SERB Early Career Research (ECR) Award 2020, Last Date, Application Form, Eligibility Criteria 

Early Career Research Award (ECRA) scheme has been introduced by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).  The scheme aims to provide support and encourage the young candidates to start an early independent research career in the areas of science and engineering. Students holding a Ph.D. in Science and Engineering or an M.D. or M.S. degree in any area of medicine can apply for this scheme.

Eligibility Criteria SERB Early Career Research (ECR) Award 

The basic eligibility needs which students have to fulfill to apply for this award are

• Candidates must belong to Indian nationals.
• Applicant must hold a Ph.D. in Science and Engineering or an M.D. or M.S. degree in any area of medicine.
• Students must hold a regular academic/research position in any recognized academic institution or national laboratories or any other recognized R&D institutions.
• The candidate’s upper age limit for ECRA is 37 years. Relaxation of 3 years will be given to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged and women candidates.

Note: Guest faculty, visiting scientists, faculty members, research associates, project fellows working on a contract basis, and whose contract is renewed every year cannot apply for this scheme. Co-PIs are also not eligible for this award. Faculties employed through UGC-Faculty Recharge Program are applicable for ECRA. Inspire Faculty, Ramanujan, and Ramalingaswamy Fellows have been appointed to the regular position then they are also eligible to apply.

SERB Early Career Research (ECR) Award Amount

ECRA is a one-time award tenable for a period of 3 years. A maximum research grant of INR 50 lacs (excluding overheads) will be offered to the awardees for 3 years. The grants provided for research covers manpower, consumables, equipment, travel, and contingency.

How To Apply For SERB Early Career Research (ECR) Award 2020

Here, we are providing the guidelines to apply for SERB Early Career Research Award

• Click here to register online.
• Enter all the requisite details in the registration form.
• Once you are registered, log in your account using username and password.
• Go to Menu>Proposal Submission>Form Submission.
• Select the “SERB Early Career Research (ECR) Award 2020” scheme and click on the “Start Submission” button.
• At the time of proposal submission, applicants have to enter details like 

Project Title (maximum of 500 characters)
Objectives of the project (maximum 1500 characters)
Project summary (maximum 3000 characters)
Expected output and outcome of the proposal (maximum 1500 characters)
Keywords (maximum 6)
Budget (Manpower, Consumables, Travel, Equipment, Contingency, Overheads)

• Students also have to upload related information of the proposal in a single PDF (file size not more than 10 KB) as other technical documents (OTD).
• At last, submit the form.

Documents Required To Be Uploaded (PDF Format) At The Time Of Registration

• Age Proof Certificate (Class X mark-sheet or Birth certificate)
• Biodata (under user profile section)
• Category Certificate (in case of Age Relaxation)
• Certificate from Principal Investigator 
• Endorsement Letter from the Head of Institution 

Important Dates

Applications will be invited twice in a year (January and July month). The important dates of ECRA are as follows:

Registration started from – 15th July 2019
Last date to register – 14th August 2019

Selection Procedure

Based on the recommendation of the expert committee constituted by the board, the candidates will be selected. If required, then candidates may also be called for personal discussion.