DST's
Scholarship Scheme for Women Scientists and
Technologists
Preamble
Women constitute
an important section of the workforce. However,
the present situation of a large number of well-qualified
women scientists who due to various circumstances
have been left out of the S&T activities
needs to be addressed. The problems faced are
several but, significantly, most often the "break
in their careers" arises out of motherhood
and family responsibilities. The option for
revival of their profession is presently unavailable
due to restrictions in age and qualification
and no system at present addresses these issues.
The "Women Scientists Scheme (WOS)"
has been evolved in this context, by the Department
of Science and Technology (DST) for providing
opportunities to women scientists and technologists
between the age group of 30-50 years who desire
to return to mainstream science and work as
bench-level scientists. Through this endeavour
of the Department, a concerted effort would
be 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, both from the point of view
of pure science and its application to societal
development.
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
Category
of Scholarships
Three
categories of scholarships, with research grants,
are available for Indian citizen. Scholarships
are envisaged in both institutional and non-institutional
modes. Under the institutional mode, national
and state-level organizations, recognized universities,
educations and R&D laboratories would be
considered for grant by the Department.
S&T - based Non-Government, Voluntary and
Non-Profit organisation, working on societal
issues and having the legal status of a registered
society would be considered under the non-institutional
mode,
The
various categories of Scholarship available
are indicated below:
WOS-A:
This category of scholarships are meant
to encourage women scientists to pursue R&D
in emerging and frontier areas of Science and
Engineering. The women scientists will be provided
flexibility to undertake research at a suitable
institution depending on their area of interest.
These scholarships are expected to provide opportunities
to women scientists to get into scientific profession
so that they are able to contribute to Science
and Technology development. The overall concept
is to ensure that large numbers of women scientists
enter scientific activity in the country. DST
has vast experience in promoting basic research
in frontier areas of Science and Engineering
and this new initiative will go a long way in
bringing a large number of women scientists
towards contributing to basic research.
Open
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WOS-B:
This scholarship is specially intended
to encourage women scientists involved in research
and application of innovative solutions for
various societal issues. This scholarship would
be made available to the aspiring women scientists
willing to work for the search, design, adaptation
and demonstration of Science and Technological
skills and techniques for improving the income
generating activity and reducing drudgery of
weaker sections of our society in different
occupations, capacity building on the societal
programs at the grassroot level etc.
WOS-C:
This
category is mainly focused to provide an opportunity
to women scientists for self-employment by utilizing
their specialized domain knowledge in areas
such as patenting, proof reading, science journalism,
technical translation, clinical pathology labs,
medical transcription etc. The objective of
this scholarship is to create a large pool of
trained women workforce with experience in the
diverse areas mentioned above and building up
a professional network.
Eligibility:
The
scheme is meant to encourage women candidates,
preferably those having a break in career and
not having regular employment. Qualification
for the scholarships are as follows:
WOS-A:
The minimum
essential qualification are PG degree equivalent
to MSc in Basic or Applied Science, B Tech in
Engineering Sciences and MBBS or other equivalent
professional qualifications. The desirable qualifications
are Ph.D. in Basic or Applied Science, M Tech
in Engineering Sciences and MD/MS, DM/MCH in
Medical Sciences from recognized Universities.
Maximum age limits for these scholarships are
35 and 50 years for post graduate and doctorate
candidates respectively.
The selected candidates will be given upto Rs.
15,000/- pm as Research Scholarship. This would
be part of a research project which will also
have provisions for small pieces of equipment,
contingencies, travel, consumables and institutional
overhead charges. The upper limit on Cost of
these projects including the scholarship amount
would be Rs. 15 lakhs for a period of three
years.
WOS-B:
The
minimum essential qualifications are PG degree
equivalent to M.Sc in basic or Applied Science,
B Tech in Engineering Science and MBBS or other
equivalent professional qualifications. The
desirable qualifications are PhD in Basic or
Applied Science, M.Tech in Engineering Science
and MD/MS, DM/MCH in Medical Science from recognized
Universities. Cut off age for the candidate
is 50 years. The candidates should also have
working experience and linkages with the relevant
organization to carry out research on R&D
projects of societal relevance
The selected candidate will be awarded upto
Rs. 15,000/- pm as Research Scholarships and
a research grant up to a maximum limit of Rs.
15 lakhs including the scholarship amount for
a period of three years to cover the cost of
small equipment, travel, contingencies, consumables
and institutional overhead charges.
WOS-C
:
Essential qualifications
are MSc/BTech/MBBS for training in S&T based
specialized courses (e.g. patent related issues,
management courses, publishing activities, science
journalism, clinical pathology labs, proof reading
for science books/journals, bio technology industry
also specific to the rural sectors, science
translation, medical transcription etc.).
Period of internship would not be more than
one year. Minimum qualifying age for the candidates
should not be less than 26 years.
The candidates must have break in career and
a potential for self- employment. The candidate
must be associated with some institution, industry,
NGO etc. for getting trained in the subject
area.
A scholarship of Rs. 10,000/- pm will be awarded
during the internship period.
The three components of the scheme (WOS-A, WOS-B
and WOS-C) are being implemented through the
following wings of DST
WOS-A |
WOS-B |
WOS-C |
Dr
Praveer Asthana
SERC Division,
Department of Science and Technology,
Technology Bhawan
New Delhi - 110 016
Email: pasthana at nic dot in
|
Ms
Vinita Sharma
S&S Division,
Department of Science and Technology,
Technology Bhawan
New Delhi - 110 016
Email: vsharma at nic dot in |
Ms
Sangeeta Taiwar
Patent Facilitating Centre TIFAC,
Department of Science and Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Delhi - 110 016
Email: tifac at nda dot vsnl dot net dot
in |
Contact:
For
more information ,please contact:
Dr.
V Rao Aiyagari
Adviser & Member - Secretary (SERC)
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016.
Telefax: 011-26963695
Email: venktesh at nic dot in
