The Research Development Office has developed a database of currently available funding opportunities from major sources primarily for Indian researchers. This database is constantly being updated. Although most of the available funding comes from the Government of India, there are many other opportunities from India and overseas that can be applied for.

The tables below list funding opportunities for students and post-doctoral researchers. These include Fellowships for personal support (tenable in India and abroad), mechanisms for funding attendance at international conferences and exchange visits to overseas laboratories.The applications where prescreening is mandatory should be sent to the Academic office at least 4 weeks ahead of the deadline and  the RDO will need at least 2 weeks lead time ahead of deadlines to carry out the due diligence for the application.

To know more about the application process for post-doctoral positions at NCBS via Extramural Funding Schemes please click here.


Personal Support (Tenable in India)
Agency Scheme Eligibility Duration Deadline
British Petroleum (BP)/Bird life International/ Conservation International/Fauna and Flora international/ Wildlife conservation society Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP)-Conservation Future conservationist Award Minimum team of three  with no more than 5 years of paid experience in the conservation sector 3 months-1 year To be announced (Sep)
CSIR CSIR-Nehru Science Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Scheme Fresh PhDs and postdocs with < 3 years research exp. Age limit 32 yrs, relaxable by 5 yrs for SC/ST/OBCs/PH/ women.Need to work in a CSIR lab 2 years, extendable by 1 year based on review of performance Rolling program
CSIR Research Associateship (CSIR-RA) PhD (thesis submitted candidates are also eligible), must be Indian nationals. 1 year, extendable by 3 years To be announced
CSIR Senior Research Associateship (CSIR-SRA, Scientist's Pool scheme)

 

PhD followed by two (2) years of research/teaching experience. Age limit 40 yrs.

 3 years Rolling program
DBT Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award Young investigators below 35 years of age. Pre-screening by Academic Office is mandatory. Submission to be  coordinated by the RDO. 3 years To be announced
DBT DBT Research Associateship For fresh post-docs, must be Indian nationals. 2 years, extendable to 5 Feb & Sep
DST Innovation in Science Pursuit for inspired Research (INSPIRE) Fellowships 1st rank holders qualified for doctoral research in any recognised research institute/CSIR/NET/GATE qualified 5 years To be announced (August)
DST Postdoctoral fellowship under Cognitive Science Research Initiative PhD, less than 40 years of age with no regular employment in a research institute 2 years To be announced (June)
DST Scheme for Young Scientists and Technologists (SYST) PhD (Desirable), less than 35 years of age with 5 yr relaxation for SC/ST/ OBC/ PH/ Women 3 years To be announced (March)
DST- SERB National Post Doctoral Fellowship PhDs less than 35 years of age with 5 yr relaxation for SC/ST/ OBC/ PH/ Women. Pre-screening by Academic Office is mandatory. Submission to be  coordinated by the RDO. 3 years To be announced (April)
DST Woman Scientist scheme (WOS-A) for unemployed women scientists 3 years Rolling program
DST Woman Scientist scheme (WOS-B) for unemployed women scientists 2 years To be announced (March)
DBT BioCare (Early Career Scientists ) 0-2 years Post PhD experience. Submission to be  coordinated by the RDO. 3 years To be announced
Department of Health Research (DHR) Fellowship Programme for Young Scientists

MD/ MS/MDS/ or PhD in bio-medical sciences

 3 yearsT To be announced
Department of Health Research (DHR) Fellowship Programme for Women Scientists

Category A: Women who are M.D./ M.S./ M.D.S. or MBBS/ BDS/ MVSc./ M.Sc./ M.Pharma/ M.Tech with Ph.D. Category B:Women who are MBBS /BDS or M.Sc. /M.Tech. /M.Pharma with two years of research or clinical experience.Age limit:30-50 yrs, a minimum of 1 year break in career.

 3 years To be announced
European Molecular Biology Organization EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship 0-3 years postdoc experience. Researchers from EU member countries may conduct research in India. Pre-screening by Academic Office is mandatory. Submission to be  coordinated by the RDO. 2 years

To be announced

 (10 Feb &11 August)
The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Research Fellowship (For US Nationals) US citizens planning to work in laboratories either in the US, Canada, or abroad and  foreign citizens to conduct research in laboratories in the US only. No more than one year of postdoctoral research experience. 3 years To be announced (June)
Human Frontiers in Sciences Program (HFSP) Long term and Cross-diciplinary Fellowships (For Non Indian nationals tenable in India) PhD (0-3 years postdoc experience) in discipline outside of life sciences (for Cross-disciplinary fellowships) and life Sciences (for Long term fellowsips)  training in field of biology 3 years (can be split into 2 years + 1 year after (2 years break) to be used for relocation to home country

