Financial Aid: Supporting the Next-Generation of Research Leaders

The ECTA initiative aims to increase the success of early-career investigators from underrepresented (see eligibility below) backgrounds at the assistant professor or government, non-profit, etc., scientist equivalent level. Attendance at top tier scientific conferences is critical at this career stage, enabling the emerging researcher to:

· establish new collaborations

· gain exposure for their research

· network informally with colleagues

· meet with prospective postdoctoral candidates

· invaluable career-advancement opportunities

In an effort to expand these opportunities for early-career investigators, GATC will provide INR 50,000 ECTAs to help defray conference expenses for the recipient. Funds may be used for registration, ground/air transportation, and lodging for in-person attendance at a GATC meeting/conference held within the upcoming season. Applications should be received by the posted scholarship deadline for the selected meeting.

If you would like to have your abstract considered for an oral presentation (short talk), your ECTA application must be submitted by the abstract deadline for your chosen conference. Visit the GATC Abstract Submission page to view abstract deadlines. If this date has already passed, you can still present a poster at the conference.

Applicant must meet ALL of the following eligibility requirements.

· Must be an Indian Citizen

· Applicant must be from an institute/university/hospital research setup that is underrepresented in terms of new age research initiatives, non-availability of research grants, travel funds and other similar constraints.

· Applications must be from populations that have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research, such as:

          o Individuals with disabilities: defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that    substantially limits one or more major life activities

          o Individuals from disadvantaged/underserved backgrounds: defined as individuals from an economically disadvantaged background, first generation college graduates, or individuals from challenging social, cultural or educational background (must qualify for two or more of these criteria), or;

         o Individuals with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts in the scientific community.

· Applicant must be an assistant professor or equivalent level from government, non-profit, academic sector, no greater than six (6) years into appointment and engaged in full-time laboratory research. 

1. Research is of relevance to meeting topic and reflects significant scientific contribution to the field.

2. Applicant's participation will have a significant impact on the applicant and his or her career/institution, e.g. initiation of new collaborations, etc.

3. Applicant expresses dedication to mentorship and leadership of underrepresented scientists.

Please contact info@gatc.co.in with any questions.