Call for Applications for EMEQ Funding scheme 2020 by SERB, India

SERB, India is inviting application for EMEQ Funding scheme 2020 from eligible and interested candidates. In this article you can get information about the scheme, grant, duration, location, eligibility criteria and application procedure etc.

About EMEQ Funding scheme 2020

The scheme of Empowerment and Equity Opportunities for Excellence in Science (EMEQ) was started by SERB and the main objective of this scheme is to provide research support to researchers belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe in undertaking research in the fields of science and engineering.

Research Areas

The proposal must have novel components and the investigator has the competence to execute the project. Research proposals in the field of Science or Engineering will be considered under this scheme. However, research proposals outside the normal activities of institutions like National R&D Programs, Programs in newly emerging and front-line areas of research etc. will be preferred. However, proposals involving purely survey-oriented work and routine studies will not be normally considered.

Research Location

Any academic institutions or national laboratory or any other recognized R&D institutions

Eligibility

Indian Nationals are eligible to apply only.
The scheme is exclusively for active researchers belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe category. They must be working in the field of Science and Engineering on a regular basis in academic institutions or national laboratory or any other recognized R&D institutions.
The applicant should possess a PhD in Science or Engineering or MD/ MS/ MDS / MVSc degree. If the applicant is near to superannuation, he should have at least four years of service remaining while applying for the scheme.
Researchers or Scientists who have other ongoing projects under EMEQ scheme while submitting a proposal are not eligible to apply.
Co-Investigators are not allowed in the scheme.

Note: Project investigators working in the Private Universities/Institutions are eligible to apply as SERB, India does not discriminate in this regard. Funding decisions will be based on the merit of the proposal, the competence of the Investigator(s), and the infrastructure available in the implementing institution. There will be no discrimination on the category of institutions where the Investigator is working.

Funding Description

Candidates will be provided funding of Rs. 50.0 lakh (maximum). It is excluding overhead charges.
The research grant will be including the cost of equipment, manpower, consumables, travel and contingency. Overheads will be provided as per prevailing the norms of SERB.
The funding will be provided for a maximum period of 3 years.
The budget will be sanctioned by the Task Force Committee.

Note: International travel is not supported under this scheme.

Duration

The project shall be granted for a maximum of three years.

How to apply

Followings are the important steps for online submission of the application:

First of all candidates will have to be first register into the online website of SERB by clicking on the link.
Now the applicant can log-in the account by using User ID and password. Applicant must fill all the required fields in the Profile Detail section under User Profile, in which details of Biodata, Institute Address, etc. are to be filled. A photograph is to be uploaded.
In the next step, details of the proposal should be submitted like this :
- Project Title (maximum 500 characters),
- Project summary (maximum 3000 characters),
- Keywords (maximum 6 keywords),
- Objectives of the project (maximum 1500 characters),
- Project's proposed output and outcome (max 1500 characters),
- Budget including Manpower, Consumables, Travel, Equipment, Contingency, Overheads etc. have to be submitted also at the time of proposal submission.
- Further, any other relevant information related to the proposal can be uploaded as a single 10 MB (maximum) PDF file, as a technical document (TD) (Template available on the website)

Note: The project proposal should be prepared according to the guidelines and submitted online through the website www.serbonline.in. Proposals should be originally prepared and free of any form of plagiarism. Text taken verbatim should be properly referred.

Documents Required (in PDF format)

Biodata (Template available on the website)
Certificate from Principal Investigator (Template available on the website)
Endorsement Letter issued by the Head of Institution (Template available on the website)
Category Certificate

Work-related Specific Document

A project involving Recombinant DNA work or experiments with human/animal material or Earth science, the following documents should also be included along with the proposal:

Projects involving Recombinant DNA work should be examined and certified by the Institutional Biosafety Committee.
Clinically oriented projects or projects involving experiments with human and/or animal material should be examined and certified by the Institutional Ethics Committee.
Earth Sciences project should contain the geological map of the region to be studied.

Mode of Selection

The selection of the candidates will be based on the recommendations of a Task Force Committee, constituted by the Board.

Note: The applicants may be called for personal discussion if desired by the Committee.

Scientific Social Responsibility

SERB Grantees need to undertake some Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) activities during their project period that need to be chosen during the submission process. Depending on the activities chosen SERB may grant additional budget under the separate head to carry out the chosen activities.

Important Dates

Start of registration: 06 March 2020
Last Date for Apply: 06 May 2020 till 05:00 pm

Contact Information

In case of any query regarding this scheme, candidates can contact at EMEQ scheme page.

Further information can be obtained at the website of SERB on www.serbonline.in and www.serb.gov.in.