The Early Career Research Fellowships support clinicians and public-health researchers who are beginning independent research careers. DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance funds fellows to conduct clinical or public-health research through a not-for-profit host institution in India.
The award is designed to provide the skills, training, and resources needed to complete a five-year project. Applicants may be based outside India when applying, but the proposed research career and host arrangement must be in India.
Benefits & funding
- Five years of support for an approved clinical or public-health research project.
- Personal salary support and research costs are included within the approved fellowship budget.
- Funds for collaborative and training visits, in India or abroad, and travel to meetings.
Eligibility
- Open to clinicians and public-health researchers in the final year of an MD, MS or MPH, or with clinical or public-health research experience after it; the call's common limit is up to 15 years across its Early Career, Intermediate and Senior schemes, and Early Career is the junior scheme.
- A PhD is not mandatory, but the applicant must show research experience appropriate to the proposed project and scheme.
- Applicants need a not-for-profit host institution in India that administers the award, and a sponsor there with the authority to guarantee space and resources for its full duration.
- There is no stated age, nationality, or residence-at-application restriction.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Create an account and submit the preliminary application through the India Alliance online application system, IASys.
- 2If the preliminary application succeeds, submit the requested full application.
- 3The full application undergoes international peer review and consideration by the Clinical and Public Health Selection Committee.
- 4Shortlisted applicants attend an interview before a final decision.
Program timeline
Applications opened
Feb 20, 2026
Application deadline
Mar 23, 2026