Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance Biomedical Researchers

The Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance

The India Alliance is a £80 million partnership between The Wellcome Trust, UK, and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT, Government of India). We are an independent charitable trust and began operations in 2009. Our mandate is to support excellence in biomedical research in India primarily through generous, flexible and long-term Fellowships at key stages of a research career.

Remit:We fund the full spectrum of biomedical science from fundamental molecular and cellular studies, through to clinical and public health research. This also includes theoretical biology and biomedical engineering. Interdisciplinary projects are welcome.

Eligibility:

• Candidates launching their independent research career and established senior scientists are eligible to apply to different schemes. Please refer to our website for further details.
• No age or nationality restrictions.
• A PhD in biological sciences is not necessary; candidates could have pursued a PhD in any science discipline but should propose to work on a biologically relevant question.
• Applicants need not be resident in India during the application process.
• Number of years of post-PhD research experience is the primary eligibility criteria for applicants with a PhD, and this varies for each scheme.
• Clinicians, veterinarians and public health researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. Clinicians and veterinarians do not require a PhD to apply but must demonstrate commensurate research experience for the particular scheme.

Please visit our website www.wellcomedbt.org for schemes currently open and the deadlines. 

Provisions:The 5 year Fellowship support provides:

• Personal support. Fellows are provided with full salary support or, to those with a salaried position at the Host Institution, a top up to the level IA has set for each scheme as indicated on the website.
• Generous and flexible research funds. Funding is provided to commensurate with the requirements of the proposed research. Also, Fellows have the flexibility to spend the award as necessary to meet their research goals.
• Funds to foster collaborations. These include funds for collaborative visits (short or long term), training visits and travel to meetings. These visits could be domestic or international and there is no restriction on frequency or location.

Requirements:

• A research proposal that seeks to answer an original biomedical research question
• A not-for-profit Host Institution in India that will administer the Fellowship for the full duration of the award. A salaried position or commitment to a salaried position at the Host Institution is not required.
• A sponsor at the Host Institution, who can guarantee space and resources for the duration of the award.

Application process:Preliminary application: All schemes require a preliminary application based on which a full application is invited.

Full application: These are sent out for international peer-review and screened by the India Alliance’s Selection Committee.

Interview: Short-listed applicants are invited to interview with the Selection Committee.

Each scheme has deadlines that are announced in advance on our website. The India Alliance uses an online grants system to receive process and manage applications. Only online applications are accepted. Please visit our website via the Apply button below for further information on the application process and schemes that are currently open.