Hyderabad :  Three researchers from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia have been awarded scientific grants by the Australian Academy for Science to undertake important research with Indian institutions. Disclosing this addressing a press conference in Hyderabad today Ms. Justine Morris, Associate Director of Global Relations of the Swinburne University said Swinburne established in 1908 is a 100 years old Australian Public University.   And  is ranked among the top 500 universities in the world by all major international rankings – The Academic Ranking of World Universities, the Times Higher Education Ranking of World Universities and the QS World University Rankings.

The University has 7,500 international students from more than 100 different countries; the 2011 student enrolments had 18,134 students for Higher Education and 13,786 for Technical and Further Education courses (TAFE).

Professor Saulius Juodkazis and Professor Cuie Wen have been awarded Australia-India Senior Visiting Fellowships, while Dr Abirami Ramalingam has been awarded an Australia-India Early Career Fellowship informed Justine Morris.

The programs are supported by the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund, a platform for bilateral collaboration in science jointly managed and funded by the governments of Australia and India.

The fellowship program supports senior Australian researchers from the public, not-for-profit and commercial sectors to facilitate targeted research collaboration, short visiting lectureships and networking activities.

Professor Wen will research physical and mechanical properties of advanced nanostructured materials in conjunction with host institution Banaras Hindu University.

Professor Juodkazis will study nano-textured surfaces for sensing and light harvesting in solar cells in conjunction with host institutions, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,  Dr Ramalingam will work with Dr Rajeev Varshney from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. These research projects represent another important partnership between Swinburne and India.

Our research will be focused in five areas of national and international priority.  These include Future manufacturing, Sustainable futures, Digital frontiers, Personal and Societal wellbeing and Fundamental science, she informed.

Speaking further Ms. Morris added that the Talented Indian students are invited to apply for a new scholarship program announced by Swinburne University of Technology. The new merit-based scholarships, up to the value of AU$6000, will be offered to students for study in a range of pathway, undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Swinburne in 2013. The scholarships add to existing scholarships and grants aimed at supporting high achieving Indian students.

These include the Victoria India Doctoral scholarships offered in conjunction with the Victorian Government, and Australia-India Strategic Research Fund fellowships, funded by the governments of Australia and India. The prestigious Victoria India Doctoral Scholarship includes a full tuition fee waiver plus a scholarship grant of AUD$90,000.

Swinburne Vice-President (International and Development) Jeffrey Smart said the scholarship schemes offered an attractive incentive for high-achieving students to come to Victoria to study. “Victoria is a great place for Indian students to pursue a higher degree. Our multicultural community values the contribution that international students make to our social fabric,” Mr Smart said.

There are currently more than 150,000 international students studying in Victoria.

Applications for the Swinburne Pathways Academic Scholarship, Swinburne Leadership Scholarship and Swinburne Postgraduate Scholarship are currently open for study in 2013. Applications for the next round of Victoria India Doctoral Scholarships close in May 2013. Australia-India Strategic Research Fund grants will reopen for applications in 2013.