To be announced (August)
ICMR Research Associate Fellowship programme Phd/MD/MDS 3 years To be announced
International Brain research Organization (IBRO) Return home fellowship (for Indians trained in a developed country) PhD/postdoc/junior faculty abroad   1 Sep each year
International Brain research Organization (IBRO) IBRO-Asian/Pacific Exchange Fellowship (for exchange in Asia-Pacific region only) PhD/postdoc/junior faculty under the age of 45 years 4-6 months October each year
Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Research internships in science and engineering for American students in India (RISE) US or Indian nationals enrolled for PhD or Masters course at an academic institute in US 3 months To be announced in May
James S. McDonnell Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Studying Complex Systems Ph.D. students with theoretical and/or experimental training in Complex Systems Science that anticipate completing their graduate training in late 2016 or in 2017. No nationality restrictions 2-3 years To be announced in March
Life Sciences Research Foundation Postdoctoral fellowship program (USA) US nationals to work in a non-profit institution in India. Fresh PhDs and postdocs 3 years To be announced (Oct)
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)- Global Fellowships (EU nationals eligible) PhD
from EU or Associated
Countries. Pre-screening by Academic Office is mandatory. Submission to be  coordinated by the RDO.		 2-3 years inclusive of the obligatory return to host organisation in the final year To be announced
Ministry of Environment and Forests National Environmental Sciences Fellows Programme PhDs less than 35 years of age with 5 yr relaxation in exceptional cases. Min 5-8 years experience including PhD research 1-2 years Rolling program
National Geographic Conservation trust No restriction on educational qualification. applicants must provide a record of prior research or conservation action as it pertains to the proposed project. 1 year at least 8 months prior to anticipated field dates
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships Program (For Canadian nationals) Canadian national (with PhD from Canadian institution), 0-2 years post PhD 2 years 15 Oct each year
NSERC/ CIHR/SSHRC (Canada) Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships (For Canadian nationals) Canadian national (with PhD from Canadian institution), 0-3 years post PhD 2 years To be announced (Sep)
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) Branco-Weiss Fellowship Fresh PhDs/ early stage postdocs in the field of sciences, engineering and social sciences who are pursuing unusual projects on the frontiers between society and science. No nationality or geographic restrictions 5 years

 

 

 

Simons Foundation

Global Brain Postdoctoral Fellowships

  Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree, may be submitted from scientists in domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations; public and private institutions, universities, laboratories etc. There are no citizenship or country requirements. 3 years To be announced (August)
The academy of science for developing world (TWAS) TWAS-DBT Biotechnology Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research in India (DBT institutes) PhD Biosc/Biotech, citizens of developing countries outside india holding regular research position in home country, Age limit 40 yrs, 12-18 months 31-Aug each year
DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance Early Career Fellowship 0-4 years post PhD.Pre-screening by Academic Office is mandatory. Submission to be  coordinated by the RDO. 5 years 11-Aug-2020
DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance Early Career Fellowships for Clinicians and Public Health Researchers in India 0-4 years of postdoctoral/post-MD/post-MS/post-MPH or equivalent research experience 5 years To be announced (Jan)
DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance Research Training Fellowship for Clinicians MD/MS/DM qualified candidates and Allied health professionals 2 years To be announced in July
WWF-India Small Grants Programme individuals based in India for for carrying out conservation research or undertaking a conservation project 6-12 months To be announced

 


