IndiaBioscience

Activity in 2020

2020
  • Workshop on Writing about Science for Non-Scientific Audiences

    This online workshop was hosted by the Science Media Centre, IISER Pune on 7 – 11 December, 2020. Trainers Shreya Ghosh and Vijeta Raghuram aimed to train students, educators and researchers in writing about science in a way that is accessible, engaging, and effective. The workshop featured short engaging videos, assignments, and open Q&A sessions that helped the participants to:

    1. Identify good science stories and understand what makes them work
    2. Identify a suitable website/​publication based on the target readers
    3. Pitch an article to a publication
    4. Interview a scientist or expert for the purpose of writing a science news story
    5. Do background research and fact-checking
    6. Understand the basics of creating a narrative flow
    7. Outline and prepare the first draft of a news story based on a research paper
    8. Edit and revise the first draft
    9. Become aware of and apply some good practices like sticking to word count, avoiding giving personal opinions (unless it is an opinion article), using quotes optimally, etc.

    Over 200 people participated in the workshop.

  • Let’s Discuss HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships

    This was an informational discussion of the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral Fellowship funding opportunity and brought multiple perspectives. Hear from Guntram Bauer ( Director of Science, Policy and Communications, HFSP ), Barbara Pauly ( Director of Fellowships, HFSP ), Shubha Tole ( Principal Investigator, TIFR | HFSP Review Committee member ), Anjana Badrinarayanan ( Principal Investigator, NCBS | HFSP Awardee ). 

    No.of attendees: 206 attendees

    More details about the event can be found here–>

  • Learn About HFSP Research Grants

    An informational discussion of the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Research Grants funding opportunity. We brought multiple perspectives. Hear from Almut Kelber (Director of Research Grants, HFSP), Guntram Bauer ( Director of Science, Policy and Communications, HFSP), Rashna Bhandari ( Group Leader, CDFD and HFSP Awardee), Gautam Menon (Prof. of Biology & Physics, Ashoka University and previous HFSP Review Committee member) and Satyajit Mayor (Centre Director, NCBS and HFSP Awardee). 

    No.of attendees: 99 attendees

    More details about the event can be found here–>

  • IndiaBiostreams: Webinar on Crafting your Career — Session 1 — 4

    The scientific ecosystem in India is ever-expanding, and more opportunities than ever are present today for those who wish to build their careers in science. This new series of webinars by IndiaBioscience will discuss several such career paths as well as provide the requisite knowledge, tools and techniques for science graduates to navigate and craft their career paths.

    Our first session was an interactive discussion centred around science careers — what they are, how to approach the choice of a career path, and how to match them with your own skills, interests, and values. 

    We were also joined by Ponnari Gottipati, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, and Madhankumar Anandhakrishnan, DBT/​Wellcome Trust India Alliance, who discussed their individual career journeys in the rapidly developing field of research management.

    Date and Time: Friday, 31 July 2020 | 3:30 PM — 5:00 PM IST

    No.of attendees: 529 attendees

    For our second session, we talked about various ways to gather accurate, insightful and relevant information about career options and approaches to bridge skill gaps for one’s chosen career. We were joined by Praveen Gupta, Premas Life Sciences, and Shashwati Basak, Immuneel Therapeutics Ltd, who discussed their individual career journeys in the Indian biotechnology sector.

    Date and Time: Friday, 28 August 2020 | 3:30 PM — 5:00 PM IST

    No.of attendees: 348 attendees


    In our third session, we talked about the science and art of professional networking, including strategies for building, maintaining, and expanding your networks.

    We were also joined by Nusrat J M Sanghamitra, Founder & CEO, CyCa OncoSolutions, and Nelson Vadassery, Cofounder and Director of Engineering, Sea6 Energy, who discussed their individual entrepreneurial journeys.

    Date and Time: Friday, 30 October 2020 | 3:30 PM — 5:00 PM IST

    No.of attendees: 139 attendees


    In the fourth session, we talked more about various aspects of navigating the job application process, including crafting quality CVs and resumes, writing cover letters, and preparing for an interview.

    We were joined by Shivani Shah, Senior Managing Editor, Impact Science, Cactus Communications, and Siddharth Kankaria, Science Communication & Outreach Manager, Simons Centre, NCBS Bangalore, who discussed their individual journeys in the field of science communication.

    Date and Time: Friday, 27 November 2020 | 3:30 PM — 5:00 PM IST

    No.of attendees: 177 attendees

  • EMBO Schemes for Young Investigators

    An informational discussion of the EMBO Young Investigators Programme and Global Investigators Networks schemes. Here we take a look at the EMBO funding schemes open to Indian life science researchers who have started their independent research groups. This informational session on EMBO schemes open to Young Investigators from India featured an introduction by Shahid Jameel (CEO, Wellcome Trust/​DBT India Alliance), presentations from EMBO- Bettina Trueb (Senior Project Coordinator) and Gerlind Wallon (Deputy Director)- and personal insights from an EMBO Young Investigator- Minhaj Sirajuddin (PI, InStem). The topics discussed will include eligibility, benefits, themes and mentorship opportunities of these schemes. This will be followed by an interactive Q&A session.

    No.of attendees: 117 attendees


    More details about the event can be found here–>

  • 12th Young Investigators’ Meeting

    The 12th annual Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) was held from 14 – 18th February, 2020 in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. It was attended by ~150 participants, both from India and abroad. 

    The first part of the meeting — YIM — commenced on 14th Feb 2020. The meeting brought together exceptional young and senior scientists, special invitees, and representatives from funding agencies for interactions focusing on science careers, mentoring and networking. The program featured illuminating talks and panel discussions by mentors that focused on a wide variety of topics ranging from choosing the right research problem, publishing, personnel management, funding opportunities, and mentorship. Senior scientists described their scientific journeys providing inspirational and amusing anecdotes about their experiences with younger scientists who are establishing their careers. The meeting also witnessed poster sessions, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. 

    The second part — The Postdoctoral Fellows (PDF) Satellite Meeting began on 17 February 2020 for all postdoctoral attendees and directors/vice-chancellors/institutional representatives from various institutions and universities. For a day and a half, there were networking sessions, short talks by the directors/vice-chancellors and 5‑minute lightning talks by the postdoc attendees (PDFs). The PDFs presented their posters as well. The meeting was well-received by all the attendees.

    IndiaBioscience hopes to continue engaging with all the attendees at various levels in the future. The detailed report from the meeting can be read here. Photographs from the meeting can be found here.

    YIM2020 group picture

  • EMBO Fellowships

    In this session, we focused on EMBO funding schemes open to Indian life science researchers. Hear from Shahid Jameel (CEO, Wellcome Trust/​DBT India Alliance), Bettina Trueb (Senior Project Coordinator, EMBO), Gerlind Wallon (Deputy Director, EMBO), David del Alamo Rodriguez, (Head Fellowship Programme, EMBO), Minhaj Sirajuddin (PI, InStem).

    No.of attendees: 177 attendees

    More details about the event can be found here–>