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Are you a PhD student in Biotechnology or Life Sciences looking for financial support to pursue your research? If so, then you might want to consider applying for a DBT scholarship for PhD students 2024-25. It’s offered by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, India, in collaboration with various national and international organizations. This blog will provide you with all the current information regarding this fellowship, such as the last date, application process, benefits, and so on.
| Scholarship Name | DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT JRF) |
| Funding Agency | Department of Biotechnology (DBT) |
| Number of scholarships awarded | 1500 |
| Eligibility | Indian citizens who have completed their post-graduation or B.Tech in any discipline of Biotechnology with 50% aggregate marks |
| Scholarship Duration | 5 years |
| Benefits | INR 31,000 per month (for the first 2 years INR 35,000 per month (for the next 3 years) |
| Application process | Online |
| Application deadline | 31 March 2024 |
| Exam date | Not Announced |
| Selection process | Based on a written exam and an interview |
Table of Contents
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DBT Scholarship: Overview
The DBT Scholarship is an umbrella term for numerous fellowship and research programs offered by the DBT to Ph.D. students in biotechnology and life sciences. Let’s take a look at all these programs in brief:
DBT-Research Associateship Programme
This program provides post-doctoral fellowships to young scientists who have completed their Ph.D. degree in biosciences or biotechnology and wish to pursue research in frontier areas of biotechnology and life sciences in India.
DBT-TWAS Biotechnology Fellowships
This program provides postgraduate and postdoctoral fellowships to foreign scholars from developing countries who wish to pursue research toward a Ph.D. or a postdoctoral degree in biotechnology in India.
AICTE-DBT Postgraduate Scholarship
This program provides postgraduate scholarships to students admitted to AICTE-approved institutes/programs.
Aaple Sarkar DBT Education
This program provides various scholarships and fee concessions to students belonging to different categories and pursuing various courses in Maharashtra.
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Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the DBT Scholarship for Ph.D. Students vary for each program and their level of study. However, given below are some of the common criteria:
- The applicant should be a citizen of India or a developing country.
- The applicant should have a minimum qualification of a master’s degree or a Ph.D. degree in biosciences or biotechnology or a related field.
- The applicant should have a valid GATE/CEED scorecard/ a valid letter of acceptance from a host institution in India.
- The applicant should not be more than 45 years of age.
- The applicant should not have availed of any other fellowship or scholarship from any other source for the same purpose.
DBT Scholarship: Application Process
Depending on your choice of research program, here’s how you can apply for the DBT scholarship for PhD students:
- Visit the official website of the respective program
- Read the guidelines and instructions carefully.
- Register yourself as a new user or login with your existing credentials if you have already registered.
- Fill in the online application form with your personal, academic, and research details.
- Upload the scanned copies of all the required documents in the prescribed format and size.
- Submit the online application form and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.
- Send the hard copy of the application form along with the supporting documents to the address specified by the program within the stipulated time.
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Documents Required
Scanned copies of the following documents:
- Passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Mark sheets and certificates from 10th standard onwards
- NET/JRF/GATE/BET scorecard (if applicable)
- Research proposal (not more than 1000 words)
- 2 Recommendation letters
Original documents required:
- Mark sheets and certificates from 10th standard onwards
- NET/JRF/GATE/BET scorecard
- Research proposal
- 2 Recommendation letters
Note: All documents must be uploaded in PDF format and the file size of each document must be less than 256 KB.
Selection Process
The selection procedure for the DBT Scholarship for PhD Students is different for each program. Given below are some general factors on which potential candidates are assessed and selected:
1. The selection is based on the following factors:
- Merit and the potential of the candidate as evidenced by their academic record, research proposal, publications, awards, and recommendations.
- Availability of funds, seats, and supervisors in the host institution and the relevance of the research topic to the national and global priorities in biotechnology and life sciences.
2. A committee of experts appointed by the DBT or the collaborating organization oversees the selection.
3. Candidates are notified about their selection through email or post.
DBT Scholarship: Last Date
Regarding the DBT Scholarship for PhD students in 2024, here are some important deadlines that the candidates need to keep in mind to apply timely for the scheme:
| DBT-Research Associateship Programme | 15th February 2024 (Passed) |
| DBT-TWAS Biotechnology Fellowships | 19 March 2024 |
| AICTE-DBT Postgraduate Scholarship | Not Announced |
| Aaple Sarkar DBT Education | Varies according to the scheme and the academic year |
Benefits
If considered eligible, the DBT scholarship for PhD students holds numerous benefits for the selected candidates. They get access to state-of-the-art research facilities and guidance from eminent scientists and mentors in biotechnology and life sciences. Other benefits are as follows:
| Benefits | Amount |
| Monthly stipend or fellowship | INR 25,000 – 54,000 |
| Annual contingency/research grant | INR 30,000 – 1,00,000 |
| Travel allowance/airfare | Depends on the program and availability of funds |
| Medical insurance/reimbursement of medical expenses | Depends on the program and host institution |
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FAQs
Ans. To get a scholarship in DBT, you must:
1. Apply for the DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT JRF) scholarship (typically starts in July).
2. Submit your academic transcripts, research proposal, and letters of recommendation.
3. The scholarship is awarded based on a written exam and an interview.
Ans. To be eligible for DBT government payment, you must:
1. Be an Indian citizen pursuing a PhD in Biotechnology or a related field.
2. Must have a valid NET/JRF/GATE/BET scorecard.
Ans. The DBT (Department of Biotechnology) is a government agency that funds research in Biotechnology and related fields. The DBT JRF scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships available to PhD students in India.
We hope that this blog helped you understand all about the DBT scholarship for PhD students for 2024-25. To discover more scholarships to study in India, keep following Leverage Edu. Thank you for reading!