Monday 19 October 2015

Environment Ministry Announces Launching of Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships


Dhirendra Kumar
News Curator cum Moderator
Indian Botanists

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced the launching of Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships in the name of Late Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam on his 85th birthday. The Post Doctoral Fellowship programme of the Ministry is targeted towards young scientists working in the area of environment and ecology in the country. The target group of this programme are young scientists who have completed their PhD, or are about to complete their PhD in areas related to environment and ecology and possess a good, academic record. The applicants should preferably be below the age of 35 years. The tenure of the fellowship is for a period of three years and the fellowship award includes a monthly fellowship, equivalent to that of a Research Associate, together with an annual research contingency grant of Rs. 1.5 lakh. The Post-Doctoral fellow will also be entitled to House Rent Allowance and other benefits as per the Ministry’s guidelines applicable for Research Associateship.

 
The Ministry proposes to constitute a Committee of Experts headed by Dr. R.A Mashelkar for selection of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Post-Doctoral Research Fellows. The advertisement, calling for applications for the fellowship programme will be brought out by the Ministry shortly and the guidelines for the programme will be uploaded on the Ministry’s website. The main focus of the new fellowship programme and also the ongoing National Environmental Sciences Fellows Programme is to nurture young scientists working in the areas related to environment and ecology for undertaking good quality scientific research under the mentorship of established scientists of the country.

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the people’s President, had an abiding trust and faith on the abilities of the youth of the country to transform India into a global power. He was also firmly convinced that science and technology shall offer solutions to the pressing challenges facing the country, including those of environmental protection and sustainable development. Dr. Kalam had on various occasions, fervently stood for the cause of protection of environment and conservation, so that future generations can have a better tomorrow. 
 
Source: Press Release, Press Information Bureau, India