Universities in Pakistan in recent years have embarked on imparting education in critical areas to cope with the advanced technical manpower needs of the country in the 21st century. To achieve this objective, it is essential that the universities and other institutions of higher learning should not only be well equipped but staffed with highly qualified and experienced teachers. With these qualities they would be able to train more Ph.D.s with in the country. In view of this, it is essential to send our university teachers for post-doctoral research abroad to enable them to up-date their knowledge and skills in selective fields and specialization and new research projects.    

Universities in Pakistan in recent years have embarked on imparting education in critical areas to cope with the advanced technical manpower needs of the country in the 21st century. To achieve this objective, it is essential that the universities and other institutions of higher learning should not only be well equipped but staffed with highly qualified and experienced teachers. With these qualities they would be able to train more Ph.D.s with in the country. In view of this, it is essential to send our university teachers for post-doctoral research abroad to enable them to up-date their knowledge and skills in selective fields and specialization and new research projects.

The post-doctoral training would have a positive effect on the quality of education and research due to factors: 

• Participation in postdoctoral research is a very important factor in the development of international contacts for teachers, researchers and scholars to acquire the latest knowledge and all disciplines of knowledge. It provides them opportunity not only to exchange information about new trends and techniques but also to utilize latest experimental facilities to which they otherwise may not have access. It also serves to revitalize the interest of the teachers and research workers towards new directions in their fields.
• Postdoctoral research programme would be a part of the training of university teachers & researcher of R&D (S&T) organization who have completed their Ph.D.s some time ago. Due to rapid advancements being made in scientific and technological fields, university teachers and research workers need to be provided opportunities to periodically up-date their knowledge and skills. Postdoctoral, research work in advanced research laboratories in the foreign countries would also provide them opportunities to interact with scientists working on the frontiers of knowledge and enable them to orient their own teaching and research programmes in the country along with new directions which have greater potential of economic impact in future.
• The programme will enable teachers to develop linkages with their counterparts working in reputed universities in developed countries.  These, contacts could be utilized for bilateral linkages, twining of universities and departments, exchange of teachers, lab and library material, joint teaching and research projects/programmes, faculty development, etc.

If PhD from any of HEC funded scholarship program:

Category I : Scholars who have completed their PhD in Pakistan through indigenous scholarship offered by HEC / Government of Pakistan and are willing to apply or selected for Post Doctorate Fellowship Program are required to submit the following documents / deed of agreement:
Experience. At least two years full time relevant experience (including pre/post PhD) as a regular faculty member in a Public / Private Sector University / DAI or a regular employee of R&D organization.
NOC. NOC from the parent department / university by the authorized officer, to the effect that applicant if successful will be given one year leave.

Category II: Scholars who have completed their PhD from abroad through scholarship offered by HEC / Government of Pakistan and are willing to apply or selected for Post Doctorate Fellowship Program are required to submit the following documents / deed of agreement:
Experience. At least three years full time Post PhD relevant experience at an appropriate rank as a regular faculty member in a Public / Private Sector University / DAI or a regular employee of R&D organization.
NOC. NOC from the parent department / university by the authorized officer, to the effect that applicant if successful will be given one year leave. 
Deed of Agreement. Scholar would be required to complete the remaining duration of initial bond of overseas scholarship after returning from Post Doctorate Fellowship. This duration would be determined form the date of joining the parent department. In addition, he would also be required to serve for another two years in its parent department after completion of Post Doctorate Fellowship. The total period of bond to serve in Pakistan will not exceed six to seven years. (2 years for Post Doc and 5 years for PhD).

Selection Criteria:

All those applicants who fulfill the basic eligibility criteria would be considered for Post Doctoral Fellowship on the basis of following criteria:

1. Research proposal and its reference with the current research interest of the applicant and future needs of the country would be reviewed by the subject specialist, whose recommendation would be considered.
2. Ranking of the host university.
3. Impact factor of the publications.
4. Profile of the host supervisor.
5. Preference would be given to the applicants who have done their PhD from Pakistan.
6. Less preference would be given to the applicants who have completed their PhD recently.
7. Less preference would be given to the applicants who are going for Post Doctorate Research to the same university /Institute from where they have completed their PhD.
8. Applicants whose age would be closer to 50 years and may not have any additional chance for availing Post Doctoral fellowship would be given preference provided they fulfill the above mentioned criteria.

a.       Research proposal and its reference with the current research interest of the applicant and future needs of the country would be reviewed by the subject specialist, whose recommendation would be considered.

b.      Ranking of the host university.

c.       Impact factor of the publications.

d.      Profile of the host supervisor.

e.      Preference would be given to the applicants who have done their PhD from Pakistan.

f.        Less preference would be given to the applicants who have completed their PhD recently.

g.       Less preference would be given to the applicants who are going to the same laboratory /Institute from where they have done their PhD research/PhD.

h.      Applicants whose age would be closer to 50 years and may not have any additional chance for availing Post Doctoral fellowship would be given preference provided they fulfill the above mentioned criteria.

Currently the progamme is closed for receipt of applications for Post Doctoral fellowships. 

