Back-to-Lab Fellowship 2026: ₹22,000 Monthly Stipend

At a glance

About the scheme

The Back‑to‑Lab Research Fellowship Programme, launched by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) in 2010, is designed to help women who have taken a career break during their PhD to return to research and finish their doctoral studies. The fellowship runs for up to three years or until the PhD thesis is submitted, whichever comes first. It provides a monthly stipend, a higher stipend in the third year, and an annual contingent grant, while ensuring that the fellow has a mentor, institutional support, and no overlapping funding from other sources.

Benefits

• Monthly stipend of ₹22,000/- + 10% HRA for the first two years
• Monthly stipend of ₹25,000/- + 10% HRA in the third year
• Annual contingent grant of ₹20,000/-
• Duration of the fellowship is 3 years or till the date of PhD thesis submission, whichever is earlier

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Only women candidates are eligible
• Applicant should be of Kerala origin and unemployed
• Age limit: 45 years
• Applicant should have qualified post‑graduation with a minimum of 60% marks
• Applicant should have a valid Ph.D registration in an institution of academic/ research excellence in Kerala
• Applicant should have completed Ph.D coursework
• Only those research scholars who are under 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
• Applicant should not have completed 4 years as on the date of Ph.D registration
• Applicant should not be receiving any fellowship or grant from any other source for the Ph.D programme

Documents required

• Identity proof of applicant
• Proof of Kerala nativity
• Proof of Date of Birth
• Marks sheet and Certificate for Post‑Graduate Degree Course
• Ph.D Registration Order
• Course‑work Completion Certificate
• Institute Order on sanction of leave during the course of Ph.D programme

How to apply

1. 1Download the application form from the KSCSTE website
2. 2Fill the application form and attach all required documents
3. 3Submit the hard copy of the application and documents to The Director, KSCSTE, Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram – 695004
4. 4Email a soft copy of the application in MS Word format and all supporting signed documents in .pdf format to wsd.kscste@kerala.gov.in
5. 5Wait for preliminary scrutiny, peer review, and presentation before the Research Advisory Committee
6. 6If selected, sign the agreement as per the scheme guidelines

Frequently asked questions