Lady Tata Memorial Trust Junior Research Scholarship 2015-16

Applications are invited from Indian Nationals, from select Universities / Institutes / Laboratories, and strictly with first class academics (60% and above) from Class X up to date for the award of and Junior Research Scholarship for the year 2015-2016 for scientific investigations having a bearing directly or indirectly on the alleviation of human suffering from disease. The value of the award and contingency grant is as under  :

Please note that the age limit will not be relaxed.

Applicants who have completed their M.Sc. graduation in 2013 or later should only apply for the academic year 2015-16 for the JR award.

The Junior Research Scholarship (JRS) is offered to fresh M.Sc.s and is tenable in the first instance for a period of two years commencing from 1^st August 2015.   On completion of two years and on assessment by the 3-Member Doctoral Committee (DC) of the scholar’s institution about the progress of work done, the awardee, will have to re-appear for an research presentation before the Trust’s Indian Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC) in 2017-2018 for promotion to the Senior Research Scholarship (SRS) @ Rs.28,000/- p.m. for a further period of three years (2017-2018 to 2019-2020), as under, subject to satisfactory progress as reflected in the annual progress reports submitted to the Trust.

( I )     The  five-year scholarship grant will be governed by the following rules and regulations :   

1. JR Scholar joins in year one and a 3-Member Doctoral Committee (DC) is appointed by the concerned Institute / University within three months of the award of JRS, and this DC has to have the approval of the Indian Scientific Advisory Committee of the Trust.  The Doctoral Committee should comprise of a Guide (Convenor), a Professor grade faculty and another faculty working in related areas of science.  At the end of the year, the JR Scholar will present the work done to the DC and a summary of the work done along with approval of the DC members should be sent to the Trust’s ISAC for renewal of the fellowship for the second year.

2. The JR Scholar must complete the formalities for Ph.D. registration within 9 months to 14 months from the date of joining as JR Scholar with the Trust, otherwise the Trust will terminate the scholarship.

3. The JR Scholar will be reviewed by the ISAC in a research presentation on the completion of the first term of two years as JR Scholar, for the work done, and subject to the registration for Ph.D. will then be recommended for continuation from the third year as SR Scholar (SRS).

4. At the end of third year when the researcher is an SRS, his / her scholarship will be continued into the fourth year based on the recommendations of his / her DC and further on the comments of the ISAC on the progress report submitted.  The progress report should summarise the work done in the previous 3 years and the plans for the fourth year.

5. At the end of the fourth year he / she will be reviewed by the ISAC of the Trust for continuation of SRS for the fifth and final year.

( II )    On promotion as an SRS in the third year, the scholar will receive an incremented scholarship of Rs.28,000/- p.m. with HRA+contingency maintained at the same levels.

( III ) Applicants for Junior Scholarship must have post-graduate qualification in Science (M.Sc.).  Applicants must have passed their Class X to M.Sc. Examinations with > 60% marks.  Applicants with GATE / NET qualifications may be given preference.

2.         House Rent Allowance (H.R.A.) -

At 25% of the basic value of the scholarship will be offered to scholars doing research work at Universities / Institutes / Laboratories, i.e. strictly in the following Metro Cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, being locations outside their place of permanent residence.  Scholars from other small towns / cities will receive HRA @ 10% of the basic value of their scholarship.  A certificate from the Institute verifying the status of accommodation of the scholar should be attached together with latest original receipt of rental.  Scholars residing in accommodation provided by the Institute will not be eligible for drawing HRA.

3.         Processing Fee –

A MONEY ORDER OF RS.100/- BEING PROCESSING FEE (NON-REFUNDABLE) PER APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED IN FAVOUR OF THE LADY TATA MEMORIAL TRUST (Add: Bombay House, 2^nd floor, 24, Homi Mody Street, Fort, Mumbai 400001) AND THE ORIGINAL POSTAL RECEIPT OF THE SAME SHOULD BE SCANNED AND SUBMITTED WITH THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.  ANY APPLICATION RECEIVED WITHOUT THE SCANNED MONEY ORDER RECEIPT, OR FORWARDED THROUGH ANY OTHER MODE OF PAYMENT, WILL BE REJECTED WITHOUT FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE APPLICANT.

4.    GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS –

Subject selected for research work must have a bearing directly or indirectly on the alleviation of human suffering from disease.

(a) Selected scholars must undertake to work whole time and will be debarred from private practice or taking up any other occupation or accepting any other scholarship award or post of any description during the tenure of the scholarship award of the Trust. The scholar will also not be allowed, except for very exceptional reasons, at the sole discretion of the Trust, to abandon the research work in the middle of the academic year as this defeats the very purpose for which the Trust awards scholarships. The applicant must give an undertaking to this effect in the application itself.

(b) A selected scholar, if after having accepted our Award, abandons the research work before completing it or relinquishes the scholarship in the middle of an academic year on the ground that he / she has been offered an award of a higher value by another funding agency / organisation, or has secured alternate employment, he / she will be called upon to refund the entire scholarship amount, inclusive of house rent allowance / contingency expenditure and the concerned university / institute will not be considered for the Trust awards for the next two academic years.  A Bond will have to be executed to this effect by the selected scholar, and countersigned by the concerned guide at the time of accepting our scholarship award. 

(c) Applicant must pay particular attention to the above requirements as sought in the online submission. As complete information as possible should be given regarding the proposed research under the various heads indicated in the submission and also full reference must be given as sought. The problem must be carefully selected and isolated so that it can be adequately dealt with during the period of the scholarship.  The scientific information so presented will help to determine whether or not the applicant should be called for an interview.

(d) In giving the particulars of published papers and articles, the applicant should state references by numbers. In the list of references at the end of the text, full references should be given corresponding to the number quoted in the text as follows :

1. Give names of all the authors when six or less, if seven or more, give only the first three and add et al.
2. Full title of the paper.
3. Name of the Journal from which the reference is quoted.
4. Year of publication.
5. Volume, and
6. Page numbers (first and last). 

Please note that :-

1. references are not to be quoted if the Applicant has not fully studied the original text of the article, and
2. if the references are not quoted in the manner described above, the application will not be considered.

The applicant MUST submit / support the application with a letter through the Registrar of the University / Director of a recognised Research Institute or Laboratory where he / she proposes to work.   Application will be rejected if this requirement is not met.  The application must be supported by :

a)   a letter jointly signed by the Registrar / Director and the Head of the Department concerned stating that they have critically examined the details of the proposed research work, that they have approved of the general plan, that the university / institute has adequate laboratory facilities and that they will provide these facilities to the applicant for his / her research work. The letter should give the name and designation of the person who will act as Guide to the applicant.

b)     A letter from the Guide, giving his / her consent, to provide necessary guidance to the applicant and to supervise his / her research work.

c)    A joint letter from the three Members of the Doctoral Committee agreeing to assess and submit the annual research progress reports of the work done by the Scholar as sought by the Trust 

d)        Applicant must obtain a separate letter from the Head of the Department or the Research Guide giving comments on past research experience and on the competence of the applicant to carry out the proposed research work.

5.         The on-line application should be submitted on www.ladytatatrust.org not later than 15^th January 2015.

6.      The interview call letters will be forwarded to short-listed applicants by the end of June 2015, personal interview will be held in mid-July 2015 and the names of the selected applicants, based on their performance at the interview, will be announced in early August 2015 and the selected scholars and their Guides will be intimated about the same immediately thereafter.  Selected scholars will be required to report to the respective Research Guides immediately on announcement of the award.