2015 call for proposals for Max Planck- Partner Groups for postdoc and junior faculty Max Planck Gesellschaft () & Department of Science & Technology, India () Deadline 15 September 2015 General Max Planck- Partner Groups have been developed as an instrument for the support of cooperative research in target areas which are scientifically promising and innovative, geared to the future and of mutual interest to Max Planck Institutes (MPI) and to the designated partner institutions in India. Max Planck- Partner Groups enable both the MPI and the Head of the Partner Group to continue a sustained scientific interaction. Heading a Max Planck Partner Group is a distinction. The Max Partner- Group is initially established for a period of three years allowing the scientist to build up their own research group in India and to remain in close research interaction with a MPI. It can be extended for a further two years (maximum period: five years) based on the outcome of the review and the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Board from both sides. Candidates for Max Planck Partner Groups will be officially and finally designated by the President of Max Planck Society () and the Secretary of Department of Science & Technology (). Qualification Partner Groups are led by former Indian guest researchers of MPI of proven scientific excellence, who have returned or are about to return to a highperformance research institution / university in India and continue their research activities in close cooperation with their former MPI hosts. The candidate should be an Indian scientist of proven excellence at young faculty/ postdoc level and maximum 38 years of age (i.e. on 1 January 2016) who has spent minimum 12 months at a MPI. If the candidate is not working at a research institution / university in India at the time of submitting the nomination, the candidate is expected to find such a position by 1 March 2016. Funding will allocate up to 20,000 EURO p.a. for up to 5 years for the Max Planck Partner Group. Funding provided by will be allocated through the MPI towards the Indian host institution according to standard rules for Max Planck Partner Groups. Funding provided by towards the Max Planck Partner Group will be governed by a bilateral standardized agreement between the MPI and the 1
Indian host institution. The MPI will only take responsibility for the funding provided by. will provide activity matching funds to the Indian host Institute, according to standard rules and under a separate sanction order. Funds should be utilized, as far as possible, for the purpose of creating MPI like facilities at the respective Indian host institution. Note: Application from the humanities will not be matched by. Application Modalities The programme for Max Planck- Partner Groups is open to all MPI and to all research institutions / universities in India. Documents to be submitted The following documents are to be submitted, both by the Director of a MPI nominating a candidate to and by the Indian scientist applying for the Head of a Partner Group directly to and : 1. Detailed letter of reference (laudation) from the Director of MPI where the candidate has spent at least 12 months 2. List of publications 3. Curriculum vitae 4. Three letters of reference from senior scientists, one from India, one from Germany (not form the nominating MPI) and one from a third country 5. Names and contact details of three potential reviewers of the application, one from India, one from Germany (not from the nominating MPI) and one from a third country 6. Description of previous and future research according to the following scheme: State of the art, previous research, planned research activities including elaboration of the intended bilateral cooperation with the MPI 7. Anticipated significance of the research topic of the Partner Group for the relevant field of research in India and Germany (added value). 8. Letter of intent by the Director of the Indian host institution in which the acceptance to host a Partner Group is declared. 9. For candidates who at the time of nomination are not based in India, please state: The name of the Indian host institution to which the candidate will return and the date by when candidate will take up this position 10. Two separate macro-budget outlines for and budgets for the first three years 11. Cover Page (see below) Documents to be sent to the Max Planck Society: Send one signed original application to: Max Planck Society, Ms Renate Bischof-Drewitz Division of International Relations Hofgartenstr. 8, D-80539 München, Germany and one electronic copy to: e-mail: bischof-drewitz@gv.mpg.d Documents to be sent to : Send one signed original application along with a soft copy (only ms-word or pdf format without any scan pages in the document) as e-mail attachment to. Mr. Raj Kumar Sharma, Scientist-E (Director) International Bilateral Cooperation Division R. No-18D, Admn. Block Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, NEW DELHI-110016 e-mail: sharma_rk@nic.in, Tel. 011-26537976; Fax: 011-26862418 Deadline for submitting Nominations: 15 September 2015. 2
Note: Please ensure to send only complete applications, i.e. submitting documents consecutively is not accepted and such applications will be rejected. Indian candidates are requested to refer to the website for detailed information at www.dst.gov.in. 3
PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LETTERHEAD FOR : Nomination For The Head of a Max Planck- Partner Group Cover Page Candidate for the Head of a Partner Group Name Institution Department Address E Field of research: Key words: Brief summary describing research activities and objectives (max 80 words): Director of Max Planck Institute: Name Institute Department Address E Summary overview of the Budget for the first three years of operations Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year1 INR Year2 INR Year3 INR Annual budget 20.000 20.000 20.000 Research Manpower: 1 PhD students Postdoctoral students Minor Equipment 2 Travel & hospitality Operating costs 3 Total Expenses 1 Please indicate the research manpower required for the PG at the Indian Institute: scholarships, grant support, student labour 2 Indicate quoted price for the equipment 3 Consumables, office expenses, books and publications, computer time and services, laboratory supplies, spare parts, maintenance, installations 4
Date Signature Director of Max Planck Institute THE FOLLOWING FORM APPLIES FOR FUNDING ONLY; IT IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR THE FUNDS PROVIDED TROUGH ; PLEASE USE THIS FORM FOR THE BUDGETING OF -CO-FINANCING: Part-I 1. Title of the project: Nomination for The Head of a Max Planck- Partner Group Cover Page 2. Subject Area (as specified in the announcement) 3. Contact details / Address of the project leaders: Name & Designation Address Telephone (Work) Telephone (Residence) Fax No. Email ID Indian project leader Project leader PART-II 1. Scientific objectives and individual components of the PG: (max. ½ page) 2. Current state of the research (max. 2 pages) 3. Preliminary research activities already done 4. Detailed description of the research co-operation (max ½ page) (Justification/ Rationale for collaboration) 5. Compatibility of intensions of both sides with regard to individual components of the project, working method of equipment (max. 1 page) 5
PART_III Summary overview of the Budget for the first three years of operations Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Annual budget 20.000 20.000 20.000 Research Manpower: 1 PhD students /Postdoctoral Accessories and spares 2 Chemicals & Consumables Year 1 INR Year 2 INR Year 3 INR Travel & hospitality a. Number and duration of visits from India to Germany (International travel related expenses only) b. Number and duration of visits from Germany to India (local hospitality expenses only) Over Head charges 3 Total Expenses 1 Please indicate the research manpower required for the PG at the Indian Institute: scholarships/salary for project Asstt, Ph.D student and post-docs, 2 Indicate quoted price and quantity for the accessories/ spares, chemicals and consumables etc sought for. 3 Consumables, office expenses, books and publications, computer time and services, laboratory supplies, spare parts, maintenance, installations Note: 1. financial support for Equipments (minor or major) is not available from Indian side. 2. The overhead charges would be applicable only as per prevailing norms 3. Under travel and hospitality head, the Indian part of the funding can only be utilised for meeting the international travel related expenses viz international airfare, visa fee, overseas medical insurance etc; and the local hospitality (lodging and boarding expenses) for German visiting India under this PG. The existing norm of providing local hospitality to German visitors to India is RS. 2500/- per day as out of pocket expenses and a furnished institutional guest house on actual basis subject to max of Rs. 4,000/- per day. The number and duration of exchange visits must be balanced from both sides. 6
PART-IV (For Indian partners only) 1. List of on-going research projects with the Indian project participants: Title of the project Brief description Duration with dates of commencement and completion of the project Funding available and source of funds 2. Infrastructure available/required to implement the project: Facilities List of items required for the project If not available presently, how it is proposed to be procured/ recruited. Please indicate the source of funding Equipment Manpower Consumables and Contingencies 3. Certified that the following Indian scientists including Ph.D. students, SRF/JRF, Post-Docs are presently affiliated with the University/Institute and will be the official project participants for the entire duration of the project: S. No. Name of the project participant Position held From To 1. 2. 3. 4. Does the project involve (i) Biological Material Transfer / Use of GMOs / Radioactive materials; (ii) Human / animal trials? Please submit necessary clearance of nodal agency / department of GoI in this regard 3. Certified that the Institute/University/Lab is registered at Central Plan Scheme Monitoring System (CPSMS) website of Comptroller & Audit General (CGA). The grants/funds may be released as per the Bank detail given below- S. No. Item details 1. Account No. 2. Name of the account 3. Account type Saving /Current 4. Name of the Bank 5. Address of the Bank 6. IFSC code 7. Details of the present authorised signatory to the account 7
INSTITUTIONS ENDORSEMENT Certified that i) The project participants involved in the project are affiliated to the Institute/ University. ii) All information provided in the project proposal is correct; and iii) the infrastructural facilities related to the project activity is available in this Institution including equipment, manpower and other facilities and all necessary administrative support will be extended for the project Signatures Indian Head of PG counterpart Signatures MPI Signatures Head of Indian Institution: With Seal 8