Personal Support (Tenable Abroad)
Agency Scheme Eligibility Duration Deadline
AMS-DBT Newton International Fellowship Scheme PhD or MD from India (< 4 years postdoctoral
experience) and should be located in India at the time of application		 3 years 3-Sept-2020
BOSTON BANGALORE BIOTECHNOLOGY BEGINNINGS (B4) B4 Fellowships PhD from Indian institution (< 5 years post‐PhD
experience). Exceptional senior doctoral students may be considered.		 1 year To be announced
DFG – German Research Foundation Research Grants, including Module ‘Temporary Position for P.I.’ Any researcher with Ph.D. Up to 3 years Rolling program
DST-SERB SERB Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship Age limit <35 years, PhD degree not earlier than the preceding two years from recognized institutions in India or researchers in regular employment, Offer letter from the overseas host institution. 1 year (extendable by one year) To be announced
Alexander Humboldt Foundation Fellowship for early postdoctoral researchers (Germany) For fresh post docs (< 4yrs experience) 6-24 months Rolling program
Alexander Humboldt Foundation Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (Germany) PhD with less than 6 years postdoc experience 5 years To be announced
British Academy and Royal Society, UK Newton International Fellowship (UK) non-UK resident early career postdocs (0-7 years post PhD experience) 2 years To be announced
DFG – German Research Foundation Emmy Noether Programme Promising younger researchers who have received their PhD between 2 - 4 years ago 5 years Rolling program
EAER Swiss Government Excellence Postdoctoral Scholarships for foreign researchers PhD degree, maximum 5 years between the award of the PhD and the application deadline 12 months To be announced
European Molecular Biology Organization EMBO Long-term Fellowship (EU countries) 0-3 years postdoc experience 2 years To be announced  (10 Feb &11 August)
The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Research Fellowship (For Indian Nationals) support for young researhcers engaged in biological or medical research. US citizens planning to work in laboratories either in the US, Canada, or abroad and also to foreign citizens for research in laboratories in the US only. 3 years To be announced (June)
Human Frontiers in Sciences Program (HFSP) Long term Fellowships (For Indian nationals tenable overseas) PhD (0-3 years postdoc experience)in life sciences, needs o embark on a new project in a different field of the life sciences 3 years (can be split into 2 years + 1 year after (2 years break) to be used for relocation to home country Initiation deadline is 10th Aug, 2017; submission deadline is 24th  Aug, 2017
Human Frontiers in Sciences Program (HFSP) Cross-diciplinary Fellowships (For Indian Nationals tenable  overseas) PhD in discipline outside of life sciences (0-3 years postdoc experience) for training in field of biology 3 years (can be split into 2 years + 1 year after (2 years break) to be used for relocation to home country Initiation deadline is 9th Aug, 2018; submission deadline is 23rd Aug, 2018
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Ravi Sankaran Fellowship Program (short term internship abroad) Indian Citizen residing in India. Min Bachelors degree. 6 weeks- 1 year To be announced (April)
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Ravi Sankaran Fellowship Program-Small grants Indian Citizen residing in India. Min Bachelors degree upto 1 year To be announced (April)
International Brain research Organization (IBRO) International Research fellowship Phd/early postdoc 12 months To be announced (June)
International Brain research Organization (IBRO) IBRO-Asian/Pacific Exchange Fellowship (for exchange in Asia-Pacific region only) PhD/postdoc/junior faculty under the age of 45 years 4-6 months October each year
la Caxia Foundation (Spain) "la Caixa"/ CRG International fellowship programme (CRG, Spain) For pursuing PhD in biomedical research at CRG, Barcelona, Spain 4 years To be announced (Feb)
la Caxia Foundation (Spain) IMPULSE-Postdoctoral program 0-4 years post PhD of any nationality for pursuing post doc in the feild of biomedicine at CRG, Barcelona, Spain 3 years To be announced
Leibniz Association/DAAD, Germany Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowships 2015 0-2 years post- PhD, with outstanding academic or research achievements 12 months To be announced (March)
Life Sciences Research Foundation Postdoctoral fellowship program (USA) Fresh PhDs and postdocs 3 years 1-Oct each year
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)-European Fellowships (EU countries) PhD.
based in a Third Country.		 2-3 years To be announced
National Geographic Conservation Trust No restriction on educational qualification. applicants must provide a record of prior research or conservation action as it pertains to the proposed project. 1 year at least 8 months prior to anticipated field dates
National Research Council (USA) Research Associateship Program (USA) PhD, variable experience according to agency   1 Feb, 1 May, 1 August, 1 November every year
NIH NIH Intramural Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowship (NIH, USA) PhD (0-5 years postdoc experience) 1-5 years Rolling programme

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)

 Branco-Weiss Fellowship Fresh PhDs/postdocs in the field of sciences, engineering and social sciences who are pursuing unusual projects on the frontiers between society and science. No nationality or geographic restrictions 5 years To be announced
USIEF Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Indian citizen residing in India at the time of application with  high level of academic/professional achievement. 0-4 years post-Ph.D. degree experience (Ph.D. awarded between July 15, 2012 and July 14, 2016) 8-24months To be announced
Wenner-Gren Foundation Postdoctoral fellowships Swedish citizens or foreign citizens with permanent residence in Sweden. Doctorate may not have been completed earlier than three years prior to application Fisrt 3 years (abroad)+ Last 2 years(in Sweden) To be announced (Jan)

 


Travel (meetings)
Agency Scheme Eligibility Duration Deadline
Axol Biosciences Conference Travel Grants

To fund PhD students and post-docs to attend scientific meetings.

