Singapore: The Indian Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has announced the Indo-Australian Career Boosting Gold Fellowships.

Through this, the DBT will support researchers to undertake a collaborative research project at a leading science institute or university in Australia for a period of up to 24 months, commencing in 2014-15.

As per the statement issued to the press, this collaborative research programme will prioritise areas like medical biotechnology, bioresourcing of novel antimicrobials from natural resources, developing novel and improved vaccines delivery platforms, diagnostics affordable and rapid diagnostics for genetic and infectious diseases, drug discovery and delivery system, biomedical devices and implants for therapeutic applications, stem cells/regenerative medicines amongst others.

The programme will work under the under the Indo-Australia Collaboration between Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Australian Government.

As per the initiative, the Government of India will fund 10 researchers from India and August 14, 2014 would be the last date for submission of application.

The statement pointed out that fellowships are open to Indian researchers who are currently employed on a full time basis, but have not accrued more than five years of experience as a research scientist since being awarded their PhD.

Criteria for applicant eligibility includes people employed in an Indian government agency, statutory body or government owned corporation, Indian based university, institute, or other national research organization, or Indian private sector research and development organisation.

It further explained that a total of ten fellowships will be awarded annually, for applicants from India who have identified an opportunity to undertake a high quality, technically feasible and strategically valuable research project with a collaborating organisation in Australia.