Scholarships — Over 5 Years

Total Per Scholar

₹ 0 lakh INR

Access to Science

Elevating India's Research Landscape, One Scholar at a Time.

The De Luca Foundation is offering 25 PhD Scholarships representing a ₹500 lakh INR commitment to India’s next generation of engineering and applied health sciences doctoral students.

Application Opens: 15 June 2026
Application Closes: 30 September 2026

What is Access to Science?

A financial and equipment supplement grant

Designed to provide funds and EMG equipment to eligible doctoral students and associated research institutes across India, Access to Science supports fundamental and applied research in human movement sciences. Inspired by Smt. Bhagyamma B.’s belief that talent has no postal code, the program is aimed at empowering aspiring doctoral students with tools and resources to advance innovative ideas and discoveries through learning and collaboration.

Our Goal

The De Luca Foundation supports researchers and students around the world with a single purpose: fostering research and innovation in Electromyography and Human Movement Sciences.

In extending that mission to India’s next generation of doctoral researchers, we see an extraordinary opportunity. Advancements in rehabilitation, neuromuscular control, biomechanics, and human-machine interaction emerging from Indian institutions have the potential to accelerate discovery and translation across the global research community, and Access to Science is how we invest in that potential.

Areas of Focus

Research proposals must address one of the following human movement science topics.

Engineering Sciences

Applied Health Sciences

Applicant Eligibility

The program welcomes applications through two distinct pathways. Candidates should identify the pathway that best reflects their current academic or professional position.

If you answer YES to the questions of either pathway, you are eligible to apply for the Access to Science program.

Pathway A

Direct Entry Candidates

For recent graduates entering a PhD program

Do you hold an ME, MTech MS, or M.Sc. in engineering sciences or applied health sciences (eg: Sports and Exercise Science, Biomechanics, Physiotherapy, or Exercise Physiology)?
Are you a recent graduate who intends to pursue a PhD but has not yet secured admission?
Are you pursuing/planning to pursue relevant research studies at an emerging or financially resource-constrained laboratory?
Have you been accepted into a PhD program within the past 12 months of graduation?
Is your proposed research focused on one of the program's supported Areas of Focus?
Do you have demonstrated financial need?

Pathway B

Prior Research Experience Entry Candidates

For researchers already working towards a PhD

Do you hold an ME, MTech MS, or M.Sc. in engineering sciences or applied health sciences (eg: Sports and Exercise Science, Biomechanics, Physiotherapy, or Exercise Physiology)?
Are you currently working in an established Applied Neuromuscular Research facility?
Are you pursuing relevant research studies at an emerging or financially resource-constrained laboratory?
Have you been actively working on an ongoing research project for a minimum of 12 months?
Is your research focused on one of the program's supported Areas of Focus?
Do you have demonstrated financial need?

Qualifying Degree Programs:

MTech
MTech – Biomedical Engineering
MTech – Computer Sciences
MTech – Electrical Engineering
MTech – Mechanical Engineering
MSc – Exercise Sciences
MSc – Kinesiology
5-yr integrated MTech
5-yr UG–PG Dual Degree

All degrees must be from a nationally recognized or accredited public or private university in India.

Application Process

Applications are submitted electronically by the candidate or the Department of the institution where the candidate intends to pursue (or is currently pursuing) doctoral study.

The following steps outline the process.

1 Confirm eligibility.

Review Applicant Eligibility Pathway A or Pathway B criteria and ensure all academic and research requirements are met before preparing your application package.

2 Gather required documents:

Research Proposal

Complete the official Access to Science Research Proposal outlining the planned research goals and intended work.

Candidate Biosketch

Complete the official Access to Science Candidate Biosketch.

Department Letter

Formal letter from the Department addressing the following topics:

Justification for the Need for Supplemental Funding
1. Research Training
2. Conference Travel
3. Host PhD Student-led Workshop/ Seminar
4. Fees/Boarding /Misc. Allowances
Fees & Stipend Subsidies Currently Awarded
Supervisor Name & Proposed Research Topic

3 Submit the application package.

Submit all electronic files to the De Luca Foundation via the application portal before the 30th of September 2026 deadline.

4 Await review and notification.

Applications are reviewed by the the De Luca Foundation’s Access to Science Review Board Members. Shortlisted candidates and their institutions will be contacted directly with the next steps.

Criteria for Evaluation

The Access to Science Review Board Members evaluate each application.

The following factors are weighted in the review process.

Academic Merit

Quality and relevance of the candidate's graduate degree and academic record.

Research Alignment

Degree to which the proposed PhD work falls within the program's supported focus areas.

Financial Need

Demonstrated economic need, as attested by the Dean of the candidate's institution.

Research Experience

For Prior Research Experience Entry Candidates

Depth and duration of work in an established biomechanics research facility.

Supervisory Support

Strength of the PhD supervisor's letter of support and the institution's capacity to support the research.

Clarity of Vision

Quality and specificity of the candidate's statement of research goals and intended work.

Preference is given to candidates from economically challenged backgrounds and to MS students already embedded in an active biomechanics research program.