The DBT/ WT India Alliance (India Alliance) Early Career Fellowship (ECF) is a mentored programme for outstanding recently qualified graduates or those with short postdoctoral experience and is designed to support their transition to independence. It offers a unique opportunity to make an early start while basing a research programme in India, to pursue an independent research question.

Applicants are expected to have:

• Started to make significant, demonstrable contributions in their area of research, in the form of substantial publications, patents, software, etc.
• Identified an important and original biomedical research question, the scope of which should be broader than that of a typical postdoctoral position.
• Identified an appropriate Fellowship Supervisor and Host Institution based in India.
• Identified an appropriate group outside the Host Institution based anywhere in the world, including India, to conduct part of the ECF research project as ​‘Work Outside Host Institution’.

For detailed guidelines, visit: https://​www​.indi​aal​liance​.org/…

The Early Career Fellowship is a full-time Fellowship for five years.

The Early Career Fellowship is a full-time Fellowship for five years and provides a maximum allocation of ₹ 2.25 Crore, which includes:

A fixed monthly stipend (₹1.45 Lakh per month in years 1 and 2; ₹1.55 Lakh per month in years 3 – 5), for Fellows not receiving a salary from the Host Institution. Salary top-ups are not permitted. Fellows with an independent salary may avail the monthly stipend during the Work Outside Host Institution (WOHI), if the Host Institution’s policy does not support salary in the extended leave period that a WOHI entails. This must be budgeted for at the time of submission of the application.

Entered the final year of PhD or with a maximum of 4 years (*note the exception for Round‑1) of post-PhD research experience at the time of submission of the full application. 

• Experience is calculated from the date of the PhD viva voce/​defence of the thesis, to the full application submission deadline. Due regard is given to non-research career breaks as long as the total post-PhD research experience does not exceed the maximum limit.
• Applicants holding a postgraduate medical degree (MD/​MS/​equivalent) or a postgraduate degree in public health (MPH) may also apply, provided the proposal is in basic biomedical research. Otherwise, CPHE guidelines apply. 
• Research experience must not exceed 4 years* post the qualifying degree (MD/MS/MPH).
• A regular position in India is not required. 
• There is no age or nationality bar. However, the research has to be based in a Host Institution in India. 
• The PhD thesis supervisor cannot serve as the Fellowship Supervisor for the Early Career Fellowship.

Each scheme has deadlines that are announced in advance on our website. Applicants should plan for very short lead times between the submission of the preliminary and full proposal. We recommend that the full application be ready with the applicant at the time of submission of the preliminary application. Online application forms will be available only from the date of launch on the application portal: https://grants.indiaalliance.o…

Preliminary Applications undergo a shortlisting assessment, and only the short-listed applicants are invited to submit a full application. Full proposals are sent for international peer-review and screened by the India Alliance’s Fellowship Selection Committee. Based on the assessment of all applications received in the cohort, the Selection Committee shortlists applicants for the interview round. The final decision of the Selection Committee is based on the scientific merit of the proposed project, significance of the research, the assessments of the reviewers, suitability of the Host environment, appropriate choice of collaborator and the applicant’s performance at interview as well as competition within the cohort, which is usually high. Decisions taken at each stage will be final.

The India Alliance’s Selection Committees comprise independent scientists from the international research community with appropriate expertise and research experience. Members of the India Alliance’s Selection Committees are required to abide by a code of conduct, which is designed to protect and preserve the integrity of our advisers, stakeholders and processes. This code of conduct dictates that Selection Committee Members may not discuss any aspect of committee deliberations or recommendations with applicants/​potential applicants/​Sponsors, and that they must refuse any requests for information as to how a particular decision was reached.

Applicants/​their colleagues/​Sponsors must not attempt to contact a Selection Committee Member to discuss any aspect of an application, or the decision reached on it. Queries may be directed to the India Alliance Office and will be responded to if possible.

The India Alliance Fellowships are fiercely competitive, and at each step, applications are assessed in competition with others in the cohort.

India Alliance informs applicants of the outcome of each stage as soon as possible.

Where possible, India Alliance will provide anonymised consolidated feedback to applicants who have submitted full applications. Feedback is provided solely at the discretion of India Alliance and is intended to convey the scientific critique of the proposal.

India Alliance reserves the right to decline processing an application or continuing a Fellowship if it considers that the Host Institution has not met the eligibility criteria to receive funds or there are ethical concerns with either the applicant or the Host Institution. Incomplete or incorrect information on regulatory approvals and institutional registration in the application form will result in the rejection of the application.