Scientists considering a research experience in India
will need to look to their own governments, foundations, and
international organizations to fund their work, as the list below
demonstrates. The entries include grants for research, but also
travel, conference, and lecturer grants that, although not intended
for research, can be useful for making connections in India for
arranging future collaborations.
The list is not meant to be exhaustive, but it will help you get
started. In some of the programs, the deadlines for this year have
passed, but most of these opportunities will be offered again. New
programs are likely to become available, so check GrantsNet and
the Funding
News periodically for American funding programs, and the
International Grants and Fellowship Index for opportunities for
scientists from elsewhere.
Index
Multinational
Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)
HFSP supports interdisciplinary, basic life-science research,
emphasizing international collaborations that bring biologists
together with scientists from fields such as the physical sciences,
computer science, and engineering.
In December 2006, HFSP added India as a member country, which
makes Indian scientists eligible to participate fully in all HFSP
programs. The HFSP’s member countries are Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Cyprus (E.U. part), the Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, the
Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom, and the United States. Scientists from all countries may
participate in HFSP’s Research Grant and Fellowship programs (see
below).
HFSP
Research Grants . Research grants are provided to help teams of
scientists from different countries to combine their expertise to
approach questions that could not be answered by individual
laboratories. The lead scientist in an international grant team
must be in one of the member countries. Two types of research
grants are offered.
-
Program Grantsare awarded to teams of independent
researchers at any stage of their careers. The research team is
expected to develop new lines of research through the
collaboration.
-
Young Investigators' Grantsare awarded to teams of
researchers, all within the first 5 years after getting an
independent laboratory.
HFSP
Fellowships . Fellows from member countries may go to host
laboratories in any country, but those from non-member countries
are restricted to hosts in member countries.
-
Long-Term Fellowshipsprovide young scientists with up to
3 years of postdoctoral research training in a laboratory in
another country. The third year of the fellowship can be used
either at a lab in the fellow's home country or in the host
laboratory.
-
Cross-Disciplinary Fellowshipsare intended for
postdoctoral fellows with a Ph.D. in the physical sciences,
chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or computer science who wish
to receive training in biology. The conditions are the same as for
the Long-Term Fellowships.
-
Short-Term Fellowshipsenable researchers to move into new
areas by learning techniques in use abroad or by establishing new
research collaborations. These fellowships can support from 2 weeks
to 3 months in a foreign country.
-
Career Development Awardsare available to Long-Term
Fellows and Cross-Disciplinary Fellows who return to their home
country at the end of the fellowship. These awards provide funding
for 2 or 3 years.
[Editor's note: The HFSP section reflects updates
provided by HFSP on 27 April 2007.]
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Grand Challenges in
Global Health Initiative . This initiative, a partnership of
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (the largest contributor),
Wellcome Trust, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research, funds
biomedical research to address health concerns in developing
countries. Projects already approved under this initiative tackle
problems such as HIV/AIDS, vaccines, nutrition, mosquito control,
and diagnostics. The Gates Foundation’s
procedures for grant applications require either proposals in
response to posted calls or letters of intent for unsolicited
proposals.
AcademyofSciencesfor the Developing
World
The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World was known until
recently as the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), so many of
its programs continue to use its former initials. TWAS funding is
reserved for students or postdocs from developing countries.
CSIR-TWAS
Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research . With India’s Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), TWAS offers a number of
fellowships for postdocs in CSIR labs.
TWAS-S.N.
Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences Postgraduate Fellowships in
Physical Sciences . TWAS and the S.N. Bose National Centre for
Basic Sciences, Kolkata, India, offer five fellowships each year to
young foreign scientists pursuing research for a Ph.D. in the
physical sciences at the Bose Centre.
DBT-TWAS
Biotechnology Fellowships for Postgraduate Studies in India .
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of India’s Ministry of
Science and Technology and TWAS offer fellowships for foreign
scholars doing research for a Ph.D. in biotechnology.
IACS-TWAS
Postgraduate Fellowships in India . The Indian Association for the Cultivation of
Science (IACS) in Kolkata, India, and TWAS offer fellowships to
young scientists to pursue research toward a Ph.D. in certain
fields of natural sciences at the IACS.