Subject Fields: 

The fellowships are offered under the following subjects classifications:

 Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences 

All subjects including

• Agriculture

• Plant culture

• Forestry, horticulture 

• Animal culture

• Aquaculture. Fisheries;  

Biological & Medical Sciences

 Biology including:-

 Medicine all subjects including:-

•  Medicine

•  Human anatomy, cytology, histology

•  Human physiology

•  Pathology

•  Internal medicine

•  Pharmacy, Pharmacology & therapeutics

 Medicine (Clinical) including:-

•  Surgery & related medical specialties

•  Gynecology related medical specialties

•  Experimental medicine

•  Ophthalmology

•  Dermatology

•  Pediatrics               

Public health including:-

•  Promotion of health

•  Incidence & prevention of disease

•  Epidemiology

•  Dentistry

•  Pharmacology,

•  Pharmacy

•  Nursing

Physical Sciences:-

Physics all specialties including

•  Mechanics

•  Electricity & Electronics

•  Modern physics

•  Nuclear Physics

Chemistry all subjects including:-

•  Biochemistry

•  Analytical chemistry

•  Crystallography

Astronomy:-

• Astronomy & allied sciences

• Earth (Astronomical geography)

• Mathematical geography 

• Astro-geology

• Astro-physics
   

Earth, Atmosphere and Marine Sciences:-

•  Earth sciences & Allied Sciences

•  Geology, hydrology, meteorology

•  Petrology, Mineralogy

•  Economic geology

•  Paleontology- Paleozoology, Paleobotany

•  Oceanography
   

Mathematics:-

Statistics:-

Computer Sciences & related disciplines:-

•  Information Technology, Software Engineering

Engineering & Technology:-

Technology includes:-

•   Management engineering

•   Management information systems

•   Ergonomics

•   Technical & Vocational education

•   Industrial research

Engineering including:-

•    Industrial engineering

•   Computer Engineering

•   Civil engineering

•   Bioengineering

•   Systems engineering

•   Environmental engineering

•   Engineering economy

•   Engineering meteorology

•   Applied mechanics

•   Acoustical engineering

•   Structural engineering

•   Engineering geology

•   Transportation engineering

•   Applied optics

•    Photonics

•    Plasma engineering

•    Hydraulic engineering

•    Environmental Engineering

•    Mechanical engineering

•    Electrical engineering

•    Electronics

•    Nuclear engineering

•    Aeronautics

•    Astronautics

•    Mining engineering

•    Metallurgy

Business Education:- 

Accounting:-

Finance all subjects including:-

•   Public Finance

•   Banking

•   Finance Management

•   Commerce

Business Administration & Management:-

Social Sciences:-

Anthropology including:-        

•      Physical anthropology.

•     Archeology

•     Economics

•     Statistics

•     Political Science

•     International Relations

•     Psychology

•     Philosophy

•     Sociology

•     Criminology

•     Administrative sciences including

•     Public Administration

•     Library and Archival Sciences

•     History

•     Geography

•     Religious Studies

•     Education

•     Law and Legislature

Arts & Humanities:-         

•      Fine Arts

•     Photography

•     Recreational & performing arts, Music

•     Physical Education and sports

•     Languages and Literature

•     Museology (Museum science)

•     Journalism, Advertisement, mass communication 

The following are the terms and conditions of the award of scholarship and the fellowship of the award is an acknowledgement of these obligations:

1. A scholar will not change the course of research study as specified in the letter of award without obtaining prior approval of the Executive Director, Higher Education Commission.  

2. A scholar will not to hold any other scholarship/stipend during this fellowship period.  

3. Placement letter/Acceptance letter should be from World top 500 universities. 

4. A change of university/institute during the study will only be admissible with the prior approval of the Executive Director, Higher Education Commission and with a letter of Acceptance from the Professor and the relevant authority of the new University where the Fellow intends to transfer. 

5. A scholar would obtain leave from his employer to join the foreign institution of his study on full-time basis.  

6. A scholar is required to execute a bond with the university/institution of his employment to serve his/her parent department for 5 years subsequent to the completion of this fellowship.  

7. A scholar shall sign an agreement with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on behalf of the HEC on non-judicial (stamp) paper to the effect that in case the scholar fails to complete his/her research study, he/she will refund to the HEC the total amount spent on his/her studies by the HEC. The format of the agreement is enclosed as a specimen. 

8. In addition, a personal guarantee of a person of means on non-judicial (stamp) paper to the effect of ensuring the recovery in case of default would need to be furnished. Specimen is attached. 

9. Every document i.e. Deed of Agreement and other documents must be properly notarized, i.e. the document must be registered by the Notary Public maintained by him as Notary register and the signatures of the executants must be obtained on the register and the number of the registration must be mentioned along with the notaries stamp.  

            Basic & Applied Sciences          :           US $ 10,000 Maximum for entire duration of Fellowship

            Social Sciences                        :         US $ 5,000 Maximum for entire duration of Fellowship

Proposed Facilities:-

This scheme will provide opportunities to at least 700 researcher with the ratio of 70 % public sector universities, 20 % private sector universities and 10 % R&D (S&T) organizations, Ph.D. qualified teachers of Universities, Centers Of Excellence, Area Study Centers, Pakistan Study Centers and Degree Awarding Colleges/institutes for post-doctoral research fields important to socio-economic, industrial & agricultural development and poverty alleviation. It will help in upgrading the quality of education and research in the Universities, Centers, Degree Awarding Colleges, Institutes and R&D public sector organizations while bringing it at par with the international level  where the benefits of the scheme will accrue to the universities and other institutions of higher education. The institutions would be better equipped to impart education and conduct research in fields important to socio-economic development of the country.