Back-to-Lab Research Fellowship Programme 
State: Kerala
Ministry: null
Department: Science and Technology Department
Category: Education & Learning, Women and Child
Beneficiary Type: Individual

To facilitate the re-entry of women having a career break to Science research, the Kerala State Council of Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) launched the “Back-to-Lab Research Fellowship Programme” in 2010.

Benefits:
1. Monthly Research Fellowship of ₹22,000/- + 10 % HRA in the first two years and ₹25,000/- + 10 % HRA per month in the third year, along with an annual contingent grant of ₹20,000/-.
   1. Duration of the Fellowship is 3 years or till the date of submission of Ph.D Thesis, whichever is earlier.

Eligibility:
1. Only women candidates are eligible to apply.
   1. Applicant should be of Kerala origin and unemployed.
   1. Age limit: 45 years
   1. Applicant should have qualified post-graduation with a minimum of 60% marks.
   1. Applicant should have a valid Ph.D registration in an institution of academic/ research excellence in Kerala including R&amp;amp;D institutions, University Departments, Govt. Aided colleges, in any of the streams; Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture or Medicine (STEAM).
   1. Applicant should have completed Ph.D coursework.
   1. Only those research scholars who are under (undergone) a career break spanning a minimum period of 6 months during the course of their Ph.D. programme due to maternity or other valid reasons are eligible to apply.
   1. Applicant should not have completed 4 years as on the date of Ph.D registration.
   1. Applicant should not be receiving any fellowship or grant from any other source for the Ph.D. programme.

Application Process:
[Offline]
Application Process:Step 01: Applications are invited once a year, tentatively during January.
Step 02: Eligible applicants may apply in the prescribed format and the format for the application can be downloaded from the Official Website of KSCSTE.
Step 03: Duly filled up application along with copies of relevant documents (in original), should be forwarded to the following address: The Director, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram – 695004.
Note 01: The envelope containing the application and relevant documents should be super scribed “Application for Back-to-lab Fellowship: Year”
Note 02: A soft copy of the application in MS Word format and all supporting signed documents in .pdf format,  should be mailed to the mail ID: wsd.kscste@kerala.gov.in
Note 03: Incomplete applications, applications not supported by relevant documents, and applications received after the due date will be rejected.
Scrutiny of the Application:Preliminary scrutiny of the application is carried out for verification of basic eligibility conditions and supporting documents.
Peer review:All eligible applications are subjected to peer review by five subject experts in the relevant area of research. Proposals with at least three reviews graded above 5 (on 10 point scale) are only considered for further processing.
Presentation before Expert Committee (whether RC or RAC):Proposals that have passed the peer review requirements will be invited for presentation before the Research Advisory Committee. One or two reviewers will serve as additional Subject Expert during the RAC meeting. On favourable recommendation by the RAC, the proposal will be considered for funding by KSCSTE. The selected applicants will be informed of the decision and will be asked to execute an Agreement as per the guidelines of the scheme. 
Contact Details:The Head, Women Scientists Division
Kerala State Council of Science, Technology and Environment
Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom (P.O), Thiruvananthapuram – 695 004
Ph: 0471 2548208, Fax: 0471 2540085, 2534605
E-mail: womenscientistkerala@gmail.com 
For queries:E-mail  : wsd.kscste@kerala.gov.in,  womenscientistkerala@gmail.com, wsdkscste@gmail.com
Tel: 0471- 2548208, 0471- 2548346

Documents Required:
1.	Identity proof of applicant
2.	Proof of Kerala nativity
3.	Proof of Date of Birth
4.	Marks sheet and Certificate for Post-Graduate Degree Course
5.	Ph.D Registration Order
6.	Course-work Completion Certificate
7.	Institute Order on sanction of leave during the course of Ph.D programme