The importance of women’s empowerment and gender equality in the fields of Science, Technology, and Engineering (STEM) is highlighted due to historical underrepresentation. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) addresses this through the ‘Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN)’ scheme, offering various programs:
Explore WISE-KIRAN A Guide to Available Programmes
1. Fellowship Programs:
WISE Fellowship for Ph.D. (WISE-PhD): Supports women pursuing a Ph.D. in basic and applied sciences.
WISE Fellowship for Ph.D. (WISE-PhD): The WISE-PhDP program aims to support women who want to pursue a Ph.D. in 5 subject areas of basic and applied sciences. Women of the age group between 27-45 years are eligible to apply. However, there is 3 3-year relaxation in upper age for women belonging to the SC/ST/PH category. The support is available for a maximum of 5 years duration.
Call for Proposal: The call is open throughout the year.
For further details: https://onlinedst.gov.in/Login.aspx
WISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF): Provides opportunities for post-doctoral research in STEM.
WISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF) – The WISE-PDF Programme aims to provide an opportunity for women to continue their research after their Ph.D. in Basic and Applied Sciences through an independent project grant. Women in the age group of 27-60 years having PhD or equivalent degree in Science & Engineering can submit proposals under WISE-PDF.
Call for Proposal: A proposal can be submitted throughout the year.
For further details: https://online-wosa.gov.in/
2. WIDUSHI Program:
Encourages senior women scientists to conduct research in interdisciplinary areas of Science & Technology.
Women’s Instinct for Developing and Ushering in Scientific Heights & Innovations (WIDUSHI): WIDUSHI Programme aims to encourage and support senior women scientists to conduct research in interdisciplinary areas of Science & Technology. WIDUSHI program provides support to women scientists who are on the verge of retirement or retired from Government service and also to the women scientists who are not in permanent positions but are active researchers and continuously excelling in the research field. The maximum age to apply under the WIDUSHI program is 62 years.
Call for Proposal: The call is open throughout the year for proposal submission.
For further details: https://onlinedst.gov.in/Login.aspx
3. WISE-SCOPE Program:
Encourages women scientists to address societal challenges through S&T interventions in thematic areas.
WISE-SCOPEP program encourages women scientists and technologists to address societal challenges through S&T interventions. Women scientists in the age group of 27-60 years who have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent degree and want to work at the grassroots level are eligible for the WISE-SCOPE program. The support is available in 5 thematic areas namely, Agriculture and Allied Sciences (AAS), Health, Food and Nutrition (HFN), Energy, Water and Waste Management (EWWM), and Engineering and Technology Development(ETD), and environmental, Climate and Sustainable Development (ECSD).
Call for Proposal: The call is open throughout the year for proposal submission.
For further details: https://onlinedst.gov.in/Login.aspx
4. Internship for Alternative Career Path in STEM:
WISE Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (WISE-IPR): Offers training in Intellectual Property Rights for women.
WISE Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (WISE-IPR) – The WISE-IPR program provides one-year training to women in the area of Intellectual Property Rights to develop a core professional skill in this domain. Women of the age group between 25-45 years and having Post-Graduation/Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Basic and Applied Sciences are eligible for this program.
Call for Application: April-May.
For further details:https://www.tifac.org.in/index.php/programmes/capacity-building/kiran-ipr
5. Overseas Opportunities:
Women International Grant Support (WINGS): Provides opportunities for Indian women scientists to undertake research abroad.
6. Infrastructure Development Support:
CURIE Program supports women’s institutions in establishing state-of-the-art research infrastructure in basic and applied sciences.
7. Opportunity for Young Girls:
Vigyan Jyoti program encourages girls to pursue higher education and careers in STEM through various interventions.
8. Policy Intervention for Gender Equality:
Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) aims to create a Charter for Gender Equity in STEMM at an institutional level.
These initiatives foster gender parity, inclusivity, and diversity in the scientific community. The programs cater to women of different age groups, providing support at various stages of their scientific journey. The call for proposals and applications varies for each program, and interested individuals can find further details on the provided links.
