Eligibility and Application

Are you a potential India RISE Fellow or interested in recommending someone for the Fellowship? This section provides key information on who is eligible and how the application and selection process works. 

Please note that applications for the 2026 pilot cohort are now closed, and we are currently reviewing submissions from shortlisted candidates. To stay informed about future fellowship cycles, upcoming calls, and related opportunities, please follow our LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter. 

Who Should Apply? 

The India RISE Fellowship is open to early-career Indian women in STEMM who meet the following criteria: 

  • Current affiliation: Affiliated with a government-recognized Indian research or educational institution (from our list of eligible institutions). 
  • Citizenship: An Indian citizen or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) residing in India. 
  • Education: Have completed a PhD degree or a postgraduate professional degree such as MTech, MD, MS, DNB, or equivalent from a government-recognized research or educational institution. 
  • Experience: 0–7 years of cumulative work experience as a STEMM researcher (career breaks are permitted). 
  • Research: Work in a STEMM field with a research interest in health or medicine in India. 
  • Motivation: Passionate about advancing research and women’s leadership in science, with a commitment to lifelong learning, personal growth, and collaborative mentorship. 

Eligibility Checklist 

Applicants must meet all the following: 

  • Have a PhD degree or a postgraduate professional degree (such as MTech, MD, MS, DNB, or equivalent) from a government-recognized research or educational institution,  
  • Be currently Affiliated with a government-recognized Indian institution.  
  • Submit a research proposal focused on health/medicine in India. 
  • Will be able to identify a Technical Research Advisor at their institution.
  • Be an Indian citizen or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) residing in India. 
  • Be based in India for the entire duration of the fellowship period (January 2026 – February 2027).
  • Display commitment to personal growth, lifelong learning, collaborative mentorship, and advancing women in STEMM. 
  • 0–7 years of cumulative work experience as a STEMM researcher 

Note: The total cumulative work experience does not have to be consecutive; career breaks and career changes are permitted. 

Selection Criteria 

The India RISE selection process is merit-based and holistic. Each application is evaluated across several dimensions to identify candidates with the highest potential to benefit from and contribute to the fellowship. The broad selection criteria and their relative weight (for the pilot cohort) are as follows: 

  • Academic Excellence (20%) – The candidate’s academic track record, including quality of doctoral training, any honors or awards, and overall performance. We consider transcripts and CV achievements like publications or presentations as evidence. 
  • Research Experience (20%) – Depth and relevance of research experience. Candidates who have demonstrated the ability to conduct research (through projects, publications, etc.) score higher.  
  • Professional Experience (10%) – This covers any practical or teaching experience, contributions in workplaces, or other leadership roles already held. It’s a smaller weight, since not all early-career researchers will have extensive work experience, but any evidence of responsibility or project leadership is noted. 
  • Potential for Growth (15%) – Assessed via the personal statement and reference inputs. We look for clear articulation of career goals and how the fellowship will be a catalyst. Indicators include curiosity, willingness to learn, leadership potential (e.g., involvement in professional or community organizations). 
  • Motivation and Commitment (25%) – Does the candidate show passion for her field and for this opportunity? Is she likely to fully engage and commit the required time? We also consider the nominator’s enthusiasm and the supervisor’s support letter here: strong support can indicate the candidate’s reliability and commitment. 
  • Cohort Composition (10%) – We aim to bring together participants with varied geographic representation, institutional affiliations, and professional experiences. Preference may be given to candidates from regions or institutions that have historically had fewer opportunities to participate in similar programs, in order to foster a well-rounded and dynamic cohort. 

All applications are initially screened for basic eligibility mentioned above. Eligible applications meeting the initial criteria then undergo evaluation by multiple reviewers. The reviewers use a standardized rubric to assign ratings on the above criteria, and an average total score is calculated for each candidate to determine an unbiased ranking for final fellow selections.  

Finalists will be those who not only excel on paper but also fit the spirit of India RISE – ambitious, collaborative, and committed to making a difference. 

All applicants (invited to apply) will be notified of the outcome. We currently cannot provide individualized feedback on applications given the volume, but selected fellows will receive guidance to refine their project plans when the program begins.