Asian Scholarship Foundation
The Asian Scholarship
Foundation (ASF), a not-for-profit organization funded by a
grant from the Ford Foundation, funds research by young and
middle-level scholars in the field of Asian studies--which includes
some social sciences--as well as work involving travel to other
Asian countries.
Citizens or residents of the following countries are eligible
for ASF grants: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, People’s
Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos,
Malaysia, the Republic of Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the
Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand,
and Vietnam.
Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
The Commonwealth
Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is available to nationals of
countries in the British Commonwealth to encourage mobility and
opportunities for scholars. There is no central resource or funding
agency. Each country decides the eligibility criteria and programs.
Participating countries include Australia, Botswana, Brunei
Darussalam, Cameroon, Canada, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Malaysia,
Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Trinidad and
Tobago, and the United Kingdom
United States
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program funds bilateral exchanges between the
United States and host countries worldwide, including India. The
program offers 100-120 grants each year to American citizens to
study or conduct research in India. Although the State Department
provides funds for the Fulbright Program, the program itself,
including the selection of grantees, is done by binational
organizations in each country; for India, it's the United States
Educational Foundation in India (USEFI).
For research scholars and nonacademic professionals, USEFI
offers several programs related to science and technology:
-
The
Senior Research Scholar Program awards 10-15 grants annually
for periods of 4-9 months. The preferred fields vary over time to
reflect current joint interests between India and the United
States. Current topics include astronomy and astrophysics, economic
reform, environmental issues, public health, medical sciences,
women's studies, law, and intellectual property rights.
-
A specialized
environmental leadership program offers opportunities for
American professionals in the field, including scientists and
engineers, to take part in an 8-12 week fellowship with
counterparts in India.
-
The
New Century Scholars Program funds a 3-month exchange with
research devoted to the program's current theme. The 2007-2008
theme is "Higher Education in the 21st Century: Access and
Equity."
-
USEFI offers specialized programs for
visiting lecturers in various fields and
senior specialists in curriculum development and educational
administration.
For
graduate students , USEFI offers 15-18 grants each year for up
to 9 months. The preferred disciplines for this program include
environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, and public health,
as well as technology, communications, and business
administration.
Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum(IUSSTF)
The IUSSTF was
established in 2000 through a bilateral agreement between the two
governments to increase the number of collaborations between Indian
and American scientists, including early and mid-career
researchers. The organization has a number of private-sector
participants in both countries, and as a result its programs are
open to researchers in industry as well as academia. [The American
Co-chair of IUSSTF is Norman P. Neureiter, Director of the Center
for Science, Technology and Security Policy, of American
Association for the Advancement of Science, publisher of Science
Careers.]
Indo-U.S. Knowledge R & D Networked Joint Centres . This
program funds scientific collaborations among multiple
organizational partners, with a minimum of two Indian and two
American organizations. Grants under this program can last up to 2
years, and while the partnership among the groups can be virtual,
participants can use the funds for travel and associated expenses.
IUSSTF makes these awards in September and January, with deadlines
in June (15 June for the current call) and October.
IUSSTF also offers
travel grants to attend events in India, for exploratory visits
when establishing new partnerships, and for additional trips by
researchers with grants from other organizations. The group also
sponsors symposia and workshops.
National Science Foundation(NSF)
NSF's Office
of International Science and Engineering (OISE) provides the
bulk of the agency's funding for American researchers'
participation in international exchanges. The office supports
programs geared for scientists and engineers still early in their
careers.
Developing
Global Scientists and Engineers . The Developing Global
Scientists and Engineers program has two sub-programs:
International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) and Doctoral
Dissertation Enhancement Projects (DDEP). IRES grants go to
American graduate and undergraduate students, to provide a
meaningful scientific experience and to broaden participants'
international perspectives. IRES funding goes to institutions, not
individuals, but the grants fund the exchanges of small groups of
students. The deadlines for IRES grant proposals each year are 15
February and 15 September. DDEP grants support doctoral research
overseas and proposals for these awards, submitted officially by
the doctoral student's faculty advisor, can be sent in to NSF at
any time.
International
Research Fellowship Program (IRFP). IRFP grants support
research by American postdocs, who have received Ph.D. degrees
within the past 3 years, at universities or research institutes
abroad. Researchers can use the funds for 9-24 months, with up to 1
year of that time reserved for “re-entry” into the United States.
