Microsoft Research India today announced its Ph.D. Fellowships in India. Instituted by Microsoft Research�s External Research & Programs Group, the Ph.D. Fellowships are aimed at encouraging students to take up research as a career, a key qualification for which is to get a doctoral degree. Each awardee will receive approximately $5,000 (U.S.) per year over four years, and also $5,000 for attending seminars and conferences during the term of the fellowship. The fellows will also have the option of a three-month to six-month internship at Microsoft Research India.

�There is plenty of world-class research talent in India, but India produces less than 50 Ph.D.s in computer science research every year. One of Microsoft Research�s objectives in India is to enhance the quantity and quality of Ph.D.s in the country, and the Ph.D. Fellowships are a step in this direction,� said P. Anandan, managing director of Microsoft Research India. �We are also providing funding for travel to conferences, because exposure to the community and the work it is doing in the subject area is critical for researchers.