a well-defined project proposal (under WOS-A and WOS-B) for a period of maximum three years. This grant will cover the fellowship of the applicant and cost of small equipments, contingencies, travel, consumables, etc. Institutional overhead charges will be extra.

Women Scientist Scheme-A (WOS-A):

Women Scientists Scheme-A (WOS-A) provides platform to women scientists and technologists for pursuing research in basic or applied sciences in frontier areas of science and engineering. The scheme plays pivotal role in gender mainstreaming as it not only prevents brain drain from S&T system but also train and retain women in the system. The scheme initially offers opportunity to work as bench-level scientists and ultimately open new avenues for permanent position in Science & Technology.

Scientific Disciplines:

The support available in 5 disciplines under WOS-A namely, i) Physical & Mathematical Sciences (PMS), ii) Chemical Sciences (CS), iii) Life Sciences (LS), iv) Earth & Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), and v) Engineering Technology (ET)

Last Date of Application:

The Scheme is open throughout the year. Therefore, there is no last date of application.

Procedure for Applying: Only online submission of Project Proposal is allowed in WOS-A

For Online Submission of WOS-A Proposals- Click Here

Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B):

Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B) focuses on projects related to Science & Technology (S&T) interventions for societal benefit. Such project proposal should address a well-identified societal challenge and deliver possible solution(s) by way of development of viable technology/technique and/or lab-to-land technology transfer, its adaptation and scaling up. Women scientists who wish to apply under this scheme are required to develop their own project/proposals for scientific and technological solutions to address issues preferably at enhance quality-of-life the grassroots level. The proposal must clearly bring out the societal benefit to be accrued through well conceived plan for development of technology/technique and/or adaptation/ customization. The candidate should have adequate S&T skills and be adept at techniques to deliver the proposed outcome. Projects which have the potential for sustainable income generation, lead to appreciable reduction in drudgery and enhancement of quality-of-life besides capacity building of women at the grassroots level are encouraged.

Last Date of Application:

Last date to apply under WOS-B is 31 August 2016.

Procedure for Applying:

Five (5) copies of neatly typed application (in single space and on both sides of the paper) should be submitted in the enclosed format at the address mentioned in advertisement.

For application format-Click here

Advertisement of WOS-B for 2016-17

Note: The application for WOS-A, WOS-B scheme will be considered only in English language.

Training Program on Proteomics Approaches for Women Scientists in Life Sciences

Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C):

Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C) is being implemented by the Patent Facilitating Centre of Technology Information Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC). The scheme aims to train women having qualifications in science/engineering/medicine or allied areas in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and their management for a period of one year in order to develop a pool of women scientists geared to creating, protecting and managing intellectual property in India. Hands-on training on different aspects of IPRs (e.g. patent search, know-how, drafting, filing, trademarks, trade secrets, copyright etc.) is major part of WOS-C  curriculum in association with various Knowledge Partners (i.e. Law firms, Knowledge Processing Organizations (KPOs), Companies, Government agencies, and so on).

Eligibility Criteria: (1) Women in permanent position are not eligible to apply (2) Age: Minimum 27 years; Maximum 45 years as on 01-01-2017 (3) Minimum essential qualification: Master of Science; Bachelors in Engineering/Technology or equivalent. (4) Desirable qualification: Proficient in handling computerized database, collection, collation, analysis and report preparation.

Call open for 9^th Batch of WOS-C: Click here for detailed information

Last Date to submit online application for WOS-C: 06 February 2017

For Online Submission of WOS-C Applications- Click Here

The three components of the scheme (WOS-A, WOS-B and WOS-C) are being implemented through the following wings of DST

Program Officers In KIRAN Division