The French Institute in India (IFI) has opened the call for applications for the SSHN grants 2024. This grant supports mobility for both young and senior Indian researchers to visit French laboratories.
Deadline to apply: 3rd June, 2024 (23:59 IST)
Who can apply?
Only Indian nationals residing in India are eligible to apply.
- Only faculty and researchers holding a permanent position at Indian HERIs can apply, with preference given to those affiliated with HERIs ranked in the top 100 of the NIRF India Rankings (Overall or in any other category), or those listed in the 2023 tables of the Nature Index for any sector and any subject/journals, or those with a proven record of world reputation from other credible sources/rankings.
- PhD students or postdoctoral fellows without a permanent position at Indian HERIs are not eligible to apply.
- There are no restrictions in terms of the research field or seniority of the faculty/researchers.
- Preference will be given to applications resulting from viable ties with French researchers, faculty, universities, or research units (such as co-publications, missions, faculty exchange, joint supervision of students, joint research programs, etc.).
- Applicants must demonstrate the value that such a visit to French labs, colleagues, libraries, etc., holds for their research project and goals.
- The decision of the selection committee is final and non-negotiable.
Fellowship Benefits Package
- 1 return flight ticket from India to France and back to India.
- Stipend of up to €1027.5 for senior researchers (PhD attained more than 5 years before the launch of this call).
- Stipend up to €852 in total for young researchers (PhD attained less than 5 years before the launch of this call and under 45 years old), according to the duration of the trip.
- Social security benefits.
- Priority assistance in finding subsidized accommodation, subject to availability.
- Exemption from visa fees (for research visa).
How to apply?
Application:
- Online form
- Application deadline: 3rd June 2024 (11:59 pm)
- Declaration of results: 26th of June 2024
- For any queries, please contact sshn@ifindia.in
Documents required:
Supporting documents to be shared below in a single PDF document:
- CV (maximum 4 pages)
- Presentation of research trip (maximum 2500 words):
- Purpose & objectives of the trip
- Expected outcomes of the trip
- Description of the research project
- Details of Host(s) (Name, Designation, Institution, Email, Phone Number)
- Authorized invitation letter(s) from host(s) in France, explicitly mentioning IN-FR-IN travel dates as well as date(s) of visit/meeting(s)
- Daily itinerary of the trip
Please note that only one application is allowed per candidate. No changes can be made to an application post its submission. Applications with missing information will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.
Guidelines:
- The research trip must occur between 26th August and 31st December 2024, allowing for administrative processing and visa clearance delays.
- The trip’s duration should be between 10 and 15 days, starting from the arrival date in France.
- For trips lasting less than 15 days, the stipend will be prorated accordingly.
- IFI will cover the cost and booking of a return flight from India to France and back, along with a stipend for 10-15 days (maximum €1027.5 for senior researchers and maximum €852 for junior researchers), adjusted based on the travel dates provided. The stipend will be issued as a lump sum upon the researcher’s arrival in France.
- Although assistance will be provided to find subsidized accommodation, availability cannot be guaranteed, and IFI will not cover accommodation expenses. Candidates are strongly advised to arrange their own accommodation with the help of their French host, considering the high demand for such accommodations.
- The host institute in France must issue an invitation letter, which should be included in the application. After the results are announced, a research agreement with the French host institute (using this model) and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Institute must be ready by July 8th. It is advisable to request these documents from the French lab well in advance, considering potential administrative delays.
- The program should reserve one third of the fellowship amount for young researchers (PhD attained less than 5 years before the launch of this call and under 45 years old).
- A wait-list of candidates will be maintained in case a seat becomes available from the main list of awardees. Such candidates will be notified personally by IFI.
Fellowship Timeline
- 03/05/2024: Launch of the call for applications.
- 03/06/2024 (11:59pm): Deadline for applications.
- 26/06/2024: Announcement of the selected candidates, following evaluation by a selection committee from the French Institute in India (IFI).
- 08/07/2024: Deadline for submitting the administrative file, including the NOC from the Indian institution and the research convention agreement from the French institution.
- From 26/08/2024 to 31/12/2024: Mobility period in France (with the latest arrival in France by the 16th of December).
Sources & References
- The French Institute in India / IFI (Institut français India) ifindia.in/sshn2024
