Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme (VAJRA)

VAJRA Faculty Scheme is to bring a strong international connect to the R&D ecosystem of India. The scheme offers adjunct / visiting faculty assignments to overseas scientists, faculty members and R&D professionals including Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to undertake high quality collaborative research in Public funded academic and research Institutions of India. VAJRA Faculty will engage in collaborative research in cutting edge areas of science and technology including interdisciplinary areas of priority such as energy, water, health, security, nutrition, materials and manufacturing, etc. with one or more Indian Collaborators.VAJRA Faculty is expected to co-guide research students and may also be involved in technology development, innovation, start ups, etc.


Eligibility
  • The scheme is open to overseas scientists, faculty members and R&D professionals including Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
  • The overseas scientist or faculty should be an active researcher working in a leading academic / research / industrial organization with significant accomplishments in research and development.
  • Indian Collaborator(s) should be a regular faculty/researcher in public-funded academic/research institutions with significant ongoing research in the area of VAJRA Faculty.
Nature and duration of support
  • The initial assignment will be for a period of one year extendable to subsequent years based on the collaborative outcome and interest.
  • The residency period of VAJRA Faculty in the host institution would be for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months every year.
  • VAJRA Faculty will be provided US$15000 in the first month of residence and US$10000 in each of the subsequent month. If the assignment is for shorter durations, the amount will be provided on pro-rata basis. No separate support is provided for travel, accommodation, medical / personal insurance etc. However, the host institution may consider providing additional support for e.g. highly subsidised on-campus / nearby off-campus accommodation.
Mode of application & selection
  • Application for VAJRA Faculty Scheme can be submitted throughout the year. The first offer will be made by 1 November 2017 for applications submitted by 31st August 2017 to allow them to undertake the Faculty assignment by December 2017.
  • The Indian collaborator should identify appropriate overseas faculty/ researcher and jointly frame a research plan.
  • The Indian collaborator should submit the application online at www.serbonline.in
  • Endorsement certificate from Indian Institution and consent letter from overseas faculty institution for participation as VAJRA Faculty, should be uploaded during the time of submission.
  • On submission of the online application, a link to view the submitted application would be sent to the overseas faculty. On his/her acceptance, the application would be completed for further consideration.
  • The Committee for evaluating the applications will meet twice a year in January and July and to make its recommendations (with exception for the Year 2017).
  • SERB will announce the results in the month of April and September(with exception for the Year 2017).
How to apply online
The Lead Indian Collaborator (applicant) should submit the application online at www.serbonline.in
  • The Indian Collaborator should register in SERB Online Portal.  click here to register
  • If there are Other Indian Collaborator(s) as part of the proposed work, then it is to be ensured that all the other Indian Collaborator(s) are registered in SERB online portal and have filled all mandatory fields in Profile Details section under User Profile
  • Under 'Form Submission' choose Scheme: VAJRA for opening the online submission form
  • Details that need to be filled in the online submission form can be found here
  • Following documents need to be uploaded in PDF format:
    1. CV of VAJRA Faculty (including academic qualifications, research experience, awards/honors and publications relevant to research collaboration. Document size should not be more than 10 MB)
    2. Proposal Download Template
    3. Certificate from Lead Indian Collaborator Download Template
    4. Endorsement Letter from Indian Collaborator Institution Download Template
    5. Consent Letter from Institution of VAJRA Faculty Download Template