 

 Recipients must use the award for travel within 12 months of receipt of the award.  To be announced (31st March)
CSIR Foreign Travel Grant < 40 years of age with confirmed acceptance of paper for presentation    
DBT Travel Support for attending International Conference/ Seminar/ Symposium PhD, Age less than 50 years   At least 8 weeks prior to travel date
DST-SERB International Travel support Scheme open to all researchers. Senior researchers (> 35 years) cannot apply to Int Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) sponsored events   Rolling program. App. To reach two months prior to the event
Dorabji Tata Trust Education related Travel grants For travelling abroad for advanced training in specialised areas and to participate in workshops    Rolling
EKLAVYA EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND IGNITE LIFE SCIENCE FOUNDATION
 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GRANTS FOR YOUNG INDIAN SCIENTISTS

To enable early career scientists to present their work at international life sciences meetings

    
eLife 2017 travel grants for early-career researchers To fund early-stage researchers (postdocs and independent scientists) with up to five years of research experience, and who have authored or co-authored a research paper published (or accepted for publication) at eLife to present their work at a meeting of their choice.   2-September-2018
Hellobio A current life science post-graduate or post-doctoral researcher, must have received your highest degree (BSc, MSc or PhD) within the past 10 years   Award allocated every month
ICMR International Travel by Non-ICMR Scientists Biomedical scientists engaged in R&D. Age limit less than 35 years.   6 weeks before intended date of departure
India Network foundation Travel Grant Program All researchers and doctoral students working or studying in India   12 weeks before intended date of departure
International Brain research Organization (IBRO) International Travel Grant residents of less funded countries (US/Canada excluded) 14-28 days 1-Mar for meetings in Jul-Dec and  1-Sep for meeting in Jan-Jun following year
INSA-CSIR-DAE/BRNS-DOS/ISRO CICS Travel Fellowship Programme PhD, Indian nationality   committee meets six times/year with specific deadline for each meeting
JDB Travel awards No restriction on nationality. Can be availed by postdoctoral fellows or PhD students involved in Developmental Biology research to attend an international conference and to present their research (oral and/or poster presentation).   To be announced in September
Microsoft-Research Microsoft Research India Travel Grants Eligible students must be enrolled in computer science,  mathematics, or a field that closely relates to computer science   Rolling Programme
PLOS Early Career Travel Award Program

Listed as an author on a PLOS journal article with a publication date on or before the date application is submitted. Enrolled in a graduate program or have received a graduate degree within the last five (5) years

 

   To be announced

 


Travel (research)
Agency Scheme Eligibility Duration Deadline
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (Germany) Travel Grants PhD students/ early postdocs maximum 3 months 6 weeks before training commences
Company of biologists Travel Grants graduate students/postdocs for collab research  
  • 28 February 2017 (for travel after 10 April )
  • 31 May 2017 (for travel after 10 July)
  • 31 August 2017 (for travel after 16 October)
  • 30 November 2017 (for travel after 12 January 2018)
European Molecular Biology Organization EMBO Short-term Fellowship (EU countries) PhD students/ early postdocs (with less than 10 years postdoc experience) maximum 3 months 3 months before proposed starting date
French Embassy in India Raman Charpak Fellowship Program students registered for PhD in an Indian institution upto 6 months To be announced (May)
International Brain research Organization (IBRO) IBRO-APRC Exchange Fellowship senior PhD, postdoc or junior faculty 4-6 months October of each year
International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Wood-Whelan Research Fellowships Graduate students or early career researchers below 35 years of age resident in IUBMB member country 1-4 months

April 1st for travel in July - December of the same year.

October 1st for travel in January - June of the following year

 Swiss National Science Foundation, SNSF

 

 International Short Visit Scheme

The applicant needs to hold a doctorate,  be employed as a researcher in his/her home institution and must not have received a grant under this scheme within the last 3 years.

 

 1week-3 months Rolling scheme.Two months before the grant is due to start.
US-India Educational Foundation Fullbright-Nehru doctoral fellowship (USA) Indian citizen registered for PhD at Indian institution at least for 1 year 9 months  
US-India Educational Foundation Fullbright-Nehru postdoctoral Research fellowship (India-USA exchange) 0-4 years post PhD Indian or US National, preferably less than 45 years of age 8-24 months  
US-India Educational Foundation Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research Indian citizen, a Ph.D. degree obtained within the past four years 8-12 Months  
Utrecht University, Netherlands Utrecht University Short Stay Fellowships for PhD students NCBS PhD student 3 months To Be Announced
Wenner-Gren Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships for training in Sweden PhD. Not more than five years of postdoctoral experience before the application. He / she must not have been in Sweden for more than nine months before the application date. 3months-12 moths (extendable by 12 more months) To be announced (Jan)
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Churchill Travelling Fellowship (tenable in India) British citizen. No restriction on educational qualification or stage of career. 4-8 weeks To be announced