Proposals are normally due on the second Tuesday of September each
year.
International
Research and Education: Planning Visits and Workshops . OISE
provides funds for visits of 7-14 days to plan research
collaborations or workshops. These grants pay for travel and
subsistence, not salaries or subsequent research. Planning-visit
proposals may be submitted at any time. Workshop proposals are due
in February, May, and September.
National Institutes of Health/Fogarty International
Center
The Fogarty
International Center , the international arm of NIH, addresses
the scientific aspects of global health issues. The center has an
extensive
portfolio of biomedical research funding programs both on its
own and together with other components of NIH, that can apply to
projects in India.
Three programs that apply specifically
to India :
-
Indo-U.S. Collaboration on Prevention of Sexually Transmitted
Diseases and HIV/AIDS. One of this project's activities is to
develop new and culturally appropriate intervention strategies.
Included in its research agenda are HIV/AIDS prevention programs,
behavioral and social research, and assessment of HIV-associated
neuro-behavioral consequences.
-
Indo-U.S. Collaboration on Maternal and Child Health and
Human Development Research. The issues addressed in this
program include prevention and treatment of leading causes of
maternal, neonatal and pediatric morbidity and mortality, maternal
and child nutrition and the role of micronutrients in healthy child
bearing, and reproductive health including socio-behavioral
aspects, birth practices, and development and evaluation of newer
contraceptives.
-
Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program (VAP). Under VAP, U.S.
and Indian scientists carry out collaborative research projects
directed toward the development and implementation of new vaccines
and diagnostics.
American Society for Microbiology
Indo-U.S.
Professorships in Microbiology . The society funds up to eight
professorships a year, for microbiologists in India and the United
States to visit institutions in the other country to teach an
interactive short course on a topic in any of the microbiological
disciplines.
American Institute of Indian Studies
Fellowship
Programs . The American Institute of Indian Studies offers
fellowships to faculty and graduate students for research on
studies related to India's history, culture, and contemporary
development. The fellowships include awards to some 40 scholars for
work in India. The program includes awards for short-term (4 month)
visits as well as 6-9 month tours. The current competition deadline
is 1 July 2007.
Australia
Australia-India
Strategic Research Fund . The Australia-India Strategic
Research Fund (AISRF) supports research cooperation between
Australia and India, including funds for Australian scientists
working in India. AISRF established two separate funding
mechanisms, the Indo-Australian Science and Technology Fund and the
Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund. The next competition will be
announced in August 2007.
Endeavour Programme . The Australian government funds
short-term research and study in Asia and Pacific Rim countries for
Australian nationals under its Endeavour Programme. Opportunities
include research fellowships of 4-6 months for graduate students
and postdocs, some of them set aside for indigenous Australians.
The Endeavour Programme also has 1-4 month awards for Australian
business executives to work with counterpart firms in Asia, with
six awards specifically for work in India.
In addition, the Endeavour initiative provides financial support
for universities to subsidize
undergraduate student exchanges , including students going to
India. Students should check with their universities to see if they
are eligible.
Canada
Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade
International
Science and Technology Partnerships Program (ISTPP). ISTPP is a
5-year program that aims to build science and technology
relationships between Canada and Israel, India, China, and Brazil.
Funding supports bilateral research projects and stimulates
networking to further new partnerships for the commercialization of
research and development.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Special
Research Opportunity (SRO) Program . The SRO program enables
researchers to pursue new and emerging research opportunities and
investigate and develop the new collaborations in Canada or abroad
that will enable them to respond to these opportunities. The
program provides short-term support for high-risk research projects
with significant potential (i.e., economic) benefit to Canada.
Foreign Affairs and International TradeCanada
Going Global
Science and Technology Program . This program supports projects
designed to bring together Canadian researchers with counterparts
in foreign countries for collaborative partnerships. Canadian
researchers from private companies, universities and nongovernment
research centers are eligible. The program provides funding to get
collaborations started, but does not fund the research itself.
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
India Studies Competition . The Shastri Institute funds
research by new and experienced faculty members, postdocs, and
graduate students in studies related to India, including projects
carried out in India. The current closing date for applications to
this program is 8 June 2007.
France
Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced
Research (IFCPAR)
India and France have established IFCPAR (French acronym:
CEFIPRA), a new bilateral program to encourage scientific
cooperation between the two countries.
Collaborative
Research Projects . Collaborative projects involve two or more
scientists with at least one scientist each from India and France.
Projects can address any scientific or technical discipline and
normally run for 3 years.
Industrial
Research Projects . Industrial projects fund R&D
initiatives that develop new or improved processes or products.
These projects involve industrial partners, at least one each in
France and India, and carry an expectation that the new product or
process will come to market in 3-5 years.
Germany
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG, German Research
Foundation)
Research Fellowship . Research Fellowships enable young
researchers who have completed their doctorates to conduct research
either in Germany or abroad, to help them learn new research
methods or complete a research project.
Research Training Groups . Research Training Groups
(Graduiertenkollegs) are university training programs to
support doctoral students. Within this program, DFG funds
International Research Training Groups to encourage collaborations
between German institutions and their counterparts abroad,
including India.
Emmy Noether Programme . The Emmy Noether Programme provides
funding for researchers with 2-4 years of postdoc experience to
lead an independent research group, and thus to better qualify for
a university teaching career. The program gives priority to
researchers with international experience and can fund the
researcher’s return to Germany from abroad.
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Feodor Lynen
Research Fellowships . Through this program, the foundation
funds research abroad for some 150 German Ph.D. scientists under
the age of 38. These fellowships include funding for projects of
short or long duration. The short-term
funding supports projects lasting 9 to 18 months. Long-term
fellowships fund projects of 1 to 4 years.
Japan
JapanSociety for the Promotion of Science
Postdoctoral
Fellowships for Research Abroad . Under this program,
fellowships are awarded to young Japanese postdoctoral researchers
for conducting research at foreign universities or research
institutions for a period of 2 years. The fellowships cover travel
expenses, a stipend, and a research grant.
Research
Fellowships for Young Scientists . These fellowships fund
research by postdocs and doctoral students mainly at Japanese
universities, but they also may be used to conduct research at
institutions abroad.
United Kingdom
The Royal Society
International Joint
Projects . The society's International Joint Project program
offers grants to British academic scientists--postdoc or
higher--and counterparts abroad, including India, to support
collaborative research. The grants cover 2 years of research
expenses, travel, and subsistence. Closing dates for proposals fall
in March, June, September, and December each year. The next
deadline is 13 June 2007.
Conference
grants . The Royal Society funds travel to scientific
conferences abroad to present papers--or just to attend the
meetings. Closing dates for applications fall in March, June,
September, and December each year. The next deadline is 5 June
2007.
The Wellcome Trust
International
Senior Research Fellowship . The Wellcome Trust funds
biomedical research fellowships in India and five other countries
for researchers with 5-10 years of experience. Applicants can have
either research or clinical backgrounds, with applications
encouraged from scientists seeking to return to their home
countries. The 2007-2008 competition is expected to be announced at
the end of April 2007.
Association of Commonwealth Universities(ACU)
ACU Grants for International Collaboration . The ACU offers
funds for joint international social-science research projects for
British academic faculty and counterparts in other Commonwealth
countries, including India. Grants are for 1 year. The closing date
for the current call for proposals is 15 October 2007.
British Council
The
British Council establishes and promotes educational and
cultural relationships between the United Kingdom and other
countries, including the development of scientific collaborations.
Its science program
in India for 2006-2007 includes support for collaborative
research projects in environmental science, biotechnology, and
nanotechnology. The organization organizes conferences and
workshops as well as prize competitions on these topics.
UK-India Education and Research Initiative(UKIERI)
UKIERI is a joint
India-U.K. program intended to strengthen educational and research
links between the two countries; see the article in this feature,
“U.K.-India Initiative Aims to Renew Old Ties” for more about it.
The program currently offers scholarships for doctoral students
from India, but by 2011 it plans to support for British university
students to study in India as well as 50 collaborative research
projects.
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Alan Kotok is managing editor of Science Careers.
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Comments, suggestions? Please send your feedback to our editor .
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DOI: 10.1126/science.caredit.